OUR PHILOSOPHY
Our Philosophy
Maya Chia was expressly created for people who love the idea of clean beauty but insist on more than a “free‑from” list. For this brand, clean means designing formulas that sensibly reduce toxic load while honoring one simple rule: science first, last, and always. That means no knee‑jerk villainizing of ingredients, no chasing the emotional tides of the day, and no hesitation to use carefully vetted synthetics when they are the smartest, safest route for skin.
Supercritical chia seed oil is a mainstay of the line, but it is joined by a roster of clinically-proven actives chosen because their data is as compelling as their results. Maya Chia was one of the first brands to popularize powerhouse antioxidant astaxanthin in skincare, and later helped usher ingredients like azelaic acid and tranexamic acid from clinical settings into everyday use in elegant, effective formulas.
That quiet pioneering streak has helped make Maya Chia one of the most decorated indie beauty brands, with an Allure Best of Beauty Award, four consecutive Allure Readers’ Choice nominations, and multiple “Best Product of the Year” accolades from outlets including Cosmopolitan, Byrdie, MindBodyGreen, NewBeauty, and Bustle. In practice, that means you will find vibrant botanicals standing shoulder‑to‑shoulder with proven lab‑made molecules - each included not for a trend, but for a clearly defined role in transforming skin and hair.
Every formula starts with a legion of peer-reviewed and published studies, not a list of buzzwords. Susanne and the team scrutinize the research, pressure‑test actives at meaningful concentrations, and iterate until the textures disappear into the skin while the results refuse to be ignored. The entire process happens in Maya Chia’s solar‑powered Charleston lab, where products are formulated, produced, and filled under one roof to maintain obsessive quality control and a lighter environmental footprint. The same exacting standard has earned the brand a place in some of the world’s most discerning spas, including Miraval, Alila, and select Four Seasons properties. The result is a brand that treats clean beauty less as a marketing label and more as a living standard... one that evolves with science, not with scare tactics.