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A trip to the drugstore isn’t something I would call particularly enjoyable. Usually, I aim to be in and out in as little time as possible, quickly navigating the soulless aisles to grab what I need. It’s most often a necessary act (often required upon the onset of an illness or ailment) but one purely lacking in joy - and any real sense of the “care” part of health care.
It’s also one place you don’t associate with design or visual appeal. But does it have to be that way? OEM doesn’t think so. This brand is rethinking the drugstore, and elevating the experience of self-care with products to make you feel good – and also happen to look good. Shifting the concept of a pharmacy to a decidedly modern place, OEM is focusing on a concise collection of high-design health and wellness products to help you really feel cared for.
We like
- Chic, minimal packaging
- Unique ingredients
- Pleasing scents
We don't like
- More expensive than most drugstore products
- Limited product offerings
A Pharmacy For The Future
The same uninspired visits to the drugstore are what initially compelled OEM’s founders, Ceilidh MacLeod and Shun Kinoshita, to start the brand. The international duo (who were raised across Scotland, South Africa, Canada, and Japan) began to think of how to “counter the sterile, overwhelming and impersonal offerings” they encountered at American drug stores and use their global backgrounds and expertise in design and branding to change that. Living through a pandemic and being away from their loved ones (who provide the most personal care) also made them more conscious of the importance of feeling cared for – and look to fill in the areas where we might need an extra bit of TLC. Even the brand’s name, OEM (which stands for On Earth Momentarily) speaks to the idea that life is short, and therefore we should really take the time to invest in self-care and in the care of those around us.
Design + Care = Drugstore 2.0
With care at its core, OEM has created product offerings they describe as “2.0 versions” of the normal items you might expect to see on the shelves at your local drugstore or your bedside table. (You know, those tried and true items that you use on the daily for cleaning, cleansing, soothing, and smoothing.) The collection of 7 products has also been imbued with traditional Japanese ingredients and a packaging design that falls somewhere between a sleek spa and a spaceship. While there is no doubt this new drugstore has a lot of thought (and care) behind it, would these products just look good – or make me feel good too?
The Highlights Of A High-Design Drugstore
The distinctive minimal and mint green boxes that house OEM’s products immediately signal that you are in for a very different drugstore experience. As do the products themselves. The Exfoliating Hand Wash is housed in a slick, mirrored aluminum bottle (using the same coating technique used by NASA for spacecraft) that makes it stand out – or does it actually blend in? Inside, there’s Hinoki (a Japanese Cypress wood) with antimicrobial properties, Tsubaki Seed Oil for hydration, and finely milled Pumice to gently exfoliate. With one pump, I found the scent instantly appealing and the exfoliation a nice touch, like a mini scrub. Sure, $40 is a bit steep, but as an indulgent soap in your bathroom, it’s a self-care standout.
When it comes to skincare, OEM offers a Nourishing Lip Balm and Restoring Ointment. I opted for the unscented version of both of these items, but the lip balm also comes in Menthol. Both are housed in smooth, curved containers that are pleasing to the touch and lack any branding except a simple raised dot “O.” The lip balm takes your standard beeswax formula and adds in Sunflower seed oil, berry extracts, and hyaluronic acid and boasts “lasting hydration in fewer applications.”
I put it to the test, applying it before bed (when my lips usually turn to sandpaper). And sure enough, it left them feeling moisturized but not sticky, and even feeling pleasant in the morning. The restoring ointment also proved to be a hydrating hero for me, working wonders on my winter-worn cracked hands and feet.
For a great-smelling salve that can work to clear airways or treat sore muscles, OEM has formulated a Soothing Cream in Hinoki Menthol. Think of it as an elevated Vapo-O-Rub meets Tiger Balm. I found this scent much more appealing than your standard menthol and not nearly as thick or sticky. It felt great on my chest, like a visit to a mountaintop sauna. I’d also be remiss if I didn’t mention OEM’s most innovative offering. The all-in-one Care Kit is a “personal wellness toolbox” that features a 3D printed case to house all the OEM products – and can be mounted or even worn if you’re so inclined.
More Than Just Topical Treatments
In addition to the items that you apply to your skin, there are also a pair of OEM products designed to stimulate your other senses (smell and taste) and provide calming care. The Rehydrating Drink is a beverage packed with electrolytes, vitamins, and L-theanine for hydration, health, and focus. Unlike some electrolyte replacement drinks, this one has a subtle grapefruit flavor that I thought actually tasted great – and only has 5 grams of sugar. I popped one open recently after a tennis match and felt thoroughly replenished by the time I had finished the whole can. I just wish it was a bit more affordable (it’s $32 for a 12-pack if you subscribe) so I could stock up.
For smell, OEM’s Incense offers a way to nourish your nose – and your mind – with a trio of Japanese woods: Hinoki, sandalwood (Byakudan), and cedar (Sugi). Made in Japan from traditional methods, the soothing scent is meant to evoke a feeling of shinrinyoku, or forest bathing, that calms the mind and the body. While my living room is nowhere near a forest, I can attest that lighting up a stick and putting on some soothing tunes (I recommend Spotify’s Ambient Japan playlist), did have a transportive effect on me.
Concise Care Well Worth Considering
Let’s be clear. OEM isn’t a replacement for the drugstore stocked with everything and anything you need for ailments. Instead, it’s a modern incarnation that prioritizes design, materiality, and unique ingredients for a compact collection of daily go-tos. These aren’t necessarily the products you will turn to when you are seriously under the weather, but they will provide a different form of care – and a uniqueness and attention to design that I think makes them just as indispensable.
So give this modern drugstore a try when you want to invest – and indulge – in some serious self-care.
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