Christine Hong, 24
Founder and CEO, Apothecary
Location: San Francisco
Education: B.A. in neurobiology from Harvard University
Resume: Prior to starting Apothecary, Hong worked as an intern at startups including Mighty AI. In college, while working at Massachusetts General Hospital, she helped co-author a study looking at the use of anabolic steroids on lower-extremity ulcers.
Outside of work: Hong grew up playing classical violin and still counts music as a big part of her life. Other hobbies include hiking and making pickles.
Christine Hong’s inspiration for her startup Apothecary is a familiar one for those who have faced issues with their skin.
After struggling with acne throughout high school and college, Hong's mother — who happens to be a dermatologist — helped her access prescription skin treatments that included the acne treatment Accutane. While the medication worked, they often came with severe side effects, leaving Hong trying to find a better solution.
Her search took her to skincare and makeup counters and put her face-to-face with the dizzying array of products being offered on store shelves.
“I realized that there was a tremendous learning curve to educate themselves about ingredients and the only way to find what works for you is through trial and error,” Hong said. “I recognized that there was this big gap between beauty and science.”
So she turned to social media, scrolling Youtube videos and Reddit threads to collect tips and connect with others searching for effective skincare products. She also observed the rise of “skinfluencers,” social media figures specializing in beauty and skincare regimens.
Hong’s eight-person startup has given these creators the chance to monetize their networks through product recommendations and personalized guidance. Users answer a survey to get a baseline skin type and routine, and are recommended experts and products that are drop shipped (shipped directly from the supplier) to customers.
Apothecary’s model speaks to the way that younger people identify and shop for products through social media. The startup focuses on partnerships to uplift smaller indie brands that have the opportunity to break out as the next Glossier or Drunk Elephant.
“All this information has historically been behind these closed doors and takes literally several years to understand,” Hong said. “With Gen Z, there's more of a culture around skin positivity and that acne is normal and even beautiful. People are starting to become more comfortable around talking about imperfection and progress, not perfection.”
