In an industry where celebrity beauty brands seem to pop up faster than the latest TikTok skincare trend, Ramona Zamzam is taking a different approach. The actress, public figure and founder of Woots Skin believes that beauty begins long before foundation, concealer or a perfectly blended blush enters the picture. For her, it starts with clean, healthy skin, and that means paying just as much attention to removing makeup as wearing it.

Her journey into the beauty business was born from personal experience. Spending long hours in front of the camera, enduring demanding filming schedules and wearing makeup for extended periods gave Ramona a firsthand understanding of why proper makeup removal matters. Rather than simply lending her name to another beauty label, she wanted to create a brand that addressed a real, everyday skincare need. The result was Woots Skin, a Malaysian-born brand on a mission to make makeup removal more effective, accessible and, dare we say, a little more exciting.

Because let's be honest, makeup removers don't always get the same glamorous treatment as serums, moisturisers or that one viral blush everyone suddenly needs. Ramona saw an opportunity to change that narrative, swapping the usual plain and predictable approach for playful packaging, a distinctive product range and formulas developed with performance in mind. At the heart of Woots Skin is a straightforward philosophy: skincare should deliver results without demanding a luxury-sized budget. It's a belief that challenges the idea that a higher price tag automatically means a better product, encouraging consumers to look beyond brand hype and pay closer attention to what actually works for their skin.

But building a homegrown beauty brand in an increasingly crowded market takes more than a cute bottle and a clever concept. It requires consistency, consumer trust and the willingness to stand by your vision, even when the industry seems to be moving in an entirely different direction. While makeup might offer a faster route to commercial success, Ramona chose to focus on the less flashy but equally essential side of beauty. For her, the goal has never been simply to sell another product. It's about helping people build better skincare habits, understand what they're putting on their skin and feel confident in the choices they make.

That commitment is reflected in Woots Skin's growing product portfolio, from the Melt Away cleansing balm that found its moment amid the cleansing balm boom to Fresh Fade micellar water, a more personal passion project created with sensitive skin in mind. Although the latter may not be the brand's bestseller, its recognition as Best Makeup Remover for Sensitive Skin at Fathom's Finest in Beauty Awards speaks to something Ramona values deeply: creating products that address genuine concerns and make a difference in people's routines.

As Malaysia's beauty industry continues to evolve, local brands are increasingly finding their footing alongside international names. Ramona sees this as an opportunity for homegrown businesses to prove that they can deliver quality, creativity and effective formulations without losing sight of their roots. She also believes there is room for Malaysian beauty to become more distinctive by drawing inspiration from local ingredients and cultural identity, rather than simply following whatever happens to be trending overseas.

Of course, moving between the entertainment and beauty industries has also shaped how Ramona connects with her audience. Being in front of the camera has taught her the value of storytelling, while running a skincare business has reinforced the importance of authenticity. After all, consumers can tell when a brand's message feels personal and when it sounds like another carefully rehearsed sales pitch. For Ramona, using her own products daily, particularly after a long day of shooting, is part of that connection. She knows the problem because she has experienced it herself, and she wants her audience to understand the thought behind the products she creates.

So, what does the future look like for Woots Skin? Ramona hopes it becomes the name people instinctively think of when they need a makeup remover that is cute, affordable and, most importantly, effective. It's an ambitious goal, but one grounded in a philosophy that feels refreshingly uncomplicated: beauty doesn't need to be unnecessarily expensive, skincare doesn't have to be boring, and removing your makeup deserves more credit than it gets.

We sat down with Ramona to discuss the beliefs that shaped Woots Skin, the realities of building a beauty business in Malaysia, and why she is determined to give makeup removal the spotlight it deserves. From creating products for sensitive skin to challenging the industry's obsession with trends and price tags, she shares what it takes to turn a personal beauty essential into a brand with a purpose, and why sometimes the most important step in your beauty routine is the one you take at the very end of the day.