Neada Deters could teach a masterclass in discernment, intention, and how to make the biggest impact with less. So it’s only fitting that her skincare brand, LESSE, follows a similar approach — making hard-working and effective formulas into streamlined, effortless rituals. Just like her in her personal life, Neada’s philosophy around LESSE is curated without being restrictive, aspirational while remaining authentic, and a breath of fresh air in an oversaturated, busy space.
In our conversation, we talked to Neada about finding inspiration offline, being guided by intention, and skincare as a process for self-connection.
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Our jumping off point for these conversations is always in how we find inspiration via the women in our lives. How have the women in your circle impacted your perspective?
"My grandmother taught me everything I know about beauty. The ritual of it, the way skin care is a process of self connection—but, most of all, she believed beauty was cultivated through compassion and a gentle reverence for others. This has really shaped the way I view and move through the world.
She was also hilarious, loving, and remains the constant voice lifting me up even in the most difficult moments. I am eternally grateful to her and miss her every day."
Both LESSE’s offerings and your creative vision seem rooted in simplicity. “Lesse is more” after all. But there’s also so much depth and intention in everything you do. How do you think about that balance — not just in skincare, but in life, creativity, and business projects?
"There is, more often than not, an immense amount of thoughtfulness and complexity behind simplicity. LESSE is a perfect example of that; our proprietary formulas are extraordinarily complex and each takes several years of rigorous development—but the collection as a whole feels incredibly simple and easy to approach. This is by design, as we want our skin care to be intuitive and uncompromising while delivering exceptional results."
"I definitely take this approach in life; I put forth the effort behind the scenes to make the complex ultimately effortless. From months spent sourcing one specific piece of furniture or research for a personal trip. Though personally it’s less about balance, as I view depth and intention as essential to simplicity."
It feels like social media is sometimes at risk of flattening all of perspectives — creating a sea of sameness across our tastes, opinions, and personal POVS. How do you orient LESSE in a direction that feels like it can speak to the collective without falling into the overly trendy or overdone?
"This is very simple for us, as we don’t have a strategy behind our creative—rather, we have always just focused on being authentic to our vision, which has been constant since the outset. We also never look to social media, other brands, or any kind of trend for inspiration. Instead, our vision is informed by art, architecture, and cinema.""I view depth and intention as essential to simplicity."
With that in mind, where do you get inspired these days? Is the internet feeling like a creative space for you lately? Or are you leaning more into an offline practice?
"Personally, I’m most inspired by nature and modern art and architecture. I have never really viewed the internet as a creative space, but as technology for connection and communication. My instinct is to go to a gallery or open a book or drive to the ocean when I’m seeking inspiration."
We know you’re an expert in rituals (and LESSE is part of some of our favorite routines). What are your personal rituals for genuinely fulfilling self-care?
"Slow mornings, long baths, skin care, meditation, ocean swims, saunas, calls to loved ones. Rituals are just everyday practices that allow you to slow down and reconnect."
Neada's Ritual:
