Introducing Our Summer Intern: Sunny’s Skincare Journey
Meet Sunny, Our New Intern in Research and Marketing
This summer, we’re excited to welcome Sunny to AROOM as our newest intern. Based in NYC, Sunny is an incoming high school senior with a deep curiosity for skincare science and a genuine drive to make a difference.
Sunny first reached out to us after stumbling upon our @aroomskin IG. I was impressed by Sunny’s energy and commitment as she explained what prompted her to message us. That sense of purpose and curiosity quickly turned into action: Sunny’s now helping us research ingredients, draft blog articles (her first one’s coming soon!), and explore how science and storytelling can work together to build smarter, kinder skincare.
In this interview, Sunny shares more about her interest in science, the connection between acne and her passion for skin health, and how she’s managing a truly packed schedule. TWO summer internships, violin, science, and still finding time to learn about dog breeds. We’re honored to introduce you to her.
1. Let's start with the basics first. Can you introduce yourself? Where you're from, what you're into right now, what you do in your free time, and all that jazz.
Hi everyone! My name is Sunny, and I am from NYC.
I am an incoming high school senior who loves roaming around the city and finding affordable and awesome food. I really like how a variety of foods from different cultures are easily accessible in NYC. I love Thai food! Also love window shopping at skincare stores and testing the samples. I also play the violin and viola.
During my free time, I enjoy hanging out with friends, going to the beach and ice skating! My favorite animal is dogs and I'm currently learning more about dog breeds because I plan on getting one soon. Although I do not play sports, I plan on trying out tennis with friends.
2. In our first virtual coffee chat, we talked about your interest in science - bio/chem. What sparked your interest, and how do you wish to pursue this? What career do you see for yourself down the road?
Having acne actually sparked my interest.
When I was younger, I dealt with stubborn acne that just wouldn't go away. This made me really determined to get rid of it, because of how irritating and itchy it was. There were times where I would spend hours researching ingredients and products that could relieve my skin and eliminate my acne. I went through several trial and errors with different skincare ingredients. Eventually, this ended up being a hobby and now I have a bunch of product lying on my table.
This experience really allowed me to realize my passions in researching about skincare. I wish to pursue this interest by exploring a field in cosmetics where a team strives to research skincare that actually works for acne prone skin, senstive skin, hence a reason why I wanted to join AROOM!
In the future, I want to work in medical field, particularly in dermatology where I can help people with variety of skin concerns feel confident in their own skin. I want to be an advocate for taking good care of skin and challenging harmful ideas about "good skin" such as acne scarring, vitiligo etc. These harmful ideas regarding skin leads to unrealistic beauty standards which is something I am strongly against.
3. We're honored to have you work with us on AROOM to research skincare ingredients and draft marketing ideas. Before we go any further, what made you want to reach out to us? How did you find us, and what made you want to get involved?
I found AROOM on IG. I was scrolling at 1am in the morning, and suddenly a post from AROOM popped up in my explore page. I really liked the aesthetics of AROOM and I naturally wanted to learn more about the brand.
When I read the "about us" section and the blogs, I felt instantly connected to AROOM, especially the idea of creating a skincare routine that is calming and relieving. I felt that the creators of AROOM had a very inspiring goal to create skincare products that only incorporate necessary ingredients, as well as fusing asian wisdom into modern skincare.
I feel like this is just such a creative idea to promote Asian wellness ingredients into skincare market and let the world know that they work. I wanted to get involved because this is an amazing opportunity to explore a field that I genuinely enjoy as well as work with ambitious people like Sieun and Semin who genuinely wants to make a change in the skincare industry.
4. We're excited to see your first research article on the evolution of retinol. Are there any other skincare ingredients that have sparked your interest lately? Tease us on your next blog post!
I've been really interested in ingredients like enzymes in cleansers and understanding the difference between mineral/chemical sunscreens. More includes azelaic acid and shea butter.
My first research article on retinol, retinoids, and retinal is coming soon. Fun fact, retinol wasn’t always used for skincare. We need to know that retinoid is derived from vitamin A, and retinol is derived from retinoid. In this article, I discuss everything from the origin of retinol to how its differentiated from other derivatives.
5. What does your own skincare routine look like these days? Any favorite products, or struggles you've been trying to figure out?
To me, having a ten step skincare routine does not seem realistic. And as someone who has acne prone skin, having a ten step skincare routine seems more harmful than good. I actually have a very simple skincare routine because of acne.
I simply use a cleanser containing benzoyl peroxide, an ampoule and a relieving cream. My skin has been loving the Celimax The Real Noni Energy Ampoule and Cream! A struggle I've been trying to figure is why I have oily skin but also really dry skin at the same time. Its quite confusing.
6. Last one. Congratulations again on your summer job. It's mind blowing how you're managing academics, college applications, friends, personal life, and TWO internships. How do you balance all this? Do you have any routines or habits you've learned?
Thank you so much! Honestly, balancing everything is pretty challenging.
There are times where I feel absolutely defeated studying for 3 exams for the next day, while running to work and completing extracurriculars. Sometimes I would sacrifice my social life just for school. There are also days where I don't do anything productive at all.
Burnout is really common among my peers. But, I still strive to balance everything, even if its not perfect. Being a busy student with a crazy schedule is just like doing your skincare routine. If one routine doesn't work, then be open to other products. Trial and error is so crucial to finding out what works for me.
I balance this by first taking care of mental health. When you feel well, you tend to do things well. I make a schedule or complete small tasks on trains or on the way to somewhere. This helps lighten the workload. Also prioritizing important work.
Another way I balance my workload is working with motivated friends that can make doing work more fun. I realized going to cafes or libraries where many people work and study hard makes me more motivated to work, so these are places I tend to visit a lot.
Why We're Inspired by Sunny
What struck us most in talking to Sunny (beyond her dedication and clarity) was how deeply personal her relationship with skincare is. Her experience with acne didn’t just lead her to skincare products, but to a broader vision of what science, wellness, and advocacy can look like when they’re grounded in care.
“I want to be an advocate for taking good care of skin and challenging harmful ideas about ‘good skin,’” she told us — and we couldn’t agree more. At AROOM, we believe skincare is about comfort. It’s not about the 10 steps but finding what really works for you.
Sunny’s voice and vision already align with that mission in such a powerful way, and we’re looking forward to learning with her this summer. If you’re also excited to read about Sunny’s research over the summer, subscribe in our email list below.