Meet Uni, the Ocean-Powered Brand Changing Up Body Care
December 25 | 5 minute read
Words by Izzy Wight
“In my head as a kid, it was just such a wonderland,” Keating explains over a Zoom call (a drizzly Melbourne morning and a sunny California afternoon). Having launched Uni in the US back in 2022, she’s almost as excited as we are to bring the brand home – and as of today, to MECCA shelves.
“The Great Barrier Reef had changed a lot since I had last visited,” she says. “There were a couple of factors like global warming, and the runoff from the local land.”
Speaking about reef conservation efforts, the trip sparked an idea: a beauty brand “from the sea, for the sea”.
Keating wanted to create efficacious formulas that harnessed the power of natural ingredients, without the negative environmental impact. “From there, everything came from the ocean,” she says.
In creating Uni’s products, Keating set out to build her own perfect body care routine: “I used to live in New York and I’d go work out at Equinox [gym] in the winter. I’d use their products and they were often heavy creams; they’d stain my clothes or feel greasy. I thought, why can’t I get the hydration without all of that?”
Uni’s beauty editor-approved 24-Hour Body Serum is a perfect example of Keating’s creative process. The all-day hydration comes from the brand’s signature Marine Complex – a blend of sustainably sourced algaes and glycerine.
“Then I thought, ‘When would I use this?’ I’d usually use it post-swim, so I wanted organic aloe vera in there, and olive oil for extra hydration,” she explains. “And being Australian, I always look for native ingredients – so I added Kakadu plum, which is rich in antioxidants.”
When asked about her ingredient ethos, Keating refers to something called ‘blue beauty’: “Uni is independently reef-safe certified, which means We don’t use anything harmful to our waterways or marine life. My ‘no’ list is really extensive,” she explains.
On MECCA shelves, you’ll find Uni’s Skin Shield Body Wash, Restoring Hand Wash, 24-Hour Body Serum, Hydrating Shampoo and Conditioner. And if you opt for a ‘Forever Pump’ with your first Uni product, you can also purchase refills without worrying about the excess packaging.
Keating’s a firm believer that shower products “should do a lot of the work for you” – and Uni’s formulas are proof. The Hydrating Shampoo and Conditioner smooth frizz, strengthen and nourish from root to tip, while the Skin Shield Body Wash leaves skin cleansed and deeply moisturised without any leftover residue or headache-inducing scent.
“After a shower, your skin should be supple and hydrated without you having to apply lotion,” she explains. “The Body Wash and the Restoring Hand Wash have the same scent, and it’s inspired by a place I stayed in on the Amalfi Coast called Casa Privata. These lovers built an amazing B&B, and it had an incredible garden. I was trying to capture the green foliage of their garden and the saltiness of the rocks around it in the fragrance… I wanted to take people to that place when they were showering.”
When it came to design, Keating enlisted the help of Marc Atlan, a creative director who’s worked with the likes of Comme des Garçons, Dior, Helmut Lang and Maison Margiela. Together, their meticulous attention to detail is what makes the look and feel of Uni so special. From the custom-embossed pumps and refillable aluminium bottles – in ocean-inspired colours like bright coral and deep marine blue – to the evocative fragrances influenced by Keating’s travels, Uni offers a truly holistic sea-to-shower experience.
