Backstage at fashion week, where models transform between looks in minutes, skincare has exactly one job: deliver visible results, fast. When London fashion brand RIXO chose us as their exclusive skincare partner for London Fashion Week, they needed products that could create that sought-after runway glow without the downtime of traditional prep.
The partnership made sense from day one. Like us, RIXO founders Henrietta and Orlagh built their London brand from scratch, fully independent. Their approach to fashion matches ours to skincare: create pieces so well-crafted they become permanent fixtures, not seasonal throwaways.
For their 'Postcards From Goa' collection, with its pungent pinks, bold reds and turquoise palette, we used our most potent brightening routine. The hero? C-2 Believe Vitamin C Brightening Moisturiser, which delivers stabilised vitamin C alongside ceramides for instant radiance without irritation. We layered this with Century Flower Lotus and Hyaluronic Acid Barrier Defence Mist to prep and protect the skin barrier.
The result: models with skin that looked naturally luminous under the harsh runway lights. No heavy foundation required. Just healthy skin doing what healthy skin does when you give it the right ingredients.
How to get runway skin at home
The backstage routine we used on RIXO's models isn't complicated. It's the same approach we recommend for anyone wanting that lit-from-within look: vitamin C for brightening, ceramides for barrier support, and proper hydration to let skin reflect light naturally.
Start with Century Flower to balance and prep. Follow with C-2 Believe for instant and long-term brightening (the encapsulated vitamin C releases slowly throughout the day). For an extra boost, add two drops of our Stabilised Vitamin C 20% Brightening Booster to your moisturiser. This oil-soluble vitamin C penetrates 10x more effectively than standard formulas, without the irritation.
Evening calls for Rosehip BioRegenerate, our cult face oil that delivers trans-retinoic acid naturally. CO2 extraction preserves 700% more antioxidants than cold-pressing, which is why one bottle sells every 90 seconds globally.
The RIXO Founders on Skincare, Sustainability and London Heritage
Why did you choose Pai as your skincare partner?
Henrietta: We're big fans of Pai at RIXO, so it's really exciting for us to have you as our skincare partner. We look for brands with a similar approach to RIXO; those who create products that actually work for people. Pai works for us because their products deliver results without compromising on ingredients, and we wanted to work with a brand that shares our values.
Like Pai, you're a London-born brand. How important is your London heritage to you?
Henrietta: Our London heritage is so important to us. Orlagh and I actually started RIXO in the living room of our West London student house. It's our home and has been the location for so many of our campaign shoots and events.
What do you think makes British brands so unique?
Henrietta: Being the capital of the country, London is such a hub for creative talent. Orlagh and I love all the different styles you see when walking around. I think it's so special to be a brand that was born in the mix of it all.
You're also a fellow independent brand. How has that impacted your business?
Henrietta: Massively. Orlagh and I have had no external investment which means we have complete control over what happens to RIXO. We've been able to keep RIXO to its roots, and the brand still has the same values and ethos as it did from when we designed our first collection.
Tell us about your decision to go with vibrant, bright colours for this collection.
Orlagh: We knew instantly we wanted to incorporate all the beauty we saw when visiting Goa in the collection. The colours in the Fontainhas area, Goa's Latin quarter, were so vibrant and a huge inspiration for the print and colour story.
Your collections feature plenty of nods to nature in the prints. What's the inspiration?
Orlagh: We always play around with different hand-painted motifs and we've made references to under the sea in past seasons. But, generally, we take inspiration from so many things around us, and nature is a huge part of this.
What was the goal for the overall beauty look in your show?
Henrietta: We wanted to keep it simple, and really emphasise the natural beauty of the dancers and models taking part, so we went for glowy, dewy and natural skin. Pai's products helped us achieve this look perfectly.
What's your Pai essential for a bright, dewy glow all year round?
Henrietta: I reach for The Impossible Glow constantly. It's transformative.
You both travel a lot for work. Which Pai product would you always pack?
Henrietta: The Stabilised Vitamin C 20% Brightening Booster.
Shop our complete brightening collection for runway-worthy radiance, whatever the season.
Frequently Asked Questions
What skincare products were used on models at the RIXO London Fashion Week show?
Pai's backstage lineup focused on radiance, featuring the C-2 Believe Vitamin C Brightening Moisturiser and the Century Flower Lotus & Hyaluronic Acid Barrier Defence Mist. The goal was glowy, dewy, natural-looking skin that complemented RIXO's vibrant Goa-inspired colour palette of pungent pinks, bold reds, and turquoise.
Why did RIXO choose Pai Skincare as its exclusive skincare partner for LFW?
RIXO co-founder Henrietta said the brand looked for partners with a similar ethos, specifically those that empower people with their products. She highlighted that Pai's products are "as good for you as they are for the planet," and that working with a responsible, independent brand aligned with RIXO's own values.
What are the RIXO founders' personal favourite Pai products?
Henrietta named The Impossible Glow Bronzing Drops in Bronze as her essential for a bright, dewy glow year-round. For travel, she always packs the Stabilised Vitamin C 20% Brightening Booster to keep her skin happy on the go.
What was the inspiration behind RIXO's SS23 collection shown at London Fashion Week?
The collection was themed 'Postcards From Goa,' inspired by the vibrant colours the founders saw in Fontainhas, Goa's Latin quarter. Nature also played a big role, with hand-painted motifs and prints reflecting the surroundings that consistently inspire the brand's designs.
How does the Stabilised Vitamin C 20% Brightening Booster work without irritating sensitive skin?
It uses ascorbyl tetraisopalmitate, an oil-soluble form of vitamin C that is inherently stable and doesn't require the low-pH formulation that makes conventional vitamin C serums sting. Skin cells absorb approximately 10 times more of it compared to L-ascorbic acid, and the active remains in cells 40 to 80 times longer, providing sustained brightening and antioxidant protection. Just add 1 to 2 drops to your moisturiser or serum.
