The Magic Molecule: Solving Every Skin Secret With e11ement Founder Nick Singh (Win!)

When it comes to skincare, we are often told that more is more—more steps, more active ingredients, and more complicated routines. But Canadian brand e11ement is flipping the script by going back to basics with a single, powerful hero: hypochlorous acid (HOCl). Naturally produced by our own white blood cells to fight infection and support healing, e11ement has bottled this “magic molecule” using nothing but water and salt. The result is a clean, minimal-ingredient mist that acts as a Swiss Army knife for your skin—soothing eczema flare-ups, neutralizing post-gym bacteria, and even calming diaper rash. We sat down with founder Nick Singh to discuss the “simple chemistry” behind the brand and why this “one product, endless uses” spray is the sustainable, accessible essential every Canadian family needs in their medicine cabinet. —Noa Nichol

The name e11ement is a clever nod to salt’s place on the periodic table. In an industry often dominated by 10-step routines and complex synthetic ingredients, why was it important to you to build a brand around a two-ingredient formulation of just water and salt?

From the beginning, we wanted to challenge the idea that effective skincare has to be complicated. Salt is element #11 on the periodic table, and that detail really captures the philosophy behind e11ement — simple chemistry with powerful results. By using just water and salt to create hypochlorous acid, we’re able to offer a formula that works with the body, not against it.

Hypochlorous acid is something your white blood cells naturally produce to support healing and defend against bacteria. We’re simply harnessing that same molecule in a clean, minimal way. No fragrances, no alcohol, no parabens — just an ingredient the body already recognizes. For us, it was about stripping skincare back to what truly matters and proving that you don’t need a long ingredient list to see meaningful results.

You describe your hypochlorous acid spray as having “endless ways to use it,” from post-gym hygiene to diaper rash and tattoo healing. As a founder, what is the most surprising or creative way you have seen a customer integrate e11ement into their daily life?

One of the most surprising things has been how families have adopted e11ement as a true household staple, not just a skincare product. We’ve heard from customers who keep one bottle in the gym bag, one in the diaper bag, one at their desk, and a refill at home.

I’ve seen people use it after workouts as a quick skin reset, parents use it for cuts and diaper rash, and others rely on it for things like calming razor bumps, piercings, or tattoos. What’s amazing is that once people understand how gentle and versatile hypochlorous acid is, they start finding their own everyday uses for it. That’s really where “one product, endless ways to use it” comes to life.

As a family-owned Canadian business, how does your local heritage influence your commitment to keeping your products accessible and value-conscious while maintaining high lab-tested and clinical standards?

Being a family-owned Canadian business has shaped every decision we make. We didn’t want to create a product that only felt accessible to a small group of people. Our goal was to make something safe, effective, and affordable enough that every household could have it.

At the same time, we never compromise on quality. Our formulas are lab-tested, clinically safe, hypoallergenic, and made to the highest standards. We’re proud that e11ement is widely available across Canada, including at Amazon and Walmart, because accessibility is a huge part of our mission. Healthy skin shouldn’t be a luxury — it should be something everyone can achieve with the right care.

With the holiday travel season and New Year’s fitness resolutions approaching, why is e11ement a superior “travel essential” compared to traditional alcohol-based sanitizers or heavy facial mists for someone constantly on the go?

Traditional sanitizers and facial mists often come with trade-offs — they can be drying, irritating, or filled with ingredients that disrupt the skin barrier. e11ement is different because hypochlorous acid is gentle, non-toxic, and works in harmony with the skin.

For travelers and people on the go, it’s incredibly practical. You can use it after a flight, post-workout, on irritated skin, or even to freshen up your hands without worrying about dryness. It replaces multiple products with one small bottle. It’s light, TSA-friendly, and safe for unlimited daily use, which makes it an easy, practical addition to any travel routine — which is why we created a convenient Hypochlorus Acid Face and Skin Spray travel size, specifically for life on the go.

Hypochlorous acid is naturally produced by our own bodies to support healing, yet many consumers are still unfamiliar with it. How do you explain the science of HOCl to a “skincare minimalist” in a way that proves they don’t need a premium price tag to see powerful results?

I usually explain it very simply: this is a molecule your body already makes to protect and heal your skin. We’re just recreating it using water and salt.

For a skincare minimalist, that’s powerful. You don’t need a complicated routine or expensive formulas when you can use something that supports your skin’s natural processes. Hypochlorous acid helps calm redness, soothe irritation, and support the skin barrier without harshness. Because the chemistry is so simple, we’re able to keep the product affordable while still delivering real, science-backed results.

Win! 1 of 2 $100 e11ement Skincare Prize Packs!

Congrats Cindy L. of Vaughan, ON, and Nathan L. of Toronto, ON, who will each receive a $100 e11ement Skincare Prize Pack! Please note: if you are the winner, you will receive a DM (direct message) in Instagram directly from @vitadailymedia. Please be wary of fake accounts, which often use similar handles with an extra or missing letter, number or symbol. We will never ask for a payment or for your credit card number, and we will never ask you to click through a link. If you are unsure whether you have been contacted, via Instagram, by us or a fake account, email us before responding. Full contest rules/regulations here.