Born at the intersection of science and tradition, JUANA is the Middle East’s pioneering biotech skincare brand powered by CBD and driven by clinical precision. At the helm is Co-Founder Yann Moujawaz Martini, a French-born entrepreneur with Syrian roots, whose personal journey blends medical heritage with a bold vision for innovation. Raised in a family of acclaimed surgeons, Yann inherited both a reverence for ancestral wellness practices and a sharp eye for scientific advancement—two worlds he seamlessly fuses in JUANA.
After nearly a decade as a top-tier strategy consultant at Boston Consulting Group (BCG), Yann transitioned into beauty and wellness with a mission to create formulas that work in harmony with the body, not against it. JUANA’s next-generation products are designed to restore the skin’s microbiome, enhance resilience, and spark cellular regeneration using nature’s most potent bioactives. In this interview, Yann shares how JUANA is rewriting the rules of skincare—one molecule at a time.
You’ve had a fascinating career shift — What inspired such a bold pivot?
After a decade designing multibillion-dollar wellness and medical tourism mega-projects for governments and Fortune 500s, I flipped the script. JUANA is my leap from advising empires to building one—owning my future, stepping into my prime, and unlocking human potential.
JUANA is rooted in both science and holistic healing, with your mother’s legacy playing a key role. Can you tell us more about her influence on the brand’s philosophy?
My mother straddled two worlds: a dynasty of world-class surgeons across the US, France, Germany, and Syria, and generations of olive-grove stewards—nature’s original biotech lab. She showed me that surgical precision and botanical intelligence aren’t rivals but co-authors. JUANA bottles that fusion: clinical rigour supercharged by earth-born potency.
Tell us about the vision for JUANA.
We aim to prove energy is ageless and reinvention is forever within reach. JUANA’s north star is to inspire and lift people into their prime—physically, emotionally and spiritually—at any age. We call this force “the potency of life,” and we deliver it through formulas, masterclasses, aesthetics, storytelling and immersive moments that feel less like shopping and more like stepping into a brighter timeline.
How do you define “functional beauty,” and why do you think it matters today?
Functional beauty is skincare that achieves measurable benefits for your biology and provides meaningful psychological benefits. In an era of filter-fed perfection, function matters because confidence built on performance outlives confidence built on illusion.
What makes JUANA’s approach to skincare different from the clean beauty brands already on the market?
Clean is our baseline, not our headline. JUANA’s point of difference is biostimulation—formulas that train skin to outperform itself rather than passively pamper it. We combine pharmaceutical-grade cannabinoids with biotech powerhouses, such as ectoin and biotech-enhanced hyaluronic acid, to encourage cells to produce more collagen, lipids, and antioxidants on their own. Every claim is stress-tested and clinically backed. The outcome: dermatologist-level results wrapped in a clean-clinical, slightly rebellious attitude.
Can you walk us through some of your hero ingredients or innovations and explain how they support skin health holistically?
Some of our key ingredients are:
Cannabidiol (CBD) – it has powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties to activate the skin’s endocannabinoid system (ECS) safely – calming inflammation, reducing cellular stress, and supporting natural regeneration.
Chlorella Pyrenoidosa (Algae) – Rich in unique Chlorella Growth Factor (CGF), this biotech-derived extract enhances cellular repair and collagen synthesis.
Ectoin – A biotech marvel derived via bio-fermentation from extremophilic bacteria, Ectoin acts as a cell’s bodyguard, protecting skin from stressors and preserving hydration even in the harshest environments.
Helichrysum Italicum (“Immortal Flower”) – Packed with antioxidants that calm inflammation and boost collagen gene expression.
Cobiolift – extracted from rare, peptide-rich quinoa seeds, also known as Peruvian gold—which delivers a clinically proven tightening effect, reducing wrinkle depth by 19% and crow’s feet roughness by 18%, as well as reducing volume of the crow’s feet area by 17% 2.0 generation of Sodium Hyaluronate, stimulating elastin synthesis up to 35%, decreasing elastase activity down to 25% (active already in 2h), and decreasing collagenase activity down to 32% (active already in 2h)
Highly effective lipo-available Hyaluronic Acid, combined with Olive Glycerides penetrating human skin up to 33.7%, comparable to HA in water, stimulating turbo-moisturization within 30 minutes post-application
What was the biggest challenge you faced in transitioning from the corporate world to beauty entrepreneurship?
The toughest hurdle was rewiring my own circuitry. In boardrooms, I was paid to think; in entrepreneurship, I’m paid only when the product works. That shift dragged me from tidy strategy decks into the unruly real world—formulators, freight agents, content creators, marketers, regulators—all speaking different dialects of urgency. Turning theory into something that thrives on real skin required unlearning comfort, embracing chaos, and finding strength in a collage of perspectives. Exhausting, yes—yet wildly enriching.
What has surprised you most about building a wellness brand from the ground up, especially in the Middle East?
The sheer velocity. I expected curiosity; what I found was a full-on growth surge. That appetite translates on the ground: consumers don’t “sample” new wellness ideas—they scale them overnight. Launch a product on Monday, and by Wednesday, you’re scrambling for restock. The surprise isn’t the openness, it’s the acceleration: being a first mover here means you have to sprint just to keep the lead you created.
There’s a growing demand for purpose-driven brands. How does JUANA weave personal transformation and conscious living into its business model?
JUANA is engineering a cultural movement that champions human potential in an age racing toward AI and tech supremacy. We spotlight the spark machines can’t replicate—our capacity to reinvent. Through inspirational storytelling and actionable guidance, every touchpoint encourages our community to reach its full potential, demonstrating that while technology accelerates, humanity still sets the pace.
What’s your go-to morning ritual?
I take a cold shower, perform my morning prayer, drink a double espresso with a ginger shot, and write down my top three goals for the day. The race then starts !
What’s a book or podcast that changed your perspective?
I avidly read entrepreneur biographies because they serve as real-world playbooks for navigating tough moments. Phil Knight’s Shoe Dog hits closest to home—same business-school track, professional background, personality, family context, and even the same birthday—so his decisions feel like a mirror for my own. Ray Dalio keeps my macro view sharp, while The Diary of a CEO delivers fresh, frontline lessons weekly. Together they give me daily grit and big-picture clarity.
What’s one piece of advice you’d give to someone looking to create a more conscious life?
Audit your inputs—people, products, and pixels—with the same rigour you audit your finances. What you consume today writes tomorrow’s operating system.
What’s the professional motto you live by?
Only dead fish ride the current, and ‘good’ is the sworn enemy of great. I refuse drift and mediocrity—swimming against the tide, chasing radical excellence first. Success? It’s just the ripple effect of doing truly extraordinary work. I am very much inspired and learning from Bernard Arnault when it comes to building and running a company.
