Valerie Granduri on launching Odacité clean cosmetics brand in her kitchen

Valerie Granduri She had a mission to change her life - and her skincare - free of toxins and chemicals. Instead of being content with second-rate products, she began cream preparation, serums and the like, without leaving your own kitchen. Fast forward a few years and the clean, sustainable beauty brand Odacité was born. Here we spoke with Granduri about what inspired her to create the line. search for ingredients and what's next for the brand. 

What did you do at work before you founded Odacité?

I used to have a production company in Paris - I'm from there. I have produced a lot of big commercials for cars and perfumes. My work has taken me to some of the most beautiful landscapes and cities in Europe, Africa, Asia and America. This is what created my absolute passion for the traditions of my ancestors and the cultures of the world. 

So what made you quit your job and start your own skincare line? 

I was diagnosed with breast cancer and that was a big wake-up call. It made me want to reconnect with nature and what is needed in life. I quit my job and went back to school to become a health coach. When it came to looking for non-toxic skin care products, I got really frustrated. I couldn't find any products that are both natural and truly effective. 

In fact, Odacite originated in my kitchen! After 14 years of producing commercials, I had production teams and contacts all over the world - people who can find everything you need. I hired them to help me find the best natural beauty ingredient from their country. It all started with green tea seed oil from Japan (also known as the geisha's beauty secret), seaweed from the pristine coast of Ireland, tamanu oil from the rainforests of Madagascar and clay from Morocco. My kitchen has become an apothecary laboratory. I will always remember that “aha” moment. I applied the first cream that I created from these unusual ingredients to my skin, and it seemed to me that my skin eventually nourished and deeply cared for. 

Then I started making products for private clients. After three years, I realized that I needed to move to the next level. To maintain the same individual quality, we have built our own laboratory, started dermatological testing of all products, conducted clinical studies and safety evaluations. I officially launched Odacité in 2009.

What has been the biggest challenge since you started Odacite? 

When you have your own company, you have to come to terms with the fact that the line between life and work is very thin. Your life becomes your work.

Giving back to the environment is very close to the spirit of your brand. Tell us more about it. 

Since the founding of Odacite, sustainability has been part of our DNA. For me, there is no pure beauty without sustainability. We use glass packaging, our boxes are made from recyclable paper and have biodegradable ink, and we plant thousands of trees each year during Earth Month. In 2020, we are going to the next level and planting 20,000 trees! In addition, we have just launched Shampoo 552M. This new bar will replace your regular plastic bottle and prevent nearly 552 million bottles of shampoo a year from ending up in landfills or oceans.

What's next for Odachi? 

We are working on a night cream that combines 100% natural based clinical grade ingredients to deliver measurable clinical results. 

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