THE INTERVIEW – THE FOUNDER OF ODACITÉ, A PIONEER OF THE “CLEAN BEAUTY” REVOLUTION, ANSWERS OUR BEAUTY QUESTIONNAIRE
WHAT IS YOUR SKIN TYPE?
WHAT IS YOUR DAILY ROUTINE? WEEKLY?
WHAT ARE YOUR FAVORITE BEAUTY INGREDIENTS?
ODACITÉ was born from the fusion of very different approaches to skincare. It is within this fusion that the magic happens and where we create our Performance Biocompatible™. Organic and wild botanical ingredients sourced around the world, often known as ancestral beauty secrets… powerful dermo-clinical actives such as Retinol, Vitamin C, and Hyaluronic Acid with scientifically proven efficacy that the skin recognizes and uses to deliver visible results… traditional medicines like Ayurveda and its anti-pollution plants, as well as Traditional Chinese Medicine and its Gua Sha massage techniques. It is in the synergy that combines all these elements that our formulas are created in our Ecocert laboratory in Los Angeles. I love every ingredient individually, but the power that arises from their fusion is my favorite kind of magic.
WHY IS NATURAL/ORGANIC IMPORTANT FOR YOUR BRAND?
Returning to natural living and a toxin-free lifestyle is intrinsically linked to my healing journey after breast cancer, and ODACITÉ is the story of my recovery. Organic ingredients seem obvious to me. In California, organic food is almost a norm, and personally I prefer to be certain that what I apply to my skin contains no pesticide or fertilizer residues, so I apply the same philosophy to our formulas. By sourcing organic ingredients, it is also a way of saying no to the agrochemical industry that pollutes our health and our planet, and of supporting passionate farmers who restore life to our soils.
WHAT IS THE BIGGEST SKINCARE MISTAKE IN YOUR OPINION?
I am often horrified to see certain TikTok trends praising techniques that are extremely damaging to the skin. I see more and more clients with severely compromised skin barriers due to excessive peels and all kinds of very aggressive abrasions discovered on TikTok. When the skin has been stripped and sensitized to that extent, it is very difficult to restore its balance. In the long term, this kind of aggression causes premature aging and makes the skin extremely photosensitive and more prone to brown spots.
WHAT DO YOU DO IF YOU GET A PIMPLE?
First of all, never try to pop or dry out the pimple. I don’t panic and I use our best-seller Bl+C Concentrated Serum for Blackheads Black Cumin + Cajeput as a targeted treatment. Two to three days are enough to get rid of the blemish and prevent it from leaving an unwanted mark.
ARE YOU CONCERNED ABOUT ANTI-AGING?
I hate the term anti-aging and prefer the concept of “Healthy Aging.” Very aware that aging in good health is an immense privilege, I pay attention to what I put in my body and on my body. Similarly, zero toxins, plenty of superfoods, and regenerating actives such as vitamins A (retinol), C, and E, hyaluronic acid, omega fatty acids, and the phyto-revitalizing power of plants. My goal is to focus on longevity and optimal skin health, and to offer women—and a few men—ultra-effective products that allow them to maintain beautiful, healthy, radiant skin while respecting their health and this beautiful planet we live on.
DO YOU USE BEAUTY TOOLS?
I love Gua Sha. I credit it for smoothing my forehead wrinkles very effectively. It’s an essential tool, easy to travel with, that refreshes the face after long time-zone changes and instantly restores radiance to my complexion. Recently, I discovered a new nano-needling tool, and we are currently working on a new technique of nano-infusion of active ingredients. It’s a non-invasive technique with no downtime and immediate results.
WHAT IS YOUR MAKEUP FOR THE DAY? FOR THE NIGHT?
I’m quite minimalistic when it comes to my makeup routine. I’m a huge fan of the brand RMS BEAUTY and I can’t live without the 'Un' Cover-Up concealer. I use it to correct dark circles but also around the nose or wherever I want to even out my complexion. I also love their mascara. For special days or evenings, I like to add a veil of bronzer on my cheekbones, enhanced with a raspberry-pink gloss. A very French look.
WHICH DIETARY SUPPLEMENTS DO YOU TAKE?
In my opinion, the best supplement comes first and foremost from diet. My diet is plant-based and rich in superfoods, with a strong passion for chia, hemp, and pumpkin seeds. I replaced coffee with matcha 15 years ago and I love how it makes me feel. Beyond matcha, I consume a lot of greens—kale, salads, watercress, spinach—and plenty of spirulina. And let’s not forget that a good red wine (in moderation) is full of the powerful antioxidant resveratrol.
DO YOU HAVE A BEAUTY SECRET TO SHARE?
Not really a secret, but never forget that the foundation of good health and beautiful skin is restorative sleep (at least 7 hours).
WHAT IS YOUR DESERT ISLAND PRODUCT?
I find it so difficult to answer this question—it’s like choosing a favorite child. That said, on a desert island you need a Swiss Army knife, so the Blue Balm Repairing Balm Blue Chamomile + Shea Butter would be my choice. This multi-purpose balm nourishes, hydrates, and calms inflammation—perfect for soothing sunburns or insect bites—and repairs damaged skin. Beyond being a wonderful face balm, it removes makeup and can also be used as a massage balm.
WHAT IS THE FUTURE OF ODACITÉ?
To keep growing beautifully! When I launched ODACITÉ in 2009, we started the Clean Beauty movement. My desire was to shake up an industry that had been producing products the same way for 50 years… as if we were still driving the same cars or using the same phones as our grandparents… an industry that had become dusty and polluting. I want to continue questioning the status quo, inventing better ways to create skincare that never sacrifices efficacy or purity of formulation—and never settling for less.