Plant-Powered Skincare: An Interview with Suzanne LeRoux, Founder of One Love Organics
We love connecting with other clean beauty brand founders to learn more about their stories, and we couldn't be more excited to share a conversation with Suzanne Leroux, the founder of One Love Organics and a pioneer in the clean beauty industry. If you haven't tried one of their magical cleansers, you'll definitely want to add it to your skincare wishlist.
We chatted with Suzanne to learn more about her incredible journey, from being a lawyer to starting her own skincare brand, creating plant-powered skincare, how she transitions her summer skincare routine to fall, a non-negotiable skincare step, and so much more!
I'd love to know more about your story and how you went from being a full-time lawyer to founding your own skincare brand? What inspired you to make the transition and launch One Love Organics?
Throughout my teens and 20s, I battled problematic skin. Hiding behind makeup, I was too self-conscious to participate in activities like swimming or anything that might cause me to sweat. It greatly affected my life and undermined my self-confidence. Despite my dad being a pharmacist and trying literally everything, nothing seemed to help. However, during law school, I turned to yoga for stress relief and discovered aromatherapy. That's when I learned about pure plant oils. Once I embraced simple, plant-based formulas, and eliminated petrochemicals from both my skin care and makeup, the change was dramatic. The solution was both straightforward and remarkably effective, inspiring me to experiment with my own blends using plant-based oils and actives. Now, fueled by a passion for embracing my own skin and advocating for a simpler, more natural approach to beauty, I'm eager to share my journey and to help others.
When you launched in 2010, the clean beauty space was in a different place compared to where it is today. Can you take us back to that time and share more about creating your product standards and what drew you to organic, plant-powered skincare?
It was so different! People were quite skeptical of natural and organic products, often questioning whether they would work, smell good, or even be enjoyable to use. So, we resolved to make our products as effective as possible, infused with beautiful, natural scents, and we began the process of obtaining natural organic certification. We believed we could help one customer at a time, trusting that they would spread the word. This is likely the first time in the history of beauty that customers have actively shaped the future by demanding better and more natural products. It's been truly exciting to see!
From formulating to manufacturing, you are hands-on every step of the way. You even own the only ECOCERT® licensed manufacturing facility for natural and organic cosmetics in the state of Georgia! What is your favorite part of formulating and bringing a product to life?
I am hands-on every step of the way, and I'm so proud that we are still a small, family-owned business. We are hyper-connected to quality and customer service, and that's why we have taken a more organic approach to growth. Product development is my passion and my favorite part of the business. I absolutely love researching ingredients and focusing on the minute details of a formula that make it unique, fun to use, and truly effective. I'm pretty obsessed and may spend a couple of years working on just one new product. If it doesn't stand out in a way that's truly unique, then I will move on to something else. I would say that only one out of every four products that I work on actually makes it to launch.
If someone is new to One Love Organics, what product do you recommend they try first?
If someone is new to One Love Organics, I highly recommend starting with our Botanical B Cleansing Oil. We're known for this customer and editor favorite that not only works effectively but also feels and smells wonderful, turning the daily routine of cleansing your face into a truly enjoyable experience. It's our #1 best-selling product for a reason!
This non-stripping, clean-rinsing formula is infused with papain, a fruit enzyme that helps to exfoliate and soften, and a natural Botanical B complex to detoxify and tone. The delightful "vacation in a bottle" aroma of pineapple and citrus adds to its appeal. It's ultra-effective when used alone or as the perfect first step to remove makeup and sunscreen in any double cleansing routine.
What does your summer skincare routine look like, and how do you transition your routine as we approach fall/winter?
I like to keep my summer routine simple yet hydrating. It's crucial to remove all traces of sunscreen and makeup to prevent breakouts, so I double cleanse every night with Botanical B Enzyme Cleansing Oil and Botanical A Facial Cleanser. To rehydrate and bring my pH back into balance, I mist with our Botanic Moisture Mist and layer Love + Rose hydrating serum under my sunscreen. This is one of our newer products, and it's quickly become one of my favorites. Featuring hyaluronic acid, it helps draw water into the top layer of the skin to plump up the complexion and keep it looking dewy. At night, I like to infuse my skin with as much moisture as possible, so I use our Botanical C Facial Serum and Botanical E Eye Balm. My winter routine is pretty much the same, except that I like to slather on Skin Savior Balm at night after applying all of my products. This provides a deep hydration boost and locks in all of the great natural ingredients that I just applied.
I also exfoliate a couple of times a week with our Brand New Day Microderma Scrub & Masque to keep my skin soft and glowing, ensuring my makeup canvas is as smooth as possible.
I love your cleaners for double-cleansing! For those who haven't experienced the magic of double-cleansing, could you share why and how we should be double-cleaning?
YES, yes! It really is magic. It is such a foundation of our philosophy - I wrote this blog post here with the hows and whys with video.
What is a non-negotiable skincare step that everyone should include in their routine (besides SPF)?
Cleansing is essential! Washing your face is crucial for many reasons. Throughout the day, the skin on our face accumulates various impurities, such as dirt, excess oils, sweat, makeup, and environmental pollutants. Cleansing helps to eliminate this build-up, warding off potential skin problems like breakouts or irritation. Additionally, cleansing prepares the skin to absorb other skincare products more effectively. By removing the layer of grime and oils, serums, moisturizers, and treatments can penetrate more deeply and function more efficiently. Clean skin often looks more radiant and feels smoother. Without this foundational step, the effectiveness of other skincare products might be compromised, and the overall health and appearance of the skin could suffer.
You and your lab are based in the beautiful Golden Isles of Georgia? Do you have any favorite activities or recommendations for someone visiting?
My two favorite activities are going to the beach and enjoying amazing food. The beach offers so much to do, from observing wildlife and walking to playing games, swimming, reading your favorite book, or even napping. Just gazing at the horizon can be incredibly relaxing. It's my favorite way to spend the day. As for dining, we have many outstanding restaurants that feature locally caught seafood, like wild Georgia shrimp. Over the past 14 years, I've traveled extensively for work, and I can confidently say that some of the best food I've ever experienced is right here.
What is your favorite way to unwind and take care of yourself?
My favorite way to unwind and take care of myself is to do a Pilates session at home. This helps me slow down, get out of my mind, and connect with my body. It also feels so good to stretch and move after a busy day. Afterward, I love to get into a warm bath filled with soothing salts and a pump or two of my favorite body oil to soften the bathwater and condition my skin. I enjoy listening to music while bathing, and after washing my face, I love to apply a face mask. Then, I'll put on my favorite pajamas and spend the evening with a good book until I feel sleepy.
Can you share any upcoming product launches or exciting projects that One Love Organics has in the works?
Yes! Since cleansing is so vital, we're developing a brand-new cleanser using the latest in green technology. I believe it's an excellent addition to our line, and as we're known for our outstanding cleansers, we continue to innovate in this category. The second product is a night cream, into which I have invested a tremendous amount of research. It likely won't be available for a year or so, but I can assure you it's worth the wait. It's formulated with not only new but also tried-and-true ingredients that genuinely work, making it highly effective.
