Life & Work with Susie Grace

Today we’d like to introduce you to Susie Grace.  

Hi Susie, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Grief to purpose; a journey of alchemy. 

I started formulating skincare products in 2016 after my daughter was delivered but never took her first breath. Mila was delivered “still” or “stillborn” which means something happened in the womb after 20 weeks. With no answers as to why my otherwise healthy pregnancy ended this way, I started researching the ingredients in skincare products. I had used a very expensive + highly effective exfoliation cream while still pregnant. Once I put in on my face, I had this incredible urge that I needed to wash it off. With no other answers as to why I lost Mila, I started researching ingredients in skincare. What I found was shocking; first the FDA and the FTC don’t regulate skincare outside of SPF and other prominent claims (i.e. product will erase 20 years). It’s literally the wild west. And with that, I found that so much of the products we trust are made up of ingredients that aren’t good for us. In fact, there are over 1,300 banned ingredients in the EU, while the US bans only 13. 

Through my findings, I decided to learn how to make my own skincare products to ensure what was in the product was safe for me. From there, I started making them for everyone I loved, as I wanted to protect my friends and family, and the feedback I got back was a lovely surprise. People told me about how they loved the products and how they were helping their skin. It was very satisfying to know that I was helping people take care of themselves. 

After A LOT of experimentation and years of learning how to formulate, I decided that I wanted to create products for everyone. Creating healthy products initially helped me move through a hard stage of grieving. It helped me fulfill the need I have to create and to nurture. I fell in love with the creating aspect of using nature to take care of us. 

I truly feel that through a hard situation, I got to find my purpose. I got to truly see that life is precious and that by taking care of ourselves we can all create something beautiful. 

I launched Valor Skincare in 2019, and after a short pause because oof COVID, I restarted the company in December of 2022. 

I now create non-gender, natural skincare products. I make the in Traverse City Michigan, and have a strong focus on putting the products in sustainable packaging because taking care of ourselves doesn’t have to come at a cost of our beautiful Earth. 

I’m currently in a growth phase, and I look forward to where I can take Valor next. 

We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
One of my most used sayings is, “Wow, now I know.” Having a product company comes with making ALOT of decisions. Some of those decisions are great, and some are part of learning. From the packaging used to the copy on the website to the products and how our brand strategy influences where we sell, there are a ton of decisions to be made every day. Which is both lovely and challenging as creating something that doesn’t currently exist takes a lot of trial and error. I try to stay light about any challenges as they do typically yield the most learnings. And, really, the obstacles typically are the way. 

One challenge that I took on early with Valor was using a bulk manufacturer before I even went to market. I was set on it. At the time, no one knew about Valor, all I had was a belief that it was a good product. I had to spend a good amount of money to get the product and then figure out of to sell it. It was very stressful and what I learned was that taking iterative steps, especially when starting out, is a good way forward. There are a lot of learnings as I like to call them. However, the sooner you can see learnings or challenges in a positive light, the sooner you can move through them and find the outcomes you’re setting off to get to. 

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
The current skincare industry uses beauty to sell products, often times using ingredients that claim to make us look better but at the expense of our health. There is an underlying current of not being enough that gets sold to us through advertising. If we have less wrinkles, lighter skin, less pores… only then will we be beautiful. 

We believe that we are all already beautiful and that “skin care” should be taking care of our skin not selling us a celebrities looks to fool us into thinking we’re not already enough. 

We are non-gender as all people need effective, healthy products to take care of themselves. We create products so the user can know what they are putting on their skin will help them be their best, authentic self. For people to have the courage to live the life that lights them up. 

What’s next?
I’m looking forward to this summer and rest of the year. It feels truly amazing and fortunate to be able to create products that help people. And though I don’t have any “big’ plans set yet, I know my passion in all this will lead to some really fun and impactful things. 

I also look forward to teaming with local companies, non-profits, and really anyone to work together and provide value-driven products or experiences. 

And I look forward to formulating new products. I like to approach product creating as creating a solution to a problem. So, I’m excited to keep on track with that type of creating and seeing where it leads Valor. 

Contact Info:

• Website: valorskincare.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/valor_skincare/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ValorSkincare/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/susie-grace-7450127/