Today we’d like to introduce you to Bruna Valente.
Bruna, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
When I arrived in South Carolina to go to college fourteen years ago, I had very little money and knew very little English. As a first generation immigrant from Brazil, I had great practice finding my way through challenging situations. But nothing like what I was faced with four years ago – when I was diagnosed with an aggressive type of cancer in my thirties, while pregnant with my second baby.
Have you ever paused to think about where you are going, why, and for who? The diagnosis was my invitation to do just that. I realized that I could not choose for how long I would live, and if I would get to see my kids grow up, but I could how to live. I decided that I wanted my family and communities to remember me as someone who pursued my God-given purpose wholeheartedly and braved through the wilderness with courage and joy, not as someone who hid in a square box, fearing the unknown.
I left my career in the corporate world and embarked on a self-care journey, with no idea of where it would lead. A key part of that journey was to care for my healing body and scars. Thanks to my background in marketing and product development, I started paying close attention to the products I was welcoming into my home. I wanted brands that were clean, rooted in real stories, and conscious about their impact on people and the planet. I was unsettled by what I found (or did not find) and something started stirring up inside.
One of my favorite quotes by Maya Angelou is “Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better.” I knew better. My curiosity led me to study formulation at Formula Botanica, a natural formulation school based in the UK. In making my own products, I started formulating with ingredients from my home country, and got to feel the transformational effects of pure plant ingredients on my skin. That led me to an adventure to the Amazon Rainforest in the heart of Brazil. I stayed with the natives and navigated their rivers and forests to understand their way of life. I then built partnerships with women-led businesses that are doing great work in supporting the communities behind the unique, potent ingredients growing there. I knew there was something new and authentic I had to share with more people. And one year later, Terrain was born.
My ambitions for Terrain and life, in general, are simple – to be well and present to enjoy adventures in and beyond Minnesota, where I now live with my husband, Dago, two boys, Oliver and Henry (the cute helper you will find in one of the pictures), and sister, Brendha. And for Terrain to be part of many people’s pursuit of “better”.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It took dozens of formulation, design, and packaging failures before Terrain was even born. For example, the formulation for CALMA, our Copaíba and Cupuaçu Lotion (now a top seller), took nearly 20 different versions. I am grateful for people who stuck with me through the process, like my designer and friend Jaclyn Zimmer who worked through multiple mood boards and hundreds of edits (and is still my friend). There were also packaging ideas that did not come through. Initially, I wanted ceramic and paper tube containers for the lotion bars, but the NOs led me to new ideas – like Terrain’s compostable golden grass container.
Terrain is a journey I was called to be on, so I see obstacles as invitations to pause, learn and move forward. There is ALWAYS a way forward. I think the road or “terrain” is smooth only where the path is not new. No matter how many business podcasts I listen to, no one business is like the other. I cannot pave the way until I am there and go through it, and that is the whole point when creating something unique, right?
I come from a family of entrepreneurs and have learned that it is not a solo journey. Inviting people to come along, and being part of uplifting communities has been key – like my church groups, my co-working space, Modernwell, and other entrepreneur communities. Above all, I lean on God and His perfect promises for my life. And I lean on my husband, family, and friends who hold my hand or give me a little push whenever the leap feels too big to take on my own. When someone is willing to sleep in hammocks in a rainforest or load the car ten times to setup for markets at five in the morning and stand with you outside for hours when it is -4F, you know they deeply care about and believe in you, and wow, what a great feeling that is!
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about TERRAIN BRAZILIAN BOTANICALS?
Terrain was created for people looking for ways to connect with nature – within and around us. The word “terra” means soil or earth in Brazilian Portuguese. Our bodies are like unique terrains that are either nurtured or depleted. I am a living testimony of how nurturing our “terrain” impacts our well-being. And serving people, especially women, with products that treat our largest organ – the skin – in a clean, authentic, luxurious way, has become my mission.
I make each product by hand, in small batches in my workshop here in Maple Grove, MN. The face oil and lotion bars are 100% plant oils using potent ingredients from the Brazilian Amazon Forest. The result is skin that feels noticeably softer, brighter, and deeply nourished.
Looking back, I am proud to have created a brand that is conscious of the impact it has on people and the planet. The goal is not perfection, but I do believe in better. That is why our packaging is fully compostable or recyclable; why our products are oil-based, concentrated, and made without any of the typical water, glycerin, or alcohol fillers; and why most ingredients are sourced directly from minority-owned businesses that are highly engaged in supporting local communities and forests.
I am also proud to offer products that elevate Latino culture and bring a unique touch of tropical Brazilian Rainforest beauty to your homes. Lastly, I am so humbled to be able to be part of people’s wellness journeys!
Alright, so to wrap up, is there anything else you’d like to share with us?
In the next few months, we will be engaged in two startup programs through Target and Lunar Startups as we set to expand retail partnerships! So this is your invitation to follow along as we share updates, new pop-ups and market dates, and other exciting news!
I am thankful for all the support of our local MN community and each person who has chosen to join us on this journey from the start. There is no greater joy than building something together!
Contact Info:
- Website: terrainbrazil.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/
terrain.brazil - Facebook: facebook.com/
terrainbrazil - Linkedin: linkedin.com/
company/terrain-brazilian- botanicals
Image Credits
Brendha Valente Photography
On all the product imagines, the photo credits are to: Zoey Jean Photography
