Beauty Boss: Dana DeVorzon, Founder of La Chatelaine
Dana DeVorzon.
Our latest Beauty Boss is Dana DeVorzon, Founder of La Chatelaine—a luxury French body care brand crafted in the South of France. The family-owned company offers prestige-quality products that are made with ethically-sourced natural ingredients to protect our bodies and the planet. Growing up between France and Southern California, DeVorzon was inspired by France’s apothecary culture and lifestyle, which ultimately led her to pursue her own line of sustainably sourced body care products.
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The stunning product line’s offerings range from hand creams and soaps to candles, which feature a beautiful and fresh apothecary design (many of their products come in reusable tins) that gives them their signature look. Their key ingredients include organic shea butter, organic Argan oil, organic sweet almond oil, organic calendula oil, and RSPO sustainable palm oil, among others. La Chatelaine products are also free of parabens, phthalates, and other harmful chemicals that can interfere with the body’s hormones.
We chatted with DeVorzon who shared the inspiration behind the brand, secrets for success, beauty tips, and much more.
When was La Chatelaine founded and what does the name mean?
La Chatelaine was introduced to the gift industry in 2018. The name means the “Mistress or Lady” of the Chateau.
What inspired the creation of the brand?
After 15 years of developing, producing, and marketing high-quality French beauty products, we wanted to create and bring to market a design-forward luxury brand that honors traditional French craftsmanship, prestige quality, and the purest, ethically-sourced natural and organic ingredients.
La Chatelaine’s 20% shea butter hand creams ($10) are blended with organic shea butter, vitamin E, and Argan oil to moisturize, nourish, and protect skin.
Does La Chatelaine have a hero product?
La Chatelaine’s 20% shea butter hand creams stand out as very few hand creams are formulated with such a high percentage of organic shea butter, making it exceptionally healing and nourishing.
What are your favorite products from your brand?
Truly all of them. We put much time and thought into the development of our products and I am proud of each of them and use them daily. I think our Hand Cream Trios stand out as the perfect gift with their reusable decorative tins, and our hand washes and lotions are not only beautiful but also eco-friendly and reusable. Our fragrant, sulfate-free hand washes and lotions protect the environment and nourish your skin!
Where are your products sold?
We are pretty particular about our placement. We are currently in Anthropologie and hundreds of high-end boutiques and resorts across the country as well as our own Amazon store.
Future plans for the brand?
We recently launched a Home Collection of hand poured candles in our signature scents. We’ve been busy!
The French body care brand also has vegetable-based soaps ($11) that are made in Provence using time-honored craftsmanship and ethically-sourced natural and organic ingredients.
Who inspires you?
I’m inspired by people and companies who create change, improve lives, and put the planet and our future before personal gain.
Secret to success?
I feel the secret to success is being passionate about what you are doing and giving it everything you have. Believing in your creative expression and standing by your values. Collaborating with people who share the same goals and finding partners who complement your skillset or weaknesses. There’s a certain alchemy that happens when all the right people and ideas come together for the greatest result.
Beauty secrets?
Beauty starts from within. It’s eating pure foods rich in vitamins, staying hydrated, taking time to pamper yourself, feeling confident and fulfilled.
Wellness tips?
Finding some form of movement that keep you strong, agile, flexible, and happy. It has to be something you look forward to rather than a chore. For me, it’s doing my hip-hop class a few times a week. It doesn’t matter how good you are, what matters is that it brings you joy!
Best advice?
Simple: Be kind. Pay it forward.
Favorite way to relax?
If I’m wanting time for myself, I absolutely love being carried away by an audiobook. My favorite times are spending time with my family on a hike or bike ride, or just hanging out watching a movie together. The down times are essential in order to be my best, more creative and productive self!
For more information about La Chatelaine, visit the website and follow on Instagram: @lachatelainebeauty
[Images courtesy of La Chatelaine]
Kamala Kirk is a University of Southern California graduate and has been an editor/writer for more than a decade. She has written for E! Online, Total Beauty, TravelAge West, Malibu Times Magazine, and many more. She resides in Los Angeles and is a proud pug mom. Follow her on Instagram: @kamalakirk