Well Told Health with Savannah Tardif founder of BE-U Cosmetics

A trained accountant, Savannah Tardif has always had a penchant for entrepreneurship. After studying at HEC Montreal and working part-time at an accounting firm, it was in 2017 that she decided to start her own company after noticing that the cosmetic and beauty industry only seemed to offer mass-produced, ready-made skincare products that are not necessarily suitable for everyone. Feeling disappointed by the cosmetics that she had tried, Savannah wanted to create something different, and the idea of BE-U was born. BE-U creates natural, cruelty-free skincare products, and thanks to their personalized algorithm, they offer an online skin diagnosis which allows them to design unique and personalized formulas for each customer.

 

At BE-U, your focus is on creating personalized products as opposed to conventionally mass produced ones. Can you tell us more about that concept?

We know that each person has a unique skin type, so each person’s needs are different. It is therefore important to target a person’s specific issues in order to deliver a product that can deal with those issues and improve the skin’s overall appearance. This is where the strength of our products lies, in addition to the ingredients we use.

In order to be truly personalized, we have developed a questionnaire called “My Diagnosis” that customers can find on our website. By completing it, they are assured to receive products that are 100% effective for them. All of our products are developed and manufactured by our team in Montréal, so we do not have a large inventory. Everything is tailor-made according to the orders we receive. The individual is really at the centre of our concept! 

Can you tell us about the ingredients you use in your products?

First of all, it is important to know that we do not use any chemical products that can be harmful to your health or the environment over the long term. For example, certain companies can be tempted to use silicone to improve the appearance of products, such as cream, since silicone improves its texture. However, it can be very harmful to your skin. People are increasingly concerned about what is in their food, and the same should apply to beauty products, especially considering that our skin is our largest organ.  

Therefore we highly value research and development for our products and the ingredients we use. We rely on the strength of active ingredients that can be found in fruits and plants for example. An active ingredient is an element that targets a specific problem. By using the appropriate amount of an active ingredient, we can solve a specific problem rather than going with a more general approach.

Where can we purchase your products?

The best place to purchase them is online, since you will also find our questionnaire. We also offer body care products in certain boutiques and beauty salons. Always with the view of personalization, we develop unique products for each point of sale. In collaboration with each one of them, we develop the fragrance, the look, the name, etc. It gives each outlet a touch of exclusivity! 

As the founder of a beauty brand, what is beauty to you?

It’s a very broad term, since beauty can be found everywhere. For me, beauty means inclusion, confidence, and well-being. Inclusion because there is not only one type of beauty, there are all sorts. Confidence because I believe that feeling good about yourself is the greatest gift you can give yourself. And well-being because everything is about balance. When you talk about skin for example, it is not necessarily about having perfect-looking skin, it’s more about having healthy skin!

 What’s been keeping you well these days?

I believe in balance in all areas of my life. It definitely helps me to maintain good physical and mental health. Being an entrepreneur, I have to deal with a lot of surprises as well as very intense periods of work. So, I make sure to exercise, eat well and take time for myself. Obviously, I also use quality products in my skincare routine!