Harvesting Beauty: How Oryza Lab is Elevating Rice in Skincare
*ORYZA LAB
*ORYZA LAB
In the verdant heart of Comporta's natural reserve, amidst the tranquil rice fields that stretch as far as the eye can see, a unique skincare revolution is taking root. Oryza Lab, a pioneering brand co-founded by Marianne Brass, emerges as a beacon of holistic, rice-based skincare innovation. Drawing from Marianne's extensive background in the beauty industry and her creative spirit stifled by the confines of corporate giants, Oryza Lab represents a daring leap into a realm where skincare is not just a routine but a lifelong companion. Marianne's journey from industry insider to visionary entrepreneur is a testament to her belief in skincare that respects both the skin and the planet.
The serendipitous encounter with Miguel Cancio Martins in Comporta, amidst the architectural marvel of a hotel that pays homage to the surrounding rice fields, was the catalyst for Oryza Lab's inception. This collaboration has birthed a brand that stands alone in Europe for its dedication to harnessing the myriad benefits of rice in skincare. With a patent pending on Comporta's rice, Oryza Lab delves into the science and tradition of 'Rizotherapy'—a concept that encapsulates the therapeutic virtues of rice.
With a flagship store in Paris reflecting Comporta's essence and an expanding range that soon includes solar and body products, Oryza Lab is on a mission to enhance natural beauty across all stages of life. In the world of Oryza Lab, beauty is about self-acceptance, honesty, and companionship through every skincare ritual. In this conversation with Marianne Brass, we delve into the heart of a brand that's redefining beauty norms through the power of rice.
If you could describe the essence of Oryza Lab in one sentence, what would it be?
Oryza Lab is holistic rice-based skincare.
Can you share with us your personal journey and how your global experiences shaped your vision for Oryza Lab?
I have always worked in beauty. I started working in big beauty groups, but after a few years, I felt the need to create something on my own. I am a very creative person, and I had so many ideas. I felt that I could not express these in big groups. With Oryza Lab, I was able to create a brand that brings together all the values that are important to me :
- respectful skincare ( with no harm to skin or planet
- honest skincare, which does not promote miracles but brings progress
- efficient skincare, to see results on the skin
- inclusive skincare, to be used by everyone and at every stage in life ( pregnancy, illness etc). I wanted to create a brand as if it was a person, a friend, that would accompany me through life and be by my side, truthfully and without telling lies.
Can you share the journey of Oryza Lab from its inception to its current status in the market?
Oryza Lab was born from an encounter in Comporta with my partner: Miguel Cancio Martins. He was creating this unique hotel surrounded by rice fields, with a magnificent spa. I was an expert in skincare development and I knew about the benefits of rice in cosmetics. We decided to work together to create a meaningful brand, with a strong heritage and one key ingredient : rice. Today, Oryza Lab = the rice lab, is the only brand in Europe to use rice as its core ingredient.
How does Oryza Lab's location in Comporta influence its product formulations?
Comporta is the land of rice. It's a natural reserve in the middle of the rice fields. The hotel Quinta da Comporta where the brand was born is an ancient rice farm. There even is a museum of rice in Comporta. Therefore it seemed natural to create a rice-based skincare brand. We are currently working on a patent with the rice of Comporta.
What role does rice play in your skincare products?
Rice plays a core role in our formulas. It's the base of the brand. We use 9 active ingredients from rice in our formulas, from its raw form ( rice oil, rice water) to its biotechnological form ( rice peptides, rice inositol...)
How do you balance traditional skin care practices with modern scientific research in your product formulations?
At Oryza Lab, we really blend tradition with modernity. We blend nature and science. We combine the ingredients from nature with ingredients from science, to create efficient formulas. Our products are issued from 3 years of R&D. Our formulas are 100% clean but also technical. The brand is often referred to as "green-tech".
Could you elaborate on the concept of "rizotherapy" and its benefits in skincare? Rizotherapy means "therapy through rice". It refers to using the numerous benefits of rice for global well-being. Rice is a super interesting ingredient. A rice grain boasts more than 100 antioxidants. Also, it's recommended to drink rice water when one is sick because it has extraordinary capacities to regenerate the body. It's the same for skin. In Asia, rice is an ancient beauty secret : women used rice water and rice powder on their skin and hair. Rice is also super interesting because it is very versatile : every skin type can be treated through rice.
How do you source your ingredients, and what standards do they need to meet?
We source our ingredients mostly in Europe and we only source high quality ingredients, with traceability. Indeed, the quality can be very different from one supplier to another.
What is the most popular product in your range, and what makes it unique?
I would say that there are 2 very popular products. 1) The Perfecting Peel : it's our most iconic product. It's almost a "medical" product with proven and visible results on the skin. This product will really improve the quality of skin and will improve all skin problems ( wrinkles, dark spots, pores, pimples etc...) It will remove all dead cells that clog pores, cause skin imperfections and dull skin. It's a product where you can see real results after 3 weeks. Another very famous product is the cleansing oil - it's really a best-seller. It's very efficient ( even on waterproof mascara) and soft at the same time. It does not leave a greasy skin nor does it burn the eyes. Skin is left very soft and clean. I have tried a lot of oils on the market and I was not able to find the perfect one, so I decided to create it.
What is the philosophy behind your flagship store in Paris?
Our flagship store in Paris is the continuity of Quinta da Comporta. The idea was to bring a piece of Comporta to Paris and to create a unique skincare experience around Rizotherapy. As we had this beautiful hotel in Comporta and a french-portuguese brand, it made sense to create a spa boutique in Paris.
Can you share insights into your hotel collaboration and how it complements the Oryza Lab brand?
The Quinta da Comporta hotel is Oryza Lab's birth place. By visiting Quinta da Comporta, you have a better understanding of Oryza Lab: of the importance of rice, of the bohemian chic lifestyle, of well-being. Quinta da Comporta and Oryza Lab are strongly linked because the cultural heritage of the brand comes from the hotel and its surroundings. It brings a lot of meaningfulness to the brand.
Can you discuss any upcoming product launches or brand expansions?
This year, we are going to launch our first solar and body product. Our goal is to become THE holistic rice-based skincare brand on the market, with a very complete offer from face care to body care, hair care, supplements etc…
Finally, what does beauty mean to you and how does Oryza Lab embody this definition?
To me, beauty means enhancing someone's natural beauty and helping to age in a better way. Beauty is not about artifice, nor about lies. It's about self-acceptance and glow. By helping women to age better, and by promoting bright and clear skin through efficient products, we help to boost self-confidence. With beautiful skin, no need for artifice. Oryza Lab is an honest brand that will accompany women ( and men) through life as a friend. It won't tell lies, nor vouch for miracles. It won't let you down when you're ill or pregnant. It will be by your side with clean and efficient products at every stage of your life to age confidently.
*FOLLOW
*FOLLOW
CREDITS PHOTO: ORYZA LAB