Anne Peres, co-founder of Alaena

Who are you?

I am 32 years old, I am the mother of two little boys aged 2 months and 15 months, and my husband and I live in Bidart.

I studied engineering at the Ecole Centrale Paris and immediately chose the path of entrepreneurship after graduating. I joined my father's project, a plastic surgeon, who wanted to open a spa attached to his medical practice to offer a complete care pathway to his patients. We opened the Alaena Spa in Biarritz in 2015. Then I suggested to my mother, a dermatologist, that we create our cosmetic line, combining her medical expertise in formulation with the safety and ethics of organic products. We worked for several years on the formulas and the development of patented active ingredients with proven effectiveness to launch the Alaena range in 2018.

What do you do at Alaena? Tell us about a typical week.

Today, I'm in charge of the digital and branding side of things, as well as the more industrial side of inventory management and production. My week begins with a meeting with the entire team to review the week's objectives, sales, and communication priorities. The days are then punctuated by weekly meetings with the teams on specific topics—for example, press and influence on Tuesday afternoons, product development on Thursday mornings—and time to reflect on a variety of topics, as we're still a small team.

Your mantra

“Do at least one thing every day that scares you.”

A book

The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway.

An inspiring woman

I am inspired daily by many different women. Those close to me, like my mother for the education she gave us, my friends and all the role models they represent in our society, which needs diversity, but also high-level athletes, especially surfers, their way of training to achieve their goals, savoring victories but also getting back up after defeats.

A memorable journey

Matuku Island in Fiji. We were on a catamaran as a family. After 48 hours of sailing, we discovered this isolated island. We were welcomed by the village chief for the traditional kava ceremony. On Sundays, all the women of the village sang in church. I remember feeling a very special energy. I turned around, looked at my sisters and my mother; we all had tears in our eyes. It was the most beautiful experience of sisterhood for me.

A dream (professional or personal)

I dream that Alaena will continue to grow while maintaining its values as a company with a positive impact on the environment, creating local jobs, where each person is fulfilled and challenged by their work.

Your Alaena ritual

My essentials are the Mango & Avocado Soap to cleanse the face and body in the shower. I then apply the Sensitive Skin Moisturizing Cream . To moisturize the body I like to alternate between the Summer Garden Radiance Balm , the Nourishing Rose Petal Oil and the Toning Massage Oil . I also apply the Anti-Imperfection Solution every other evening which I leave on all night for its retinoid-like effect to smooth the skin texture and prevent skin aging.