Meet Bea de la Roche | Founder

We had the good fortune of connecting with Bea de la Roche and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Bea, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
With my family in the coffee business, I grew up in awe of the spirit and power of plants. I was taught to cherish farming, especially coffee, watching how every year a flower would turn into a bean, then eventually a grain, and ultimately our morning cup of coffee. My family gifted me a deep love for Costa Rica and its unique biodiversity. As a child, my mother captured my imagination with stories of her adventures with my grandfather exploring the jungle, mountains, and oceans of Costa Rica. When I became a mother, one of my many new instincts was to ensure every ingredient my baby consumed was of the highest quality. I grew profoundly aware of the importance of what we put in our bodies and how we take care of ourselves. I immediately went back to the farm I loved so much as a child to gather ingredients to make our own homemade products for my baby. It was then I realized the power and purity of Costa Rican ingredients.

Before founding Santa Lucia Skincare, I worked in the luxury goods market, a space that is primarily taken up by European brands, and while I have always loved European designs and traditions, I felt that by looking abroad, we were missing out on the incredible traditions in Latin America. It puzzled me that Europeans were famous for their coffee, when in reality the beans came from Latin America. It was then I decided that I would create a brand that represented Costa Rica in the luxury market.

I’m the mother of two little boys and that is by far my favorite job. Being present when I am with my family, and being able to take care of them is my priority. That means that I don’t have balance ever. I work as much as I can when I can, which is often before they wake up or after their bedtime. It has also forced me to let go a little and delegate whenever possible. I’ve learned that having a team you can count on is priceless.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I started my career in luxury marketing in New York. After graduating from NYU, I worked at Ralph Lauren a job that I loved. Ralph Lauren is such an emblematic brand that really sells the luxury American lifestyle. When I decided to move back to Miami, I worked at LVMH. These experiences shaped the way I think about brands and their stories. So I went to IE in Madrid to receive my Master’s in Branding. I took some time off to have my first son but his birth quickly made me realize I wanted to create a nontoxic brand.

My dream is to be able to turn the profits from Santa Lucia Skincare into a foundation for mothers in Costa Rica. Santa Lucia is about women prioritizing themselves so often so that they can take care of others. I love the idea of being able to help women who don’t have the same access to resources. Costa Rica has given us so much, I feel a responsibility to give back my family’s country.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
When my friends come to Miami, I usually recommend they stay at the Four Seasons at The Surf Club or Mr. C’s in Coconut Grove! For breakfast, my favorite spots are Sadelle’s, Cafe Bastille, and Flour & Weirdoughs. There’s so much to do in Miami, I make sure they get a glimpse of every side the city has. From visiting the Rubell Museum and having lunch at Leku, spending a day in the Design District and lunch at Mandolin’s, a day at the beach on Key Biscayne, and sunset drinks at Dune’s. If they bring kids I recommend they stop by The Poppet Project for the best arts and crafts ever! For dinner my two favorites are LPM and Osaka, you can never go wrong with either of those. Finally, they can’t leave without stopping by Flawless by Melissa for my favorite facials in the city!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I’m very lucky because I’m surrounded by incredible women who are entrepreneurs, moms, wives, and amazing friends. They motivate me when I’m facing challenges and support me every step of the way. My husband deserves all the credit in the world because I wouldn’t be able to do any of it without him. My parents gave me the stepping stones to get here and pushed me when my fears stopped me. And finally, my two schools, Ransom Everglades and NYU instilled a sense of curiosity, a love of education, and the tools to create anything I dreamed of.

Website: www.santaluciaskincare.com

Instagram: @santaluciaskincare