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A SHOT OF CAFFEINE FOR YOUR SKIN! Interview with Poulad Djamali (SK 2009)

20 December 2019 INTERVIEW

Can you tell us about your studies at SKEMA Business School?

I completed a master’s in Business Intelligence and Knowledge Management on the Sophia Antipolis campus. It was highly specialised training and gave an avant-garde view of this field, which was still little known at the time. The lecturers were top-notch and at the cutting edge of innovation. They had a very concrete approach to the field. They passed on tools and a way of thinking that made it possible to apply trend spotting, business intelligence and knowledge management concepts. A real asset for my professional career, which started soon after I graduated.


How did your own story inspire you to create Terre de Mars, your coffee-based brand of skincare products, and why?

I was born in Iran and I lived there until I moved to France for my schooling. I have very positive and vivid memories of my grand-mother, who used to use coffee as a beauty secret. That’s where I got the idea for Terre de Mars in 2018. After confirming the multiple benefits of this ingredient, my business partners and I decided to launch the first unisex brand of skincare products made from coffee. We immediately adopted an environmentally responsible approach because, like us, our skin needs to be nourished with natural ingredients. As part of this, we took our brand through the strict Ecocert and PETA certification processes to obtain the COSMOS ORGANIC, Natural, Vegan and Cruelty-free labels. The formulations are ultra healthy and our products all have an excellent or good rating on Yuka.   


Tell us a little about these products made from coffee

When applied to the skin, coffee is an excellent antioxidant known for its lipolytic properties. This vitamin-rich ingredient has a firming and plumping effect, and when it is in grain form it also exfoliates.

For our first product, we decided to present this ingredient in its most unprocessed form. So in our Résurgence and Luminance scrubs, it is roasted, ground, and added to our formula to exfoliate, moisturise and protect the skin. The product is easy to use and very pleasing to the senses. You can immediately feel its exfoliant and moisturising qualities. After this success, we developed the rest of the range by releasing a face mask with bio-cellulose, an oil and a cream for the face, a hair oil and a hand cream. Today, our products are sold in 25 shops throughout Europe, including prestigious stores like Le Bon Marché Rive Gauche in Paris, which has believed in us since the start of our venture.


What are your plans for the future?

We are getting ready to launch other products made with coffee or caffeine extracts for our bath range by early 2020. We’re also working on targeting a new clientele, such as boutique and niche hotels and spas. 


How could the alumni network help you?

We’d like to develop the brand and for that there are several avenues possible: developing our online presence, expanding our list of retailers around the world, creating partnerships or capsule editions with complementary brands, and seeking additional capital to help us implement this strategy. Each of these avenues could be a good fit for an alumni today, and I’d be happy to have a chat to forge new relationships and strengthen the alumni network.


For more information, visit 
www.terredemars.com or contact Poulad Djamali

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