Today, we are talking with Bruna Valence, founder of Terrain Brazilian Botanicals. Bruna's story is rooted in the scary challenge with cancer and grew into a wonderful business centered around sustainability, nourishment. and a reconnection with ancestral healing.
Hi, Bruna! Where do we find you right now, how has your day unfolded so far?
Right now, I’m working from one of my favorite coffee/tea shops - Kingdom Coffee. Today, I’m focusing on community and marketing. Ideating meaningful ways to engage with our growing community is one of those things that lights me up and makes me smile.
- Let's start at the beginning. What is the origin story of your business? How and why did you start?
Terrain’s journey began from a personal quest for deeper wellness when I was navigating through a cancer diagnosis while pregnant with my second son. It led me to a place of surrender and exploring raw parts within myself. It also led me to the soul of where I’m from - the Amazon rainforest in Brazil. While there, I met incredible natives who shared their stories and ingredients that had been healing them and all of us for centuries.
By then, I had just left my career of 10+ years in corporate marketing. I had no intention of starting a business, but after researching the market, I saw an opportunity. While shelves are pretty full of all kinds of products these days, there was something not commonly found: authentic products that were both raw and refined and that focused on nourishment - the foundation of what it means to care for our largest organ, the skin. I joined a natural skin formulation school and ventured into creating face oils and body lotion bars. That’s when Terrain Brazilian Botanicals was born.
All products are made in MN with intention and unique ingredients that are wild-foraged and directly sourced from the Amazon in a way that protects the people and the rainforest. They are packaged in compostable baskets made by women artisans from the only plant on earth that’s naturally golden.
- What did you want to do/be as a child?
I thought of becoming a chef, flight attendant, lawyer, and businesswoman. As a kid, I played a lot at my dad’s office, pretending to be on the phone, typing things into the computer, and stapling blank sheets of paper together. That must be why I decided to go to business school :)
- Do you see this childhood dream present in some shape or form today?
Even though it was hard to reconcile all these interests growing up, now I see how they are all parts of me I still love and get to pour into Terrain: serving others through nourishment, global connections, advocacy, and now, physical products that represent it all. Terrain is the childhood dream I didn’t know I had.
- What are the foundational values of your business? What is really important to you?
Courage and connection are key values for me and Terrain. Courage to be vulnerable, to fail, to start again. Connecting to ourselves, each other, and the world around us. These are the values and the culture I want to bring forth in Terrain’s team and the qualities I hope our customers and partners appreciate in each interaction.
- What is the story behind the name of your business?
Terra(in). Terra means earth/soil in Brazilian Portuguese. From which all things are born and return to. Each terrain, like our skin, is unique and needs to be nourished in order to thrive.
- What is your favorite of all the products you create, and why?
SELVA Face Oil - I jumped with joy when I created the final formulation and would take it with me everywhere for months before launch. It has a deep green color from the raw açaí oil. It has an involving scent that is herbal with a touch of fruitiness from the Brazilian passion fruit oil. It feels rich when it touches the skin. It invites us to be present with all our senses.
- What practices bring you joy and inspiration?
Prayer, journaling, reading, traveling, giving, community, nature.
- Is there something we did not ask and you want to let people know?
It was one of those sun-filled days by the lake when I walked into Jewelweed a couple of years ago, when Terrain was just an idea. I turned to my friend who was with me and said, “This store is special. Can you imagine if they sell our products one day? What a dream.” We are a new business, and we are only getting started. From our communities in Brazil to our local community and partners in the Twin Cities, we feel incredibly grateful to share this adventure with all of you. And I hope that in one way or another, Terrain inspires you to live a nourished, courageous, and connected life.
Thank you, Bruna, for answering our questions! We are honored to carry your beautiful products in the shop and share so many of the same values.
