VALERIE
We recently had the pleasure of chatting with the co-founder of Valerie, a company dedicated to helping women navigate the often-confusing world of perimenopause. We discussed everything from the common misconceptions surrounding perimenopause to the innovative formulation of their flagship product, Daily Essential. Here's the full Q&A from our conversation:
Q: What is Valerie all about?
A: Valerie is all about perimenopause, but with a twist. We believe perimenopause shouldn't define you. It's about living fully and freely, and we're here to help you give your symptoms something to rage about! We want to do things differently, cutting through the confusion and misinformation that often surrounds this topic.
Q: Why the focus on perimenopause specifically?
A: While menopause is becoming more widely discussed, perimenopause is still shrouded in mystery. People often don't realize how early it can start, sometimes in your 30s. Many women struggle with symptoms for years without even associating them with perimenopause. We aim to educate and support women through this potentially long phase of their lives.
Q: What inspired you to create Valerie?
A: It was a combination of my experience in the retail industry, where I was always looking at market gaps and consumer trends, and my personal experience of feeling absolutely terrible. Looking back, five years ago, in my late 30s, I was experiencing extreme fatigue, impacting my work and social life, along with anxiety and heart palpitations. Doctors dismissed my concerns as stress. I went down a rabbit hole of naturopaths and nutritionists, discovering severe vitamin and mineral deficiencies. This, coupled with my co-founder's mother's experience of being prescribed antidepressants for perimenopause symptoms instead of HRT, highlighted the massive gap in support and understanding.
Q: What makes Daily Essential different?
A: Daily Essential is a liposomal liquid supplement, not a pill or powder. This delivery system is crucial. Pills and powders can be broken down by stomach acid and liver enzymes, meaning you might not absorb all the nutrients. Liposomal technology encapsulates the 11 ingredients in cell-like structures, protecting them through the digestive tract and delivering them directly to the bloodstream. This makes it 46 times more bioavailable than pills or powders, leading to faster results.
Q: Why a liquid instead of capsules?
A: Personally, I was tired of taking handfuls of capsules every day. We wanted to pack as much goodness as possible into one product. Daily Essential has 11 ingredients targeting the most common perimenopause symptoms. The liposomal delivery also means it gets to work very quickly.
Q: What are the key ingredients and their benefits?
A: We focus on addressing common symptoms like fatigue and anxiety. Ashwagandha is a key ingredient for calming anxiety. B6 and B12 boost energy. Vitamin D, often deficient, also helps with energy. Iron is included as many women need additional iron. Magnesium promotes better sleep, which in turn improves energy. It's the combination and specific levels of these 11 ingredients that make it so effective.
Q: How quickly do people see results?
A: It varies, but in our trial, 1 in 2 people felt a difference within a week, and 80% felt a difference within 4 weeks. Longer-term use can bring additional benefits like improved PMS symptoms, bone health, and immunity. We've even had a doctor report a significant reduction in PMS symptoms after just one cycle.
Q: Valerie's marketing is very different. Why?
A: A lot of the messaging around menopause and perimenopause is very pink and fluffy, suggesting everything will be okay. But that's not always the reality. We wanted to be more honest and disruptive, talking to women how they want to be talked to. Perimenopause is the least interesting thing about you; it shouldn't define you. It can actually be an empowering time, a chance to make positive changes in your life, your nutrition, your boundaries, and your relationships. It's a time to put yourself first. We call it the "no fucks era" because it's about breaking free from societal expectations and finding your true self.
Q: What has been the biggest challenge in building Valerie?
A: Definitely the perimenopause symptoms themselves! Brain fog, self-doubt, and anxiety have been incredibly challenging. It's hard not to compare myself to how I felt 10 years ago. Feeling like I'm not doing enough or that it's not good enough has been a real struggle.
Q: Where can people find Daily Essential?
A: You can buy it on our website [insert website address] or on Amazon. We're also stocked with online retailers W Wellness and Face the Future. We plan to expand into physical retail stores this year.
Q: What are Valerie's future plans?
A: We have some exciting things in the pipeline! We're always listening to customer feedback to identify common challenges and develop new solutions.
Q: You also have an ambassador program, right?
A: Yes! If you're active in the beauty buddy app, have a good following, or work with women in any capacity, we have an ambassador program. You can share a discount with your network and earn cashback on purchases. We believe word-of-mouth is powerful, and we want to get Daily Essential into as many hands as possible.
We're excited to partner with Valerie to spread awareness about perimenopause and help women thrive.
Stay tuned for more collaborations and discussions on this important topic!
