Actress and entrepreneur Malea Rose is no stranger to the beauty and entertainment industry. She has seen it all while working on Hollywood's biggest sets such as “Lake Dead,” “Entourage,” and “New Girl.” Inspired by her upbringing in Hawaii, she created a CBD luxury skincare line called Vie En Rose in 2020. Three years later, the brand is sold online and endorsed by celebrities such as Snoop Dogg, Brittany O’Grady, Natasha Leggero, and celebrity makeup artist Gia Marie. The two most popular products are the Love Potion Beauty Oil, an anti-inflammatory CBD and anti-aging potion, and the Mile High Ultra-Hydrating Mist, dubbed “the best face mist on the market.” We caught up with Malea to discuss her inspiration behind the brand and her thoughts on anti-aging products.
I love everything you’re doing with Vie En Rose. Was Hawaii the inspiration behind it all?
First of all, thank you. That means so much to me. Vie En Rose is truly an extension of my heart. I love Kauai so much. Hawaii is always a part of everything that I do. It's my home, what raised me, what gave me the foundation of my life. My mom still lives there, and I want to visit much more. Hawaii also has a certain unique vitality that really is this feeling of love, cleansing, and 'aloha.’ I was raised in a super organic, earthy setting—a jungle on the beach. You pick fruit and live in a bikini. I go out to dinner with salt water in my hair. It's given me a very natural and organic approach to beauty. Less is more. My meticulous, perfect skincare formulations are jam-packed full of botanicals, hibiscus, and coconut. My new candles are made with the cleanest soy wax. The brand is about being blissed out, escaping to paradise, and feeling good inside and out. You can take the girl out of Kauai, even let her name her brand [in] French, but you can never take Hawaii out of the girl! Now that's a fact. There are many celebrity beauty brands out on the market. However, your brand stands out to me in terms of its organic ingredients and brand visuals. Can you describe your process from the brand’s inception to its
launch? Was it stressful for you?
I started Vie En Rose to cure my own skin issues. I did. Then I wanted to help cure others. I am. The business comes from my heart. I think it's also because I was so hands-on from inception to every single step of the way. My passion for these products, and probably my lack of experience in business, is what actually has made this brand so unique. I didn't go to business school, so I gave myself a crash course MBA in the form of actually doing and building. Each ingredient I meticulously hand-picked, working with one of the best labs in the USA, and we formulated for 2 years. I know every ingredient's purpose and efficiency and am one of the only products on the market not using a toxic preservative called phenoxyethanol. I have a background in entertainment and storytelling, so I absolutely love the creative process. I dream up images and ideas in my head, and I always want to leave the people I touch with a positive and uplifting message. Making others feel good truly makes me happy. Has it been stressful? Yes! While all my friends were traveling last summer, I was learning about S-curves and financial models. Every day is a learning curve, but I welcome it. When I look back
on the girl who started this to the woman I've grown into now, it's a very empowering feeling. It's still just the beginning. Yes, I'm always stressed a little, but I'm doing something I love.
In the world of beauty, we’re consistently bombarded with anti- aging products. What do you feel women need in the anti-aging space? How do you feel about aging? And do you feel women should embrace their age rather than fight it?
First of all, what happened to natural beauty? I can't keep up with all these TikTok fads and face surgeries. It's outrageous. I think the pressure it’s now causing younger kids is even more worrisome. I see very young people dramatically changing their faces with filler. In the 90s, the fashion magazines were called out for over-airbrushing models. We are back there now. I understand minor retouches, but people have forgotten what natural beauty is. The inevitable thing about life is that we are all going to age. My mission is to create a space for timeless classic beauty, based on healthy skin, taking care of yourself, educating yourself about ingredients. Who wants to stress about something we cannot change. The pressure to be perfect these days is overwhelming. What's beautiful is confidence and age is how we feel. Embrace it, but do it glowing and hydrated.
Can you describe specifically the benefits of CBD in your products?
They are magical. Can I first say my oil has been getting rave feedback? It's been alleviating PMS cramps, body aches, pains, and inflammation of the hands, not to mention cleaning up complexions and combating acne—makes my heart sing. CBD is an absolute miracle ingredient across the board, but it really hits the magic marker for me in skincare/beauty. CBD also addresses the three main causes of aging: inflammation, dehydration, and free-radical damage. Inflammation of the skin is what causes acne, psoriasis, skin allergies, bumps, and CBD is a potent anti-inflammatory. You're also absorbing the calming and holistic effects of CBD (no THC). My mist literally helps cure my migraines. I haven't left home without it for two years. The fact that it cures pain too… Cannabis heals. If you haven't tried it, I strongly suggest you do. I get a lot of DMs from people asking questions, and I love educating and having that dialogue.
Do you have specific beauty brands that you can’t live without?
What are your thoughts on retinol?
I have so many thoughts on retinol! Some people use it and look amazing, and some people are dry, red, and crispy looking. I do wonder about the long-term effects, if it is really speeding up cell recovery of the skin or slowly thinning it. I don't have the downtime to walk around with my face red and peeling off. I would love to explore a solution to that in the retinol space. I've been very scared to try it myself for those reasons, plus my skin is so sensitive. I love making my own body oils with sweet almond oil and my Love Potion Beauty Oil mixed together with other things. I am obsessed with Epicuren Kukui Coconut After Bath body lotion (it does contain my no-no ingredient,
so I use it sparingly). I am always on the quest for a perfect lip gloss, do you exist? Leahlani is a local Kauai brand that makes these organic honey face masks that I love. They're basically clean enough to eat. To be honest I pretty much just use my own products—I have an entire line soon to launch that I've been using for over two years—and then I am constantly trying out new things. I am also a huge DIY beauty gal, who also loves a pampering spa day.
As a beauty brand CEO, what is your typical day like? And would you say your celebrity connections have helped the brand's visibility? Can you give tips for any of our readers or celebrity readers that may have aspirations to have a career in beauty?
Every day is a new adventure as an entrepreneur. Some days are glamorous, social, and fun; some I'm spending days working from home, doing calls in my jammies. My 15 years in the entertainment industry have served as a step in my life ladder that has helped bring me to this point. I moved to California from Kauai at 16 without knowing a single person, so every relationship was built organically, and all the celebrities using it are promoting it because they see results and love it organically. I don't pay for ads (CBD can't) or influencers. But yes, people know celebrities get the best of the best, and often for free. So you know, if they are purchasing and using your product, you are definitely doing something right. At the end of the day, we're all humans with flaws. Tips for readers: passion is everything. If you don't believe in your product, no one else will. Don't be intimidated by the work—it's a lot and hard to know where to start—but there are so many wonderful resources out there. You'd also be surprised how generous other entrepreneurs will be with their time and knowledge. I'm always being mentored; I also mentor other people. It's the most beautiful way to empower others. Don't give up; nothing happens overnight. Do you know when to stick to your guns and when to listen to others to move and flow with the current?
What’s next for Vie En Rose?
I'm not only launching more of my skincare line, but I also am launching Vie En Rose candles because I love candles! They are the cleanest, most decadent candles I've ever smelled, hand-poured by Flores Lane. An idea is a beautiful thing, don't overthink it, and get to work executing it or someone else might! But, if you think outside the box and do things your way, chances are that will set your brand apart. It's all about bringing a fresh approach to a pre-existing, slightly dated market.
Shop the fresh products of Vie En Rose at vieenrose.com.
Creative Credits
- Written by
- Christina Rosas Anastasiou
- Image courtesy
- Malea Rose
- Retouching
- Brianna Kish
