Wenbo Wu, managing director of Valanolia, is on a mission to bring the natural power of olives from farm to skin. What started as a family tradition of cultivating olive trees has turned into a passion for creating luxurious, antioxidant-rich skincare that nourishes and protects the body, not just the face.
In this interview, Wenbo shares the inspiration behind Valanolia’s Olive Essence Body Wash, the benefits of using cold-pressed olives, and why he believes it’s time to give the skin on your body the same love and care you give your face.
Wenbo, I love that Valanolia is bringing luxury skincare to the body as well as the face. What sparked the idea to create an antioxidant-rich body wash, and how did you make it a reality?
The idea behind creating an antioxidant-rich body wash came naturally from our passion for olives. At Valanolia, we have always believed in the incredible benefits of olive oil, not just for food but also for skincare.
Our olive farm, which has been in our family since 1972, grows the Valanolia olive variety, rich in natural antioxidants and phyto-squalene. We wanted to create a product that would nourish and protect the skin, just like how olive oil does for hair and face.
To make it a reality, we focused on using only the best ingredients from our own olive farm. Every batch of our body wash is made with olive oil that we personally produce, ensuring that it retains all the natural antioxidants.
Partnering with top chemists, including experts from the Guangzhou Institute of Chemistry, we’ve crafted a formula that brings out the best in olives, replacing synthetic additives with natural olive-based ingredients. The result is a luxurious, antioxidant-packed body wash that offers deep hydration and a truly indulgent skincare experience.
The Olive Essence Body Wash sounds amazing, especially with all those antioxidants from cold-pressed olives. Can you tell us a bit about how you source and process these olives to get the best out of them for the skin?
At Valanolia, we take great pride in the entire process, from tree to bottle. Our olives are grown on our own farm, in Markwood, Victoria, where we’ve been cultivating the Valanolia variety since 1972. These olives are rich in antioxidants, phyto-squalene, and essential nutrients that nourish the skin.
To ensure we get the highest quality for our body wash, we harvest the olives at their peak ripeness. Timing is crucial because that’s when they have the highest concentration of beneficial compounds. Once harvested, we cold-press the olives immediately to preserve the antioxidants and natural oils. This method ensures that none of the essential nutrients are lost to heat or processing.
Our production process is designed to extract the purest olive essence, and by using cold-pressed olives, we maintain the natural integrity of the oil. This careful sourcing and processing allow us to provide a body wash that deeply nourishes the skin, delivering all the benefits of fresh, antioxidant-rich olive oil.
A lot of us tend to focus our skincare on our faces, but your new product reminds us that the rest of our body needs love too. Why do you think it’s important to extend our skincare routine beyond just our face?
While facial skincare often gets most of the attention, the skin on the rest of our body deserves the same level of care. Our skin is our largest organ, and it faces daily exposure to environmental stressors, such as pollution, UV rays, and harsh weather conditions. Just like the face, the skin on our body can become dry, irritated, and lose elasticity over time if it’s not properly cared for.
At Valanolia, we believe in treating the whole body with the same love and attention we give to our face. By using natural, antioxidant-rich ingredients like our cold-pressed olive oil, we can help protect and nourish the skin all over. Hydration, protection against free radicals, and maintaining the skin’s natural barrier are just as important for the body as they are for the face.
That’s why we developed our Olive Essence Body Wash – to provide a luxurious skincare experience that extends beyond the face, offering deep hydration, nourishment, and protection for the entire body.
Valanolia’s commitment to sustainability is really inspiring. How do you balance creating high-quality, effective products with staying eco-friendly, and what has that journey been like for you?
Sustainability has always been at the heart of what we do at Valanolia, and it’s something we’re deeply passionate about. Balancing high-quality products with eco-friendliness is a challenge we’ve embraced from the very beginning.
Our journey starts on our own farm, where we grow and harvest the olives ourselves. This allows us to ensure sustainable farming practices, like minimising water use and avoiding harmful pesticides, while preserving the biodiversity of the land.
In our production process, we focus on using every part of the olive to reduce waste. Our cold-pressing method is not only great for maintaining the quality of our olive oil, but it’s also energy-efficient. We avoid harmful chemicals and prioritise natural, biodegradable ingredients that are safe for both the skin and the environment.
This journey has been incredibly rewarding because it’s allowed us to create products that are not only effective and luxurious but also kind to the planet. We believe that nature provides everything we need for beautiful, healthy skin, and it’s our responsibility to give back by ensuring our practices are as sustainable as possible.
Your body wash tackles everything from fine lines to hyperpigmentation. How did you ensure it would be gentle yet effective for so many different skin concerns?
Creating a body wash that addresses a range of skin concerns while remaining gentle was a top priority for us at Valanolia. We knew that the key lay in the natural power of olives. Our cold-pressed olive oil is rich in antioxidants, vitamins, and phyto-squalene, which help to combat free radicals, support skin elasticity, and even out skin tone—all without the need for harsh and unnecessary chemicals.
Of course, the exact formula is our little secret! But we worked closely with experts, including our partners at the Guangzhou Institute of Chemistry, to formulate a product that strikes the perfect balance between effectiveness and gentleness. By focusing on olive-based, skin-friendly ingredients, we ensured that the body wash would not only hydrate and nourish but also address concerns like fine lines, dryness, and hyperpigmentation without causing irritation.
Our formula is designed to maintain the skin’s natural barrier, so it works well for all skin types, including sensitive skin. The combination of olive-based ingredients and our gentle formulation process ensures that the body wash can deliver results over time while still being gentle enough for daily use.
We hear a lot about free radicals, but not everyone knows just how much they can damage our skin. How is Valanolia working to raise awareness about the importance of protecting our skin from these environmental threats?
Free radicals are a major contributor to skin damage, leading to premature ageing, hyperpigmentation, and a breakdown in skin elasticity. At Valanolia, we believe it’s important to not only provide solutions but also raise awareness about why protecting the skin from these environmental threats is so crucial.
We make it a point to educate our customers through clear and transparent communication. Whether it’s through product packaging, social media, or customer interactions, we highlight the role antioxidants play in neutralising free radicals. Our products, like the Olive Essence Body Wash, are rich in natural antioxidants, which help protect the skin against oxidative stress and environmental damage.
Additionally, we work to demystify skincare by simplifying the science behind our formulations. We want people to understand that everyday factors like UV exposure and pollution create free radicals that damage the skin, and how antioxidants can serve as a natural defence. By making this information accessible, we aim to empower people to make informed choices and prioritise skin protection as part of their daily routine.
Looking ahead, what exciting new products or projects are in the works at Valanolia? Is there anything you’re particularly excited about that you can share with us?
We’re always innovating at Valanolia, and one of the most exciting projects we’re working on is our olive-based pet shampoo. The inspiration for this product actually came from our beloved Border Collie on our farm. Just like we prioritise our own skincare, we believe our pets deserve the same level of care and attention.
The olive pet shampoo is formulated with the same cold-pressed olive oil that we use in our skincare products, packed with antioxidants and natural ingredients that help nourish and protect the coat and skin of our furry friends. It’s gentle, effective, and perfect for pets with sensitive skin. We’re really excited to bring this product to life, as it’s an extension of our goal to care for the ones we love, including our pets!
We’re really excited about what’s ahead at Valanolia—this is just the beginning! As we continue to create new products, we’re staying true to our focus on sustainability and quality. It’s an exciting journey, and we can’t wait to see where it takes us next.
