{"id":7717,"date":"2016-05-28T14:40:38","date_gmt":"2016-05-28T14:40:38","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/formulabotanica.com\/?p=7717"},"modified":"2024-09-04T10:09:46","modified_gmt":"2024-09-04T09:09:46","slug":"okoko-cosmetiques","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/formulabotanica.com\/okoko-cosmetiques\/","title":{"rendered":"Graduate Success Story: Oy\u00e9ta Kokoroko launches Okoko Cosmetiques"},"content":{"rendered":"

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]We’re seeing some very beautiful\u00a0product range launches from Formula Botanica graduates at the moment – so we’re very excited\u00a0to be able to tell you about Okoko Cosmetiques<\/a> in Canada. Today on the blog we speak to\u00a0Oy\u00e9ta Kokoroko, Founder of Okoko Cosmetiques and Formula Botanica graduate.\u00a0Oy\u00e9ta\u00a0has worked very hard to launch her beautiful brand and is seeing positive reviews for her products since launching in February 2016. Welcome to\u00a0Oy\u00e9ta!<\/p>\n

\"Okoko<\/p>\n

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Hi\u00a0Oy\u00e9ta, can you please introduce yourself?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

\"OyetaMy name is Oy\u00e9ta Kokoroko.\u00a0I was born in Togo (a small country located in West Africa) but grew up in Montr\u00e9al, Quebec.\u00a0I was raised by my grandparents in Togo until I was 5 and then\u00a0travelled to\u00a0Canada alone to be reunited with my parents and my brother.<\/p>\n

As a child I was naturally curious, athletic and a total \u201cnerd”. I had problem skin as a teenager and as a young adult. This was due partially to my nutrition and diet. Eventually, it got\u00a0worse and I started suffering from joint pain. By\u00a0the time I was 19 the pain was sufficient that I decided to seek help. I was not comfortable with the idea of taking typical western medicine to treat symptoms (and not to effect a cure!) at such a young age, so I kept searching for solutions. Eventually, I considered naturopathic medicine and\u00a0learned\u00a0that my diet was affecting my health and was the root cause of the symptoms I was experiencing.<\/p>\n

So, tired and\u00a0desperate\u00a0to stop my joint pain,\u00a0I\u00a0adjusted my diet and noticed immediate improvements. My skin improved,\u00a0and my joint pain\u00a0ultimately disappeared. I was shocked, intrigued and hooked. I enrolled into a naturopathic medicine program for my own interest and got to learn about holistic nutrition, herbal medicine,\u00a0aromatherapy etc… the more I learned, the more curious I became. I started reading food labels, skincare labels and researching ingredients. This led me to become more serious about what I put into my body and on my skin.<\/p>\n

I was also looking for\u00a0solutions to my\u00a0acne, blemishes, dark spots\u00a0(and dull skin on top of that).\u00a0<\/em>Improving my diet and embracing a more\u00a0balanced nutrition became\u00a0important foundations of a healthy\u00a0lifestyle; finding natural solutions for my skin became a passion! Initially, I was self-taught (one of my favorite things was making soaps!) but ultimately I decided that I wanted to become a professional skincare formulator.\u00a0I took courses on skincare formulation in Montreal and then\u00a0<\/em>found Formula Botanica. I was\u00a0thrilled! and the rest, as they say, is history.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

Please tell us about your business \u2013 where are you based and what do you do?\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>\n

I am based in Montr\u00e9al and Vancouver, Canada because I divide my time between these two\u00a0beautiful cities. I was in Vancouver in November 2014 when I decided I wanted to make a difference with a skincare brand.\u00a0My dream is to found a skincare brand that not only provides beautiful, natural, effective products but that also brings positive change in our community\u00a0and our environment by taking\u00a0conscious, caring and empowering actions for the good of all.\u00a0Okoko Cosm\u00e9tiques was born and ultimately launched\u00a0in February 2016.<\/p>\n

\"OkokoOkoko specializes in luxury facial treatments designed to reveal a skin\u2019s natural radiance. The initial launch of Okoko was based on 4 fundamental products for reviving your complexion:\u00a0two\u00a0masks, a toner and a serum designed for normal, dry and mature skin. This will be followed by\u00a0products specifically\u00a0designed\u00a0for combination to oily skin types (and we have much more to come!). Ultimately we will provide a series of high-end collections designed for specific purposes: brightening, purifying, anti-aging and men\u2019s skincare.<\/p>\n

We use high quality, natural (organic whenever possible), renewable, fair trade ingredients.\u00a0Each product is made by hand in small batches in our studio, and I personally attend to every detail of the process.\u00a0My hope is that my products will be enjoyed in those rare, peaceful moments that can be so hard to find in\u00a0 today\u2019s busy world. And maybe even to provide the motivation to help you find some time that is just for you to relax, regroup, refresh and rejuvenate. Ultimately, we all like to pamper ourselves.<\/p>\nIf you\u2019re strong in your convictions, it will give you the strength to keep going #entrepreneur <\/a><\/span>Share on X<\/a><\/span>\n

Where did the name Okoko Cosmetiques<\/em> come from and where did you get the inspiration from for your brand?\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Okoko comes from my first initial, Oy\u00e9ta, and the first four letters of my last name, Kokoroko.<\/p>\n

My name has its roots in West Africa where each name has a story and a meaning. In our language, Oy\u00e9ta means “the last of the bloodline” which refers to rare, unique, scarce…\u00a0Kokoroko\u00a0means\u00a0\u201cStrength\u201d\u00a0specifically a state where you feel strong and healthy (both in mind and body) and refers to the holistic blend of physical, mental, and spiritual well-being that is the result of consciously choosing to live a quality life.<\/p>\n

In combination, these themes supply my inspiration and I feel\u00a0they\u00a0embody what\u00a0Okoko\u00a0is about: empowering our clients to achieve wellness, health and beautiful skin.<\/p>\n

\"Okoko<\/p>\n

What type of skincare products do you sell at Okoko and which one is your favourite?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Okoko makes finely crafted spa-quality masks, serums and toners. It\u2019s hard to pick a favorite for the simple reason that I use them all, they are part of my daily beauty routine. But if I had to pick one, it would be “Les 16 Pr\u00e9cieux<\/a>” (The Precious 16).<\/p>\n

I guess I\u2019m a lover of quality, exceptional products that are finely crafted and hard to find. Les 16 Pr\u00e9cieux is exactly that, a super-charged\u00a0combination\u00a0of 25 high performance ingredients formulated to hydrate and\u00a0revive the skin.<\/p>\n

We chose the name Les 16 Pr\u00e9cieux because it is formulated with 16 of the finest, most precious and rare oils and extracts found in the world. It\u2019s also infused with vitamins A, C, E and Coenzyme Q10 to make your skin look younger and more radiant. It not only hydrates, but provides an amazing glow as it fades scars, age spots and blemishes.\u00a0It\u2019s truly a\u00a0luxurious treat for your skin.<\/p>\n

Which courses did you take with Formula Botanica and how do you intend to use this information in your business?\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>\n

\"OkokoI took the complete International Organic Skincare Entrepreneur Program<\/a>. I am currently working on the Certificate in Cosmetic Stability Testing<\/a> because, now that the facial line is launched, I\u00a0want\u00a0to understand the process of testing products and how to work with laboratories. Even though\u00a0I already knew\u00a0how to formulate skincare from previous courses, Formula Botanica helped me push that knowledge to the professional level and to start my\u00a0career in the cosmetics industry.<\/p>\n

Some of the things I learned that I find useful in my business are: skin science, formulating high performance cosmetics, good manufacturing\u00a0practice,\u00a0preservation, laboratory equipment, legal requirements, private formulation services and much more.\u00a0Credits to the Formula Botanica team for their amazing professionalism, exceptional work and mentorship. They also created an active\u00a0Facebook classroom\u00a0where we support one another and share ideas and feedback. Being in contact with professional likeminded people makes a huge difference. Thank you.<\/p>\n

What do you enjoy most about running your own business?\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>\n

I enjoy all aspects of the creative process from researching, to formulating a product, to figuring out the branding, logo, launch\u00a0strategy\u00a0and blog. I also enjoy the fact that I get to look after people, I\u2019ve always enjoyed looking after the people that are closest to me. This is a way for me to make a difference on a larger scale, uplift people\u2019s lives and, ultimately, I think it\u2019s an\u00a0opportunity to make a difference on a larger scale.<\/p>\n

What was the hardest thing about launching your own skincare range?\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>\n

\"OkokoNot giving up. There were so many hurdles and challenges to be overcome that, at times, it was\u00a0difficult to keep going.\u00a0But I am so happy that I did! I also found it difficult to stay focused on my main products to completion. I have so many ideas that I\u2019m working on and eventually would like to launch. Finally, learning to accept the fact that, no matter how much effort and preparation goes into my products and my business, a good portion of my learning will still come from mistakes (lol!).<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\nSolidify your business vision in your mind because it will sustain you. #entrepreneur <\/a><\/span>Share on X<\/a><\/span>\n

What is the one piece of advice you would give to aspiring skincare entrepreneurs who want to follow in your footsteps?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

I don\u2019t know if I have enough\u00a0experience to answer that but here\u2019s what I would say right now: It\u2019s important to have a vision and to make sure you know what\u2019s important to you, what drives you, what you need to\u00a0accomplish. And work on that until it resonates and that vision is solid in your mind because it will sustain you.<\/p>\n

You will need it to sustain you, because there will be challenges, there will be hurdles and there will be unexpected setbacks. If you\u2019re founded in your\u00a0convictions, it will help you to find the strength to keep going. Finally, I want to say: don\u2019t give up and have fun with it: “A journey of a thousands miles begins with a single step<\/em>\u201d.<\/p>\n

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Thank you to\u00a0Oy\u00e9ta for sharing her insights with us here on the Formula Botanica blog. And make sure you buy your Okoko Cosmetiques products today! Here’s how to find Okoko Cosmetiques online:<\/p>\n