Check Out Sabine Dodane’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Sabine Dodane.

Hi Sabine, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I was born and raised in a small town in Eastern France. My mom made everything from scratch. She was very discerning and a stickler for quality (I inherited those traits). She believed in experiential learning and taught me to rely on my senses to determine when something was fresh, ripe, tasty, well-crafted, properly grown, etc… It made my world colorful, exciting, and it gave me confidence in my abilities.

I spent a lot of time in nature. Foraging was a part of every weekend outing.

Being a nurturer and a maker, I started creating beauty products for myself and my loved ones using natural ingredients. It felt right to feed the skin the same way we (should) nourish our bodies: with wholesome ingredients, not chemicals.

My approach to self-care and skincare is still based on the same principles. I created Rêves de Sabine (“Sabine’s Dreams”) to share with others the pleasure of fresh skincare, made with ingredients selected for their quality and as close to their original form as possible. Minimally processed ingredients retain more of their natural properties, smell great, and feel great on the skin. And I believe that when you feed your skin the nutrients it craves, you are nurturing your entire well-being.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I think that you have to be a risk-taker to become an entrepreneur, and perhaps a bit insane.

For me, it wasn’t until late in life that I realized that my true calling was, after all, what I loved most as a youth: hand-crafted natural skincare and fragrances.

As a designer in packaging for most of my career, I lived and breathed creativity. But I always yearned to shape not only what was on the outside of the package but also what was inside. Eventually, to offset the stress of my demanding job, I started experimenting with natural essential oils and aromatherapy, and one day it hit me: It made me intensely happier than being a designer.

So, just like that, I quit my job and embarked on this beautiful journey. Because it was unplanned, it was a scary leap of faith, financially unwise, and definitely tough!

Indeed, it takes more than spirit, creativity, knowledge, and determination to have a thriving business. Every day I have to do something that does not come naturally to me: I have to be a businesswoman. Overcoming challenges, including natural disasters like repeat fires, and now Covid pushes me to be resilient, adaptable, and to think out of the box. I learned to take everything one day at a time… which is, actually, a wonderful lesson in life.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I am the artisan and alchemist of Rêves de Sabine (Sabine’s Dreams in French), all-natural, botanical, small-batch beauty and fragrance line.

Guided by artisanal French skincare practices, I create pure skin and body care solutions that help you achieve your best, most luxurious skin, naturally, based on these four principles:

• Simplicity. I believe in simple, natural, restorative beauty routines that delight your senses and enhance your overall well-being.

• Freshness. Our skincare is made fresh daily in small batches, with the utmost attention to detail.

• Purity. Our products are 100% natural, with a shortlist of highly effective, minimally processed ingredients. We do not use any preservatives, additives, fillers, or anything not directly beneficial to your skin and hair.

• Sustainability. I believe in less waste. Our products are wrapped in beautiful, eco-friendly packaging that is either reusable, recyclable, or compostable.

I take pride in being authentic, ethical, never a hard sell. I want the products to speak for themselves and let my clients’ own words set the tone for Rêves de Sabine. I bring a very personal touch to beauty care and have a reputation for being extremely passionate, meticulous, and quality-driven. I am always available to answer my clients’ questions. Transparency is so important to me!

Any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general?
Finding a mentor is something very personal. You have to sense that that person really gets you. Otherwise, they cannot effectively support your passion or share expertise that is relevant to you.

In terms of networking, I find that connecting with your community, contributing in a genuine way, collaborating with like-minded businesses, and being interested in supporting your fellow entrepreneurs are the best ways to generate meaningful connections and promote your business.

Contact Info:

• Email: [email protected]
• Website: https://www.revesdesabine.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/revesdesabine
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/revesdesabine