EQ Love's motto is 'Live, Love, Care'.
“EQ Love arises through one of my great passions: surfing”, he tells us Franck Bywalski, an entrepreneur and athlete dedicated to creating a specific bag for ocean lovers. “Surfing is a sport in which contact with the sea and the sun are constant, and I realized the lack of protection against the sun of those who practice it and the harmful components for the marine environment that conventional brands bring. Faced with this need, the project of creating a lifestyle brand began to take shape in my mind, starting with solar products that protect athletes before, during and after practicing their activity, and above all, that it be ecological for the conservation of the planet.
In Biarritz, 2011, the project becomes a reality: This is how EQ Love was born, a firm of certified natural cosmetics and responsible ecological products inspired by surfing, wellness and, of course, travel. His motto is 'Live, Love, Care' and Franck declares himself committed to the adventure that these words imply, that embody values, way of life and the very essence of the brand.
On the right, Franck, founder of EQ Love, with surfer Kyllian Guerin.
Precisely this motto, explains Franck, is what makes the firm so special. “Our DNA is based on surfing, on travel, on sharing and caring for each other, and on the philosophy of well-being and love for the land, for oneself and for others. It is a special brand because it is one of the only cosmetic brands that It is inspired by the culture of surfing and the activities that we carry out in contact with nature. This is something that is reflected in each of our products”.
Why is the traveling component so important in the concept and for himself? “Traveling is the experience of leaving your comfort zone, of discovering different people and cultures. The surf culture in the end unifies us, we spend magical moments both in the water and out of it. That spirit is what moves me and enriches me at all levels”.
EQ Love Cryo-Relaxing Gel.
Maldives is the country that has made him most aware of the preservation of the environment. “It is one of the countries with the most surfing in the world and I saw that in the most frequented places, marine species and life on the reef were beginning to disappear. Nevertheless, on one side of the passe (that passage in the sea where you access the waves and there are no rocks) where there is less influx, the place was full of life, with many marine species that almost surf accompanying you in each wave".
"This difference is due to the fact that many people surf there wearing sunscreen with harmful chemical filters. for the marine ecosystem, and especially for coral life. That was the main reason that pushed me to investigate and understand what was happening… and yes! there was a solution to this problem!”
That's how they started, he explains, in 2012 to manufacture the first sun creams that are respectful of the oceans and that preserve the life of corals. “In our beginnings we developed these products for athletes and for four years we have noticed an increase in the number of people who are aware of they pay much more attention to the products they consume, to the environment and the effect they may have on their skin. That is why today, we address all types of public and of any age, one of the novelties this year is a sunscreen for babies".
His products, which can be found in specialized stores, pharmacies and on his website), They include a sun, sports, skin and hair care range, as well as candles and perfumes. very special.
What is your star product? “Without a doubt, they are the colored SPF50+ sun sticks. It is a product that has been very difficult to develop, because obtaining a protective stick with these characteristics, that is natural, that it protects from the sun in water environments and that it is healthy for the skin and respectful of the environment was a very important challenge. This product helps to transmit this philosophy to children when it comes to protecting themselves from the sun. Solar sticks have a spirit associated with fun, joy and play due to the range of colors we have”.
Tahitian scented candle.
SURFING THE CIRCUMSTANCES
Given the current situation resulting from the pandemic, Economically, these have been difficult times for the firm, but Franck remains optimistic: “Many stores that sell the products have been closed. We had to adapt to the circumstances and organize all the departments to work from home. I have always been a great optimist and with this situation so complicated for all entrepreneurs and businesses in general, I want to convey to my team that we will come out of the crisis soon and stronger. The lockdown has given people a lot of time to think about what they consume and why they consume it. Objectively, it's a good opportunity for EQ."
The island of Huraa in the Maldives has inspired one of EQ Love's perfumes.