Cortados, Culture, and Clean Skincare

Six years ago I found myself in an unfamiliar routine that would start by walking down Passeig de Sant Joan, one of Barcelona’s grand boulevards. Lined with leafy trees and dotted with wide sidewalks, it’s a street that feels both lively and calm at the same time. I’d stop in a local cafe for my morning cortado and croissant and chat with the motherly ladies working the counter, speaking in my broken Spanish, typically about my plans for the afternoon. Continuing onward, I passed under the Arc de Triomf as the city buzzed around me. People flowed by engaging in conversations in languages I didn't understand, juggling footballs (soccer balls), rolling and smoking cigarettes, and bustling to work in the cool morning breeze. Eventually I would make my way to the local University for class amidst a group of international students. It was here in Barcelona that I discovered a passion to see and know the world beyond the one in Texas where I grew up. This passion eventually paved the way to start Relterra and to seek out amazing skincare products. 

Since that time in Barcelona, I have continued to indulge in my fascination with global places and their cultures. From participating in the Festival of San Fermin in Pamplona to scuba diving in Sardinia’s luminous blue waters, I have made it a priority to experience, taste, and feel what the rest of the world has to offer. 

During these adventures I’ve encountered some of the most amazing people, traditions, and innovations. Moreover, I’ve learned these foreign lands and their cultures produce incredible products not readily available to me when I inevitably return home to New York City.

I, like many people, in recent years have become more mindful of the products I use. We live in a time that is saturated with processed food, toxic chemicals, and harmful additives that take a toll on our bodies and our environment. Even so, there exist clean products that our bodies yearn for and respond well to. Sometimes they are just a little more difficult to find.  Among these clean products are those we apply to our skin to feel our best and look our best. 

My travels have led me to discover extraordinary skincare products developed by people who are committed to the health and vitality of those they serve. 

This drove me to launch Relterra, a curated online marketplace offering clean, high-quality skincare products from brands across the world. We seek to identify the best the world has to offer and make them available to you, the U.S. consumer who deserves quality. We understand that each person is unique and thus requires different treatments for their individual skin types and lifestyles, so we will work with a multitude of international brands to offer an array of products that meet your personal needs. I believe everyone should be able to treat their skin with the appropriate ingredients and routines which cultivate vibrant skin, and with Relterra you don’t need to travel thousands of miles away to search for the products that best suit you. 

Our blog, Dear Skin, will explore the realm of self-care through thought pieces written by those passionate and informed about the space. It is an informal platform to share opinions on skincare and beauty, explain different routines, discuss trends, dissect the science behind ingredients, give insights on our products, and shed light on topics our customers are curious about. We hope you’ll join us on this journey to learn more about the evolving landscape of skincare. We would love to hear any questions or thoughts you may have.

- Chase, Relterra Founder