Introduction by Tricia Heaton:

This was a particularly fun Suitcase Story for me to read. I have known Cléa’s mother since we were 15 years old and I saw her for breakfast last weekend at The Colony Hotel. The Colony carries Cléa’s family’s gorgeous creams. When V. Réserve Beauty was launched by Cléa and her mother Valesca I purchased the entire set. I have eliminated all other skin care products and now use V. Réserve exclusively. I absolutely love the clean, fragrance free experience. My skin feels fabulous and I love having a simple, clean routine. @vreservebeauty is another mother/daughter business I love.

Thank you Cléa for joining our Suitcase Story fun!!

As a very young woman, you co-founded V Réserve with your mother. In the interview I did with your mom, she credits you with suggesting the brand. How did it come to you?

My mom has always been deeply aware of what we put in and on our bodies. Growing up, we were the household without “good snacks.” I’d walk into her bathroom and see skincare concoctions she’d mixed herself - often using raw ingredients and honey from our farm - and her skin has always looked incredible.

As I got older, I started noticing how quickly skincare trends came and went. There was always a new “must-have,” usually filled with ingredients I couldn’t pronounce and, honestly, not doing much. We talked about it often, especially in contrast to what I saw at home - how simple, natural ingredients, when left intact, consistently worked.

Honey was always at the center of that. When it’s raw and unprocessed, it’s naturally nourishing, antimicrobial, and rich in enzymes - and you feel the difference. Over the years, we’ve planted botanicals around our hives for their skin-supportive properties, allowing it to naturally influence the honey. That experience made it clear to me that skincare doesn’t need more ingredients, it needs better ones.

I half-joked one day that we should just bottle what she was already creating, and suddenly we were building a brand together. That became the foundation of V Réserve: using raw honey as the base, pairing it with carefully selected natural bioactive ingredients, and avoiding unnecessary synthetics, preservatives, and fillers. It still feels surreal.

I have been using your Bee Glow Face Serum and Nourishing Day Cream and I am HOOKED. Do you have a favorite product?

Bee Butter. I use it every day religiously. My family and I even compete for the last jars because the moisture really lasts.

Link if you're curious https://vreservebeauty.com/shop/p/bee-butter

Do you have a travel uniform?

Sneaky-comfy: linen jeans or a cashmere hoodie. I sleep on most flights, but I still want to feel presentable when I land. Plus, you never know who you’ll meet in an airport!

Any essentials you are never without?

Like my mom, my agenda. Despite being only 24, time moves quickly and my memory is far from perfect so writing things down helps me stay anchored. Headphones are a must. I’m a big playlist person and create them around periods of time rather than genres – it’s great to have a musical time capsule. And moisturizer. Always. Healthy, comfortable skin makes me feel put-together no matter where I am or how little sleep I’ve had.

Do you collect anything on your travels?

I have a slight obsession with knick-knacks. My room is full of trinkets - little ceramics, matchboxes, anything charming. I’m not a big shopper, but I always stop into small boutiques to find hidden gems. Some of my staple wardrobe pieces are souvenirs.

What is your favorite destination?

Travelling is something I really appreciate, so it’s difficult to pick just one place. Some of the places I’ve especially enjoyed are Morocco, Peru, Bali, and Scotland.

Your most memorable trip?

Japan. It had always been high on my list - my brother joked I was grinning nonstop from the moment we landed. I’ve always been fascinated by the culture, architecture, and food, but what stayed with me most was how intentional everything felt.

That trip reshaped how I think about craft and care - the idea that details matter, that quality comes from dedication and that nothing is without purpose. That mindset absolutely carries into how we approach V Réserve today: being thoughtful and uncompromising about what we put into our products and what we leave out.