Respire

Respire is a French personal-care company based in Paris, founded in 2018 by Justine Hutteau together with co-founder Thomas Meheut [1][5]. It began with a single product — a natural, aluminium-free deodorant made in France — and has since grown into a broader range of dermocosmetic skincare, body care and suncare. The company describes its approach as "next-generation dermocosmetics," positioning its formulas as natural yet high-performance. The brand name is styled in all capitals (RESPIRE) in its own materials, but is written here in its ordinary form.

Respire remains active. It has continued to launch products and publish news through early 2026, and sells across roughly 3,000 retail points in France as well as internationally through Sephora.

The company traces its beginning to a personal turn in the founder's life. In 2016, while studying at business school, Justine Hutteau discovered a benign tumour and grew concerned about the ingredients used in everyday personal-care products — in particular the aluminium salts common in conventional deodorants [1]. Unable to find a deodorant she considered both healthy and effective, she decided to make one. According to Business Cool, she framed the goal simply: a modern brand with healthy formulas, starting with a healthy deodorant.

Hutteau, who was in her early twenties at the time, built the launch around her existing following on Instagram, where an audience of roughly 20,000 people took part in the product's co-creation and early funding. She is named as the primary founder, with Thomas Meheut, a former HEC Paris student, cited as co-founder.

Respire was established in 2018 through a crowdfunding campaign on the platform Ulule. The campaign raised around 250,000 euros in a single month and pre-sold roughly 21,000 deodorants [5]. The exact timing is recorded in two ways: the company dates itself "with you since 2018," the year of founding and crowdfunding, while editorial coverage notes that the first product officially launched in May 2019 [2][5].

From that single deodorant, the range widened over the following years to include toothpastes, solid soaps and solid shampoos, alongside facial skincare and suncare. By the time of later profiles, the company reported a team of around 25 to 26 people and more than two million hygiene products sold [1]. Recent blog posts through January to April 2026, covering lip-care launches and a "BOOST" range, indicate continued activity.

Respire presents itself as dermocosmetic skincare built on what it calls a "mimicry" approach — formulating with concentrated "mimetic" actives intended to work with the skin's own natural mechanisms rather than against them. Its stated tagline is "La dermocosmétique nouvelle génération. Pour une peau qui respire" ("next-generation dermocosmetics, for skin that breathes").

The company organises its formulation charter around four pillars: performance, health, pleasure and responsibility. Under health, it says its products are reviewed by skin experts and health professionals, and it describes a scientific committee that includes dermatologists, a pharmacist and formulation specialists. It also frames environmental preservation as a core part of its mission.

The brand's origin product is its natural deodorant, offered without aluminium salts and in formats including sticks, roll-ons and refills [6]. The wider catalogue spans facial serums, creams, cleansers and eye care, lip care, suncare, and body products such as solid shampoos, soaps and toothpaste. Ingredients the company highlights include vitamin C, hyaluronic acid, ceramides, salicylic acid, prebiotics, red ginseng and bakuchiol.

Respire states that its formulas contain a minimum of more than 94 percent naturally derived ingredients, and that they are made without essential oils. On its formulation charter, the company also describes its products as "100% vegan," saying none of its ingredients derive from animal exploitation and that it does not test on animals. No third-party certifications are listed in the sourced material.

Respire operates across several sales channels. Editorial coverage describes a presence at roughly 2,500 to 3,000 retail points in France, including around 800 pharmacies and 350 Monoprix stores, and distribution through Sephora [4]. Internationally, the company says its products have been tested across about twelve European countries via Sephora, with Italy and Spain noted as stronger markets [3].

Respire is an active, French direct-to-consumer brand. Its news page shows product and content posts dated through January to April 2026, and it maintains retail distribution in France and a growing international footprint through Sephora [3]. No public controversies appear in the available sources.