Valerie McMurray
Valerie McMurray
Valerie McMurray, the founder and CEO of Soleil Toujours LLC, has been pivotal in transforming the sunscreen industry since the inception of her luxury sun and skincare brand in 2015. Her innovative line restores sunscreen's prestigious stature akin to the golden era of Bain de Soleil. Combining top-notch, safe sun care with anti-aging technology within environmentally friendly packaging, she advocates for daily clean and reef-safe sunscreen to ensure sun enjoyment is both fun and safe.
"From the outset, the two tenets of the business have been to be good to our bodies and be good to our environment" Valerie states, emphasizing her foundational business principles.
Triggered by concerns over the chemical ingredients in personal care products while pregnant with her third child, McMurray was driven to innovate safer sun care alternatives. Disturbed by the prevalent use of parabens and oxybenzone, she envisioned a product devoid of harmful chemicals.
This led her to introduce Soleil Toujours, which targets the unmet need for natural-based, high-quality sunscreens and moisturizers in the market.
Her prior venture, MerSoleil, involved luxury resort wear, which made her transition into the sun and skincare sector seamless. Supported by her extensive 18-year background in investment banking and financial services, Valerie was well-prepared for her entrepreneurial journey in creating Soleil Toujours.
With a firm commitment to environmental stewardship, Valerie McMurray set out to redefine sunscreen products. She aimed for mineral-based formulas and collaborated with labs and suppliers who shared her vision for sustainability. The outcome was a safe, mineral-based sunscreen enriched with innovative, non-toxic ingredients, including peptides, stem cells, and the unique EcoSun Complex—a blend of vitamin C ester, vitamin D, red algae, and bisabolol.
Her products' advanced formulation addresses the major concern that sun exposure is a primary cause of premature skin aging, offering effective protection and rejuvenating benefits.
Since its launch, Soleil Toujours has captured the attention of the beauty industry. It has been featured by major publications as a favorite and has gained accolades, including a top rating by Vogue in 2023 for its sunscreen spray.
Valerie expanded the brand's reach through strategic digital marketing, gaining a foothold in luxury resorts and retail outlets like Blue Mercury.
A notable success was introducing her product line in Sephora in January 2023, receiving the "Planet Aware at Sephora Clean" seal. Further expanding her influence, McMurray launched the Summer Camp brand at Walmart in June 2022, appealing to a younger demographic with affordable, high-quality skincare.
Committed to her values, a portion of Soleil Toujours' profits supports the Goldeneye Foundation for coral reef conservation. The company also practices sustainability by purchasing carbon credits and maintaining a net zero carbon footprint.
Born and raised in the New York City metropolitan area, Valerie Rodriguez McMurray resides in Bronxville, NY, with her family. She is an alumna of Barnard College with an MBA from the University of Virginia's Darden School of Business. An active community member, she has served on various educational boards and enjoys skiing, tennis, and traveling during her leisure time.