Science, Skincare, and Sport: The Story of Flora Biotherapeutics

June 22nd, 2026

Among the items included in each gift bag at the inaugural Women and Girls in Sport Leadership Conference, was a lip oil from Flora Biotherapeutics, an Edmonton based, all-natural skincare company founded by Loredana Dorobantu, a chemical engineer and ETC tennis mom.

Loredana came to Canada from Romania after completing her undergraduate degree in chemical engineering to pursue graduate studies, ultimately earning a PhD in Chemical Engineering with a specialization in Nanotechnology from the University of Alberta. Her research journey began with her MSc’s studies, where she explored the science behind combining oil and water into stable formulations which is the foundation of many skincare products. During her doctoral research, she explored how microorganisms interact with surfaces, contributing to the understanding of microbial adhesion, biofilm formation, and infection prevention. Following her PhD, she continued her research on innovative nanomaterials designed to prevent infections and improve healthcare outcomes.

Over more than 20 years in research, she saw firsthand how science can change lives and solve real healthcare problems. Her interest in plants, however, predates her scientific career. She has long been drawn to their healing properties and the role they have played in human health throughout history. After years in research and earning a post-master's certificate in innovation and entrepreneurship, Loredana saw an opportunity to bring her two passions together. She had been searching for natural skincare products for her children when she noticed a gap in the market. Founding Flora Biotherapeutics in 2020, she applied the same scientific discipline that defined her research career to the development of all natural, plant-based skincare.

The transition was anything but easy. Formulating with natural ingredients alone, without essential oils or synthetic preservatives, presented real technical challenges, from achieving the right consistency to preserving the natural colour of each product. Loredana experimented extensively with different compounds to get the results she wanted. Many of the plants used in her formulations, including calendula, chamomile, wild rose, and lavender, are grown organically just outside Edmonton and cold-infused in organic oils for six weeks before becoming part of a finished product. Her facial oils are designed for Edmonton's dry climate, using jojoba oil to help seal moisture into the skin and plant antioxidants to nourish it.

Building the business from home during the pandemic came with its own set of challenges, from designing labels and packaging to learning the back end of running a company, accounting, taxes, and online sales. With in-person opportunities limited, Loredana built much of her early customer base online, reinvesting her initial income into advertising to help her products stand out in a crowded marketplace. That work paid off. For three consecutive years, Flora Biotherapeutics has been recognized as a Best Business in Canada, a distinction that reflects strong customer satisfaction, service quality, and business leadership.

Alongside being an entrepreneur and scientist, Loredana is also a mother to two beautiful daughters. AnaMaria now plays for the Pandas varsity tennis team and Alexandra plays tennis in the high-performance program at the Saville Community Sports Centre. Both girls grew up playing tennis with ETC, AnaMaria starting at Terwillegar Recreation Centre under Mary Potter at just six years old, and Alexandra beginning a few years later at Saville Community Sports Centre. Entrepreneurship gave Loredana the flexibility to be present for early morning practices, travel to tournaments, and support her daughters through the highs and lows of competitive sport, without having to choose between her career and her family.

"Watching my daughters pursue their tennis dreams has strengthened my belief that success, whether in sport, science, or business, is built through discipline, perseverance, resilience, and a willingness to embrace challenges."

— Loredana Dorobantu, PhD, P.Eng

It is a belief reflected in her own story as much as in theirs. From the research lab to a company she built from the ground up, Loredana's path has been shaped by that same discipline and perseverance. Her hope is that the same determination that helped her turn a lifelong passion into a thriving business is something her daughters carry with them, on the court and well beyond it.

To learn more about Flora Biotherapeutics, visit https://www.florabiotherapeutics.com/. Products are sold at the Health Matters Store & Wellness Clinic in west end Edmonton, as well as online on Amazon.