The je ne sais quoi of a French beauty line
THERE’s a reason why the word “chic” comes from the French. The world looks to Paris (arguably the world’s fashion capital) for style tips, and to live like the French is something a lot of people want to do. A beauty brand, Varens Beauté Bio, is aimed at giving skin a little bit of je ne sais quoi (according to Merriam-Webster, “something that cannot be adequately described or expressed”; literally translated, it is “I don’t know what”), so skin can be Paris-ready (couture outfits to follow).
The brand was launched in a Zoom press conference last week. Apparently, the “quoi” in the brand’s je ne sais quoi are plants. The organic certification organization, Ecocert, has verified that at least 95% of the plant ingredients each product in the range contains are organic and at least 20% of organic ingredients are present in the total formula. The formulations are vegan-friendly, with such ingredients as aloe vera and avocado oil.
The product line, by perfume company Ulric de Valens, includes moisturizer, a vitamin C and E booster, a skin revitalizer, a skin nourishing cream, and an eye contour cream.
The Soin Hydratant (P499/40ml) helps restore moisture in the skin, thanks to the different molecular weights of hyaluronic acid, as well as the aloe vera pulp that replenishes the skin with vitamins. The Soin Vitaminé (P499/40ml) is enriched with powerful antioxidants to protect the skin against free radicals and stimulate cell renewal. The Soin Revitalisant (P499/40ml) has active collagen boosters and aloe vera to help reduce the signs of aging. The Soin Nourrissant (P499/40ml) is formulated with avocado oil, shea butter, and trace elements to immediately calm and repair dry, irritated skin. The Soin Beauté Du Regard (P499/15ml) is infused with caffeine and green tea to help reduce puffiness and dark circles around the eye area.
Each product has also been rigorously tested by 22 individuals for 26 days, and a safety assessment of all five products was carried out by a toxicologist in accordance with European regulations under strict conditions.
During the press conference, beauty journalist Nicole Romero Vagner, who has since moved to France, shared her experiences with skincare à la française: “With the French, less is more. There’s no need for a complicated routine.
“That’s why it seems effortless, I guess. For them, it’s just about consistency,” she said.
Varens Beauté Bio is available in Watsons and online on Lazada. — Joseph L. Garcia
