J. Ecochard
PARTICIPANTS: HORST RECHELBACHER-INTELLIGENT NUTRIENTS CERTIFIED ORGANIC HEALTH AND BEAUTY, SYLVIE CHANTECAILLE-CHANTECAILLE COSMETICS & SKINCARE, BRYAN MEEHAN-NUDE SKINCARE, YAEL ALKALAY- RED FLOWER
HOST: SARAH BROWN-BEAUTY EDITOR VOGUE MAGAZINE
FRED’S RESTAURANT-BARNEY’S NEW YORK, Madison Avenue/61st Street
April 21st, 2009
Words Judith Ecochard
Images-from company websites
It was a packed house and a virtual sea of black attired, impossibly groomed women that attended this breakfast, gabfest-panel discussion on the organic/green universe of skincare and beauty treatments.
We arrived a bit late (night owls that we are) but got there just in time for the smart repartee of Sarah Brown…a savvy journalist and commanding moderator.
Interesting, to us- her shared attitudes on needing to feel a head full of lather when she washes her hair (and the not exactly healthy for the environment/body chemicals to get all those bubbles) represents the typical American---used to copious amounts of fresh running water at the turn of a faucet.
And we were thinking about all the fresh water needed to rinse the suds away…and how we all need to adjust our expectations on what beauty goodies should do. A bit of finger wagging.
In a way though, that was the point of this informative gathering. As beauty consumers, upscale types do not want to compromise on efficacy, and the feel and scent of what they use and are familiar with.
Fortunately, that is a mute issue IMHO—as indicated by some of the terrif products that the panel members’ companies sell.
MAJOR TAKEAWAYS:
HORST RECHELBACHER, founder of skin/haircare and supplements laden-INTELLIGENT NUTRIENTS, was the leading light behind Aveda (now part of Estee Lauder conglomerate). He made the point that if one wouldn’t eat it, why would anyone put it on one’s skin (which absorbs it all, after all).
Amazingly, Rechelbacher made certain that his goodies are USDA CERTIFIED ORGANIC (the toughest standard out there) ---and made the point that Intelligent Nutrients took the time to source, and produce to meet these massive requirements. Wow.
Afterwards, we got a ‘roots to ends’ dose of the Finishing Gloss a hair conditioning treatment that moisturizes locks.
Safe for color treated hair, the aromatic liquid is plant based, non-toxic and pleasingly aromatic.
SLYVIE CHANTECAILLE is an amazing woman (yup, she looks great too). Her plant based line of skincare and cosmetics often begins their life in a lab, spawn from processes akin to stem cell technology.
Meaning the ability to grow plants’ positive attributes from a few cells, in a pure environment---without destroying the world’s environment to get the benefits. Botanicals are also discovered in far flung destinations too---that are blessed with inherent properties that are beneficial.
Chantecaille passionately urged the audience to avoid anything with palm oil, even certified coconut oil, as pristine tropical forests worldwide are being destroyed to grow the fast sprouting coconut trees…to meet the consumer demand. BAD!!!!
Packaging matters too, according to this entrepreneur. Europeans beauty elixirs are always in glass bottles---as it prevents oxidation (degradation) of the ingredients.
BRYAN MEEHAN has always been environmentally aware---he was the brains behind Fresh Foods in the UK –now Whole Foods. Together with environmental activist, fashion designer and wife of U2’s lead dude Bono, Ali Newsome, Meehan launched NUDE (Edun spelled backwards) SKINCARE.
Two years in the making, Nude Skincare “is expensive…but spends a fortune on ingredients…and clinical trials,” to prove that this anti-aging skincare line is effective.
J. Ecochard
Meehan gave us a visual too---dropping a tea bag in water---and indicating how Nude sources the powerful active molecules that accumulate at the bottom…versus the top clear part. POINT: Any company can claim it uses organic ingredients (teas in this case) but it matters how active/concentrated the ingredients are.
We got a relaxing facial downstairs in Barney’s lower level beauty emporium …and we can verify that the Nude Skincare treatments used on us had an immediate POSITIVE effect…as we had zilcho sleep the night prior - and looked it. Afterwards, our dark circles vanished and our dermis felt hydrated but not greasy.
Special Thanks to the Raul Flores!
Nude Skincare employs pre and probiotic ingredients that are safely metabolized by the body and sport the same Ph 5.5 acid level as human skin so it’s easily absorbed. The bestseller is the Cleansing Facial Oil loaded with Omega 3 and Vitamin E to get the grit out and makeup spackle off.
Other top choices: the Advanced Smoothing Complex and Replenishing Night Oil both contain powerful antioxidants that combat the free radical attack. “It’s pure, wonderful and it works,” noted Meehan. We concur.
YAEL ALKALAY has a green lifestyle in her DNA. We remember when her company RED FLOWER, launched teas and six gloriously smelling candles that came packaged with dried flowers/plants on top. Since then, the pure smelling (divine, transporting) collection has expanded to include soaps, body lotion (we got a sample and love the rich moisturizer that soothed our paws), hair products and diffusers.
“The wheel is going,” Alkalay observed, with clients demanding a hand crafted rare product that meaningfully adheres to the Green.
“Its only common sense to use a plant,” with eco ingredients existing that are as equally effective as the fake stuff.
“Eco is meeting luxury…” and not a minute too soon.
INFO:
INTELLIGENT NUTRIENTS
CHANTECAILLE with
FIVE PERCENT OF SALES of the La Baleine Eyes and Face Collection benefiting The International Union For Conservation of Nature IUCN
NUDE SKINCARE
RED FLOWER
BARNEY’S