Chantecaille Aromacologie Skin Care Line Made With 83%-99% Botanicals
This article was originally published in The Rose Sheet
Executive Summary
Chantecaille will enter the skin care category in October with Aromacologie, a seven-SKU line formulated with 83%-99.9% botanicals per product, the highest amount used in cosmetics on the market, according to the company.
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Chantecaille will enter the skin care category in October with Aromacologie, a seven-SKU line formulated with 83%-99.9% botanicals per product, the highest amount used in cosmetics on the market, according to the company. Aromacologie will debut in the U.S. in 30 Neiman Marcus and Bergdorf Goodman stores nationwide and will expand to international distribution in 2001. A botanicals-based skin care collection "seemed like a natural progression because we have a lot of botanical ingredients in the makeup," said Olivia Chantecaille, who runs the company with her mother, founder Silvie Chantecaille. The company introduced its botanicals-focused cosmetics collection in 1998 (1 (Also see "Chantecaille botanical cosmetics collection to debut at Neiman Marcus, Bergdorf's." - HBW Insight, 20 Jul, 1998.)). Chantecaille also markets a number of fragrances, including Darby Rose and a floral trio, Tiare, Wisteria and Frangipane. "We wanted [a skin care line] that was performing, natural and good for you," Chantecaille said. "A lot of chemical products are irritating and harsh." The mother and daughter team decided to combine their aromatherapy and plant therapy interests into Aromacologie. Japanese biotechnology, ancient Chinese medicine and traditional European flower pharmacology are integrated to create one "super-performing" collection, Chantecaille maintained. The line is built strongly on floral ingredients, especially the rose. "Most skin care creams are 50% water," Chantecaille noted. "We decided it would be a more incredible product if we replaced the water with rosewater." Some companies that use rosewater only employ drops of essential oil in water, Chantecaille noted. Instead, Aromacologie is made with pure rosewater from distilled petals. The result provides uplifting aromatherapy benefits as well as moisturizing, toning and healing properties, according to the company. In addition, the chemical bases and artificial emulsifiers have been replaced with purifying natural flower waxes such as mimosa and jasmine, which are better for the skin, the company claims. The line is fragrance-free, but products still tend to smell like a "bouquet" because of the natural ingredients. "It's very simple, streamlined and for all skin types of all ages, both men and women," the company noted. Products in the line include a cleanser, moisturizer, eye gel and face serum, hydrating fluid, retinol treatment, face mask and pure rosewater spray, all of which can stand on their own as separate treatments, Chantecaille said. Eau De Rose De Mai Pure Rosewater is made with petals from the water-soluble rose de mai, the company said. The petals are distilled in the early morning in artesian well water to "produce a soothing, healing, moisturizing and unusually uplifting rose water spray." The product can be used as a toner or as a fragrance spray. Flower Infused Cleansing Milk is made with 95% botanicals and includes ingredients such as rose to moisturize, cornflower to stimulate and soothe, chamomile to calm and narcissus to purify. Vital Essence Eye Gel and Face Serum contains anti-aging ingredients and antioxidants that protect and rebalance the complexion, Chantecaille said. Ingredients include seaweed to regulate sebum, Chinese flowers for estrogen replacement, soybean extract to help prevent acne and bio sodium hyaluronate for hydration. Other products include Flower Harmonizing Cream, Water Flower Fluid, Retinol Intense and Jasmine and Lily Healing Mask. Products range in price from $40 for 100 mL of Pure Rosewater and Cleansing Milk to $75 for 50 mL Vital Essence and $90 for 50 mL Flower Harmonizing Cream. Product packaging is tied to the cosmetics line with the same vibrant wisteria coloring, but reduced to a soft hue that is "more conducive to skin care." The airless pumps and thick, frosted glass bottles help preserve the products; as the company used as few preservatives as possible in the formulations, Chantecaille noted. The introduction will be backed by mini facial Flower Clinics in select Neiman Marcus stores, as well as by personal appearances in-store by the Chantecailles. |