Vive La France – French Beauty Brands
Oh to be in France right now, shopping in Paris, cruising the Riviera, celebrating Bastille Day, but it’s not to be. I’ll just have to settle for the next best thing – French beauty products. It has to be said, the French know a thing or two about beauty. How do they look so fabulous, eating all those croissants and cheeses, and drinking so much wonderful wine and champagne? A little exercise, and everything in moderation seems to be the key – that and indulging in the luxe beauty products offered by their French Beauty Houses. If you like your beauty chic, read on below, to find our favourite French Beauty Brands, and our pick of the best products for each brand.
Lancôme
Originally a fragrance house, Lancôme was founded by a French visionary Armand Petitjean in 1935. Petitjean wanted to create a French beauty house to rival those in the US that were taking over the worldwide beauty market. His five perfumes were an instant success and he soon moved on to creating skincare. Lancôme’s first skincare product, launched in 1936, was a multi-tasking skin repair cream called Nutrix. Makeup followed two years later, when the brand expanded into cosmetics with a pinky-red rose-scented lipstick that was a bestseller for 30 years. L’Oréal acquired the Lancôme brand in 1964, and it is now known as one of the largest luxury skincare companies in the world. Women seeking the finest in beauty look to Lancôme for the highest quality in skincare, encased in timeless style and delivering scientifically proven results. With coveted and revered pillars including the timeless Trésor perfume, the award-winning Définicils mascara, cutting-edge Génifique Youth Activating Concentrate Lancôme is a world leader. Available in over 160 countries, Lancôme is and has been represented by some of the most accomplished actors and models, including Lupita Nyong`o, Julia Roberts, Penelope Cruz, and Kate Winslet. We love the La Vie Est Belle Eclat EDT. La Vie Est Belle translates to “Life is beautiful”, and it certainly is with this gorgeous solar scent. Notes of Orange Blossom Absolute, Jasmine Sambac Absolute and Essence of Rose give this fragrance a sparkling, warmth. EDT 50ml RRP $120.00. As we age, our eyes need extra TLC, so we love the Advanced Génifique Yeux Light-Pearl with the unique massaging 360° Light Pearl™ applicator. The multitasking eye serum refreshes mature eyes by smoothing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, reducing dark circles and under eye bags, leaving your eyes with a younger-looking and brighter appearance. 20ml RRP $115.00
YSL
The Fashion House of Yves Saint Laurent launched in 1961, after Saint Laurent cut his fashion teeth (so to speak) working for Christian Dior during the 1950’s. In 1964, Saint Laurent launched his first Men’s fragrance, the Classic Y, then in 1971, he caused much discussion by posing nude as a model for the fragrance Pour Homme. In the late 1970s, Yves Saint Laurent added a beauty line to his successful fragrances. “I wanted a face for the woman I dress,” the fashion icon said, and the gold compacts branded with the YSL logo were born. The first product to launch was a bold red lipstick, followed by Rouge Pur Lipstick No. 19 – a cool toned fuchsia that is still a best seller today. Lip colours were quickly followed by foundations, blushes, mascaras, and the iconic Touche Eclat – the highlighting pen-brush, launched in 1992, that promises 8 hours beauty sleep in a click. Today, YSL Beaute is synonymous with cutting edge technology and high fashion colour. The Fragrance arm continues to produce blockbusters like the Paris, Opium, and Mon Paris and L’Homme families. What are our favourite products from this eponymous brand? The wonderfully addictive (well it does have notes of black coffee!) Black Opium is a vibrant, energetic scent that embodies the YSL spirit. Designed for those who like to live life to the full – the young at heart, the fragrance embodies a glamorous femininity. The black coffee notes are accompanied by white flowers for a sensual fragrance. EDP 50ml RRP $165.00. Our favourite YSL product would have to be the wonderful Touche Eclat, the beauty secret of the world’s top makeup artists and models, and it’s even featured in the Royal Wedding make up. With a few strategic strokes of this award-winning complexion highlighter, dark circles, fine lines and signs of fatigue are virtually erased. The sophisticated gold pen is the perfect handbag size, so you can touch up throughout the day. 2.8g RRP $70.00.
Bioderma
The Bioderma brand story began in 1977 when a pharmacist biologist Jean-Noel Thorel, developed a skincare range with discussions with the worlds’ leading biology and dermatology specialists based on the innovative idea that, “When skin suffers, we should use its natural biology and teach it to react, rather than treating it”. For Bioderma, a product should not take over the skin’s function, but should help the skin to do its job better. The first Bioderma innovation was a product called Node Shampoo, which cleansed hair without attacking it, offering softness and better tolerance. In 1985, Bioderma developed a range in close collaboration with dermatologists, respecting skins biology. 1992 saw the Bioderma laboratory become independent, and design (and subsequently launch) innovative products for sensitive skin, oily skin, dry skin, and dehydrated skin. 2001 marked the year Bioderma started to roll out into International markets (2010 in Australia), with Bioderma now being present in over 100 countries. In 2009 Bioderma carried out a socially-oriented mission in North Vietman (since rolled out to Vietnam and Cambodia), providing local populations with medical assistance and other supplies. In 2011, the Bioderma Foundation, was established to support the development of dermatology around the world. We love the Hydrabio Gommage, a super gentle exfoliating cream for dehydrated and sensitive skin. The mild formula cleanses skin, and the addition of shea butter works to moisturise. Your skin is left soft and radiant, not taut and dry. 75ml RRP $42.99. We also love (for our mature skin), the Hydrabio H2O micellar water, which cleanses skin and removes make-up in one step. The gentle formula contains micelles to capture fatty molecules such as dirt, oil and make-up, leaving skin cleansed, soothed and hydrated. It is specifically formulated for dehydrated skin. 250ml RRP $21.99 (this is a recent price drop from $31.99).
Guinot
Founded in France over forty years ago by well-known chemist René Guinot, the collection of skincare products known throughout the world as “Guinot Paris” began as a focused approach to treating the skin with the now legendary Hydradermie treatment. Fundamental to the success of the brand (it is the number 1 French professional skincare brand globally), is the Guinot creed which realises that every person’s skin is different and is exposed to different environmental and stressful conditions at different times. It is the synergy of professional services and skincare products that results in beautiful skin, for which Guinot Paris is renowned. Guinot has developed treatment-compatible products that can be used by clients at home. Today, Guinot Paris skincare and the Guinot professional treatments are available in thousands of spas and salons throughout the world. Guinot believes in ethical beauty, and as such, the products are not tested on animals. To improve skin compatibility, the products do not contain parabens, and actives are from non-GMO plants. We absolutely love the Age Logic Cellulaire Cream. As the name suggests, the cream contributes to the deprogramming of the logic of cellular ageing! The cream works to increase cellular oxygenation, energising and revitalising your skin. Antioxidants combat free radical damage, whilst Cellular Life Complex (with 56 active ingredients) helps with regeneration. 50ml RRP $236.00. We’ve also been privileged to see the new Sculpt Expert, a reshaping, firming body cream which launches at the end of July, and it’s already a new favourite. The cream features a cocktail of powerful ingredients which help restore density to your skin by helping to boost collagen and elastin fibre synthesis, and preventing any further deterioration of the fibres, so it’s perfect for more mature skin. 200ml RRP $114.00.
Avène
The Avène story started way back in 1736 (even though the beauty brand did not start until the 20th century), when the Marquis de Rocozel’s horse, suffering from pruritis, was healed after swimming in the water at Avène, a small village in southern France, and the soothing, anti-irritating properties of Avène Thermal Spring Water were discovered. In 1743, the first patients arrived at the Orb Valley and the Sainte-Odile spring. In 1871 America discovered the Avène Thermal Spring Water properties for the first time, as they treated the burn victims of the Great Chicago Fire, and the legend grew. In 1990, the Avène Dermatological Laboratories officially started. Between 1993 and 2003, the brand rapidly expanded (as did the production plant), developing innovating skincare products bases on the soothing Avène thermal waters. In 2004, the Hydrotherapy Center expanded to meet demand, and today the Avène Hydrotherapy Center hosts to 2600 patients per year, with the Avène skincare brand being available in close to 100 countries. We carry the Avène Eau Thermale (Thermal Spring Water) with us everywhere (it comes in a handy purse size, as well as larger sizes), to spritz our skin with this beauty icon. Pure Thermal Spring Water not only hydrates our skin, it’s also very soothing for any sensitivities (such as Sun or Wind Burn), and can even be used on nappy rash, razor burn, and after hair removal. Multi-tasking genius! 150ml RRP $19.95. For our mature skin, we love the PhysioLift Day Smoothing Cream, a lovely lightweight anti-ageing cream that helps reduce the appearance of pronounced wrinkles, for firmer looking skin. Containing Hyaluronic Acid to hydrate and plump, and powerful antioxidants to protect, your skin is left nourished, soft and smooth. 30ml RRP $68.95.
L’Oreal Paris
Who would have thought the small company founded by Eugène Schueller in 1909 in Paris would become one of the largest beauty brands in the world? 50 products being sold every second somewhere in the world, attests to the popularity of L’Oréal Paris. Offering male and female beauty products of all types (makeup, skin care, hair care, styling, hair color and men), the brand is so popular, its franchises are better known than some smaller brands. Legendary franchises such as Color Riche lipstick, Revitalift skin care, Elnett hairspray, Elsève hair care, Preference hair color or Men Expert Hydra Energetic skin care for men, reflect L’Oreal Paris’ unique expertise from the greatest beauty experts, including today, Christophe Robin for hair color, Stéphane Lancien for hair care and styling and Val Garland for make-up. L’Oreal Paris is best known for its motto “because you’re worth it”, which has been empowering women for 40 years, and and the multitude of international ambassadors, including Jane Fonda, Eva Longoria, Julianne Moore, Elle Fanning, and Helen Mirren, Showcasing the brands makeup expertise, it has been the official makeup artist for the Cannes Film festival for the last 20 years. L’Oréal Paris is also the official partner of the Paris Fashion week, which allows the brand to be at the edge of beauty trends and to support well-known designers as well as the younger creative scene. We love to banish dull looking skin and replace it with a glow with the La Vie En Glow Highlighting Palette. 4 super pigmented, luminous shades in a buildable, blendable formula melt into skin for natural-looking radiance year round. 10g RRP $29.95 (pictured in Warm Glow). We love the new Paradise Mascara for giving our lashes intense volume and spectacular length, without clumping. The super soft brush coats lashes with the silky smooth formula, enriched with castor oil, for a feather-soft feel. Available in Black. 6.4ml RRP $24.95. A (very) honourable mention must go to the L’Oreal Paris x Balmain Color Riche Lipstick collaboration. The collection features 12 lipsticks in edgy, matte shades, in a collectible case, designed by Balmain’s Olivier Rousteing. The 12 lipstick shades are designed to explore 3 femininities – the Safari, Rock, and Couture Tribes. The Safari shades feature earthy tones of khaki, burnt orange, nude, and brown, housed in a green and gold lipstick case. The Rock Collection features bolder, vampy shades, of dark brown, red-brown, blue and purple, housed in a blue and gold case. The Couture collection are 4 shades hot off the runway, to create high-fashion looks which are very “now”. 4.2g RRP $24.95 each.
Carven
The (Fashion) House of Carven was established in 1945 by Mary-Louise Carven. Specialising in outfits for petite ladies (like herself), the brand was an instant hit with the French elite in post-war Paris (she dressed such French icons as Edith Piaf and Leslie Caron). Throughout her long career, Madame Carven became known for numerous trademarks, most notably youthful fabrics such as cotton gingham, and Broderie Anglaise, and for exotic fabrics like African Wax Cloth and Indonesian Batik, which she brought back with her from far flung travels. The beauty arm of Carven began in 1946 with the launch of Ma Griffe (named after a signature sundress in the Carven signature green and white striped fabric). Created at a time when Paris resumed its lightness after WWII, the scent was just what the country needed. The first men’s fragrance, Vetiver, launched in 1957, and since then, the beauty (fragrance) arm of the Carven brand has become synonymous with beauty and grace. We love the original Ma Griffe (my signature) fragrance. A gorgeous floral-chypre fragrance, with notes of Jasmine, Bergamot and Gardenia, the fragrance is fresh, lively, and reminiscent of being outdoors in Grasse. As relevant today with its uplifting, happy notes as it was when it launched over 70 years ago, Ma Griffe is truly a timeless classic. EDP 50ml RRP $105.00. For something a little newer, we love the Dans Ma Bulle (in my bubble), an irresistible scent with notes of sugared almond accord, Peony, Sambac Jasmine, and Vanilla and Sandalwood. A floral-oriental, the fragrance celebrates femininity, and you dream of escaping and traveling in your own personal bubble, with its joyful, playful scent. EDP 50ml RRP $99.00.
Ella Baché
Ella Baché is a family run business which was launched by Madame Bache in Paris in the 1936. Ella Baché’s scientific understanding of the skin’s function, coupled with passion and creativity led her to explore the individual benefits of many natural ingredients. Ella Baché understood that to produce the best possible products that would withstand the test of time, all ingredients should be of the highest quality available. Ella was one of the first to include ingredients such as tomato extract, vitamin C, nutrient rich algae and lanolin, to enhance and protect the skin. Ella Baché was brought to Australia by Mme Bache’s daughter Edith Hallas in the ‘50s. Walking straight into David Jones with the first cold epil wax in the world, the beauty buyer was uncertain. Whoever heard of cold wax? But she put her leg on the chair and Edith Hallas gave her a wax treatment then and there. She loved it and so did David Jones Sydney customers. Ella Baché, as a retail business, was born. Now, granddaughter Pippa Hallas is moving the brand into a new era of beauty. Over the past 10 years as CEO, she has focused on the same principles the business was founded on, and adds to its repertoire as a trusted go-to brand for skincare, education and new technology. Our favourite Ella Bache products are the classic Crème Tomate, developed in 1936. Madame Baché was inspired to create Crème Tomate after watching peasant women in Hungary apply sliced tomatoes to their cheeks and foreheads. The tomato extract purified and clarified their skins for a healthy glow. The pH balancing moisturising cream, rich in tomato extract, works naturally to purify, balance and restore a healthy glow to tired looking skin. The creme helps diffuse redness and calm reactive skin – it’s ideal for sensitive, reactive and dehydrate skin. 50ml RRP $79.00. We also love the Crème Spèciale Yeux, a special, rich and nourishing eye cream, which is brilliant for mature eyes. The creme comforts even the driest skin, alleviates dehydration and minimises the appearance of fine lines and crow’s feet. 30ml RRP $79.00.
La Roche-Posay
Dedicated to creating a ‘better life for sensitive skin’, La Roche-Posay has been developing skin care products since 1975 to be used and recommended by dermatologists for their patients. The brand’s namesake village – La Roche-Posay – is located west of France and boasts a thermal water source rich in Selenium renowned for its significant soothing qualities. The natural content of rare mineral salts and trace elements provides the water with its unique calming and antioxidant skin care properties, and have been recognised by the scientific community for decades. Hypoallergenic and non-comedogenic, La Roche-Posay skincare is formulated with active ingredients in optimal concentrations, and all products are tested on the most sensitive skin. We absolutely love the Toleriane Ultra Overnight for dry, Winter-irritated skin. The ultra-soothing, overnight care combines Neurosensine, a strong soothing agent that targets the signs of skin irritation due to dryness, with the complex Carnosine/Vitamin E to help the occurrence of discomfort and redness upon awakening. The end result? – the lightweight formula soothes our skin overnight, so redness and irritation are minimised, and even gone by the time we wake. 40ml RRP $39.95. Containing not one, but two types of pure Hyaluronic Acids, Vitamin B5 and Madecassoside, Hyalu B5 Anti-Wrinkle Concentrate Serum helps to plump the look of your skin, repair skin’s barrier and activate skin renewal. The sublime, aqua-gel melts into the skin to target wrinkles, loss of volume and elasticity – everything a mature skin needs. 30ml RRP $69.95. Used together overnight, these 2 products leave your skin soothed and nourished by morning to promote a more radiant and smooth complexion.
Guerlain
The luxury Guerlain brand began with Pierre-François-Pascal Guerlain in 1828. A perfumer, chemist, inventor and researcher, the House’s founder set up his first boutique in the heart of Paris, at 42, rue de Rivoli. The address quickly became an essential destination for Paris elite. Guerlain’s reputation at the courts of Europe peaked when in 1853, for the marriage of Napoleon III and Empress Eugénie, Pierre-François-Pascal created his Eau de Cologne Impériale, which he gave to the young bride as a wedding present. Since then, five successive generations of Guerlain perfumers have held the House’s creative reins. Today Guerlain strives to create perfumes, make-up and skincare products that inspire emotion, surprise and wonder. We love the Shalimar de Souffle EDP, a fresher, lighter version of the original fragrance. The scent takes the legendary perfume to the heights of sensuality in an entrancing, luminous creation to be worn like a precious jewel, with its light citrus and Jasmine sambac notes. You can almost feel the souffle in the watery notes as they settle. 90ml RRP $199.00. The ultimate luxury in a lipstick has to be the Guerlain Rouge G Lipstick range. With the mirror housed in the outer casing, now you can choose a customised empty case (we’re showing French Mademoiselle), and you then simply choose the lipstick shade to suit (the lipstick primes, plumps, and coats your lips in intense colour), and you’ve got a gorgeous, glam, luxe lipstick. Custom Series Case (empty) RRP $26.00. Lipstick refill 3.5g RRP $49.00.
Clarins
The Clarins brand started when Jacques Courtin-Clarins opened a beauty spa in Paris, giving birth to the Clarins brand, and its skincare expertise. 1962 saw the launch of the world’s first contouring cosmetic – the iconic Body Shaping Cream, which is still available today. Throughout the 1970’s, Clarins rolled out into more than 100 countries (along with their exclusive spa methods). The 1990’s saw Clarins release its first make-up collection, and the development of an anti-pollution range to address women’s concerns about the environment. Clarins launched its men’s skincare range during the early 2000’s. Today, Clarins is known for its creation of innovative skincare products, which stay true to the brands plant-based heritage. We love (and have done so for over 20 years), the Clarins Cleansing Milk with Alpine Herbs. The soothing cleansing milk, with a blend of plant extracts gently, yet thoroughly, lifts away make-up and impurities. The blend of Alpine Herbs, St. John’s Wort, Sweet Almond, Marshmallow and Linden helps maintain your skins perfect moisture balance for optimum comfort and radiance. Your skin is left feeling soft, supple and perfectly refreshed. 200ml RRP $45.00. Our neck and decolletage are often forgotten parts of our bodies, and as we age, they really need extra TLC, so we also love the Extra Firming Neck Cream, which preserves the softness, firmness and tone of your fragile neck area. The blend of Clarins’ Extra-Firming Complex and Sunflower Auxins helps firm and reduce wrinkles. The cream lifts and supports your vulnerable skin, while the delicate texture melts right into your skin, without a greasy afterfeel. Can be used on neck and decolletage. 50ml RRP $95.00.
L’Occitane
L’Occitane En Provence began in the markets of Provence, when with nothing but a distillation apparatus, a small truck and a solid knowledge of plants, a 23-year-old named Olivier Baussan began distilling rosemary essential oil to sell locally. Production quickly expanded from oils to soaps to creams, taking inspiration from the Provencal land he grew up on to bring natural beauty to homes across the world. Now L’Occitane combines state-of-the-art research with sustainable sourcing and reducing environmental impact, so customers around the world can enjoy responsible, holistic well-being. We love the scent of the Citrus Verbena Body Fresh Milk – enriched with organic verbena extract, lemon essential oils, and grapefruit extract, it’s a little piece of sunshine from Provence every day. The fresh, lightweight milk melts instantly into your skin, leaving it fresh and hydrated. 250ml RRP $42.00. We also love the iconic Imortelle Divine Cream, a luxe anti-ageing cream, highly concentrated in imortelle essential oil, which contains 2 x more anti-oxidant than Vitamin E, hyaluronic acid, and vitamin C, so it really helps to fight against visible signs of ageing. The rich velvety texture melts into your skin, instantly nourishing and softening it. Used daily, wrinkles appear visibly reduced, and skin regains its firmness and elasticity. The skin’s texture feels smoother, the complexion looks brighter and more even toned. 50ml RRP $152.00.
Givenchy
So many French Beauty Houses had their foundations as Fashion Houses, and Givenchy is no exception. Started in 1952 by French designer Hubert de Givenchy, the house of Givenchy was a favourite of his muse Audrey Hepburn, and Givenchy couture made an appearance in many of her iconic films (the black and white “Sabrina” dress is a particular favourite of ours). The House of Givenchy launched its first fragrance in 1957 with the creation of L’Interdit, a fragrance that symbolised the friendship between Hubert de Givenchy, and Audrey Hepburn. Since the first launch, Givenchy Parfums have launched a series of elegant and chic fragrance families including Very Irrésistible, Ange ou Démon, Dahlia Divin, and Gentlemen Only. In 2004, Givenchy launched its Le Makeup range with the famous 4 G Logo. The Makeup gave the house an edgy, high fashion feel. Givenchy today, brings a modern luxury to the beauty industry. Our favourite luxe Givenchy products are the gorgeous Givenchy Prisme Quatuor Palette in Caresse. The eyeshadow quad contains 4 long-wearing colours in gorgeous neutral hues which work alone or together to create numerous chic looks. Available in 3 other colour combinations. 4g RRP $80.00. We love to wear the Eyeshadow with the Givenchy Prisme Blush in N3, a peach/nude colour combination to let you sculpt (with the lighter colour) and colour (with the darker colour) your cheekbones quickly and easily. The lighter shade is packed with radiance to highlight your facial features naturally, whilst the more intense shade adds colour to create a fresh, healthy-looking gorgeous glow. Available in 4 other colour combinations. 6.5g RRP $68.00.
Bourjois
Bourjois is another brand with a lengthy heritage. The brand first started in 1863, when Joseph Albert Pousin, created waxy theatrical makeup. That same year, the infamous little round baked blusher pot was created. In 1870, their first lipsticks in in natural red and pink shades were launched, and by the end of the 1870’s, Bourjois has widened its market beyond actors and actresses to the public. The 1880’s saw the launch of the baked cheek colour, presented in a round cardboard pot. The 1920’s resulted in the launch of the iconic Soir de Paris (or evening in Paris) fragrance, which became an instant hit. During the 1930’s, Bourjois released an innovative long wearing lipstick – Rouge Pastel. During the 1950’s, Bourjois attracted younger women with their Rouge Fidele lipstick range, Jolicils Eyeshadow, and Waterproof Mascara. The mid 1990’s saw Bourjois launch into more sophisticated packaging, with the blush featuring a built-in mirror for touch ups on the go. Now, Bourjois is present in over 80 countries, and over 26,000 retail outlets around the world, as women the world over wear the iconic French brand. We love the Blush Pot in Fraicheurs de Rose. The soft, velvety blush is super simple to apply, contains a hint of rose fragrance, and is a flattering soft pink colour. Best of all, despite its small size, it lasts a really long time. 2.5g RRP $20.00. The blush goes really well with the Palette Les Nudes, an eyeshadow palette with 8 soft cream-powder shades, which lets you create multiple looks, from day to night, and office to casual. The swivel mirror lets you apply the colours with ease. 4.5g RRP $28.00.
Klorane
Klorane launched in 1965, in the Southwest of France, when Pierre Fabre, driven by his passion for plants and the belief in their health and beauty benefits, created the Klorane brand. Voila – the concept of Pure Botanical Care was born. The late 1960’s saw the launch of Chamomile shampoo for blonde hair, and Cornflower Makeup Remover. The brands’ iconic original Dry Shampoo launched in 1971 – the world’s first dry shampoo, and it has grown to be a best seller, with 1 product being sold somewhere in the world every 10 seconds. The 1980’s saw the launch of Shampoo with Oat Milk, adding “plant milk” into ingredients for the first time. Supporting their belief in botanicals, the Klorane Institute was founded in 1994, – dedicated to protect, explore, and educate on plant species and biodiversity. Into the 2000’s and Klorane puts it Green credentials on show with awards for sustainable development, and working on Green projects. Klorane today is known for its high quality botanical hair products. Which ones are our favourites? We have to say we love the Klorane Dry Shampoo with Oat Milk, which refreshes, and restores volume and lightness to our hair, instead of washing. Extending the life of blow drys and the time in between hair washes saves hair from damage too! Now available in Brown to Dark Hair (pictured). 150ml RRP $14.95. It’s not only our skin that gets dry over Winter, and to add some nourishment back into dry, dehydrated tresses, we love the Mango Butter Shampoo and Conditioner. The Shampoo gently, yet thoroughly cleanses your hair, whilst providing nourishment to your hair without weighing it down. The Conditioner softens and detangles your hair, providing nourishment and suppleness without weight. Oh, and they smell absolutely divine too! Shampoo 400ml RRP $20.95, Conditioner 200ml RRP $13.95.
Kérastase
There hasn’t been an excuse for a bad hair day since 1964, when Kérastase was founded in Paris, France. A professional brand that catered to everybody’s specific hair needs, the core of the Kérastase philosophy was the belief that every day should be a salon-ready day. With a variety of high quality products for different hair types, Kérastase quickly took France, and then the world, by storm, with the first Bains products launching in 1966, and the first Kerastase Mask in 1980. 1987 saw the launch of the Sun range, whilst the breakthrough Fusio-dose launched in 2011. Now owned by the L’Oreal Group, and sold in the most prestigious salons around the world, so a Kérastase consultant hairdresser can select the in-salon program best suited to your hair-type and can also recommend a personalised home-care program. Kérastase combines the expertise and knowledge of leading hairdressers with the latest in haircare technology, to create globally recognised, luxury haircare. We love our slightly mature hair to feel gorgeous, so our favourite products are the Chronologiste Bain Révitalisant and Crème de Regénération (shampoo and hair masque respectively), which work to improve ageing, devitalised hair. Both the shampoo and hair masque revitalise your scalp, whilst they smooth and strengthen your hair fibre. The masque has anioxidant properties to further protect your hair. Hair is left light and supple, full of vitality and shine. Shampoo 250ml RRP $48.00. Hair Masque 200ml RRP $72.00. To ensure all the results achieved by the shampoo and hair masque are not undone with heat styling, we love the Ciment Thermique a thermo-protecting blowdry cream for weakened and damaged hair, which instantly reconstructs, reinforces and tones your hair fiber. Hair is protected from heat up to 180°C, and it helps accelerate blow dry time to further reduce the chance of damage. 150ml RRP $48.00.
Was your favourite French Beauty Brand on this list? What about any favourite product(s)? Let us know in the comments below, and have a wonderful Bastille Day everyone. Let the croissants, cheese, and champagne flow!
