Being beauty-savvy the French way

The French are known for their flair and for being beauty-savvy. French women are beautiful because they know the secrets to good skin. Think Brigitte Bardot, Vanessa Paradis and Julie Delpy. If Jean Paul Gaultier, Yves Saint Laurent and Chanel create haute couture for fashion, Dr. Pierre Darphin created haute couture for beauty.

One of the oldest French skincare companies was created in Paris in 1958 by dermatologist Pierre Darphin. He believed in a more holistic approach to creating good skin through natural ingredients. He also believed that the beauty of a woman is not about how her skin or body looks. It is more about how a woman feels about herself.

Just as haute-couture designers will assess a client’s needs and lifestyle, and then custom-tailor a wardrobe for her, Dr. Darphin customized skincare programs for his patients. Thus, the Darphin brand became known as the "Haute Couture of Beauty," focusing on the inner and outer beauty of a woman for a truly individualized approach.

Aurélie Doisneau, international trainer for Darphin, says, "Darphin contains natural products made of highly concentrated plant extracts. There is synergy between the formulation and active ingredients which leaves an extraordinary feeling and results on the skin."

Darphin’s plant-based treatments tackle skincare in three ways: phytobiology, or extracting complexes from plants to feed and oxygenate the skin; aromatherapy, treating with essential oils; and phytotherapy, treating with the active components of the plants. All these work in synergy to make the skin unique.

Nuances D’Aromes

Recently, Darphin launched its Nuances d’Aromes makeup collection at Crossings Department Store in the Shangri-La Mall. Guests were invited by Presy Ramos, Crossings vice president, and Xandra Ramos, the new GM of the store chain, for a tea party and presentation of Darphin products and beauty treatments. Makeup artist Barbie Chan used the new collection on models Rissa Samson and Tessa Nieto.

Nuances d’Aromes reveals beauty the natural way and provides anti-aging and hydrating benefits. The collection includes a palette of colors, textures and radiance-enhancing pigments incorporated into unique formulas. "This makeup collection grants women exquisite beauty, not just pretty makeup. It looks and feels like makeup but acts like skincare that improves the skin," adds Doisneau.

Nuances d’Aromes starts off with treatment makeup that has a rich and silky finish. Darphin’s Anti-Aging Smoothing foundation contains anti-aging and hydrating properties that provide even coverage for a flawless and radiant complexion. For a transparent skin that looks divine, the Natural Moisturizing foundation enhances the complexion for a natural look. To help hide imperfections such as spots, dark circles, and wrinkles, the Darphin Concealer pencil does the trick.

Powders are then used to set the foundation and concealer for a perfect complexion. Darphin’s Pressed powder gives a matte, velvety finish which evens the complexion and fading lines. The ideal coverage still provides a natural look. Darphin’s loose powder hides fine lines and imperfections. Apply with a brush or powder puff. The light-reflecting particles illuminate the complexion.

Give your cheeks a flushed look with Darphin’s Blush Duo. It comes in two shades: Bonne Mine, for fair to medium complexions, and Bronze for medium to dark complexions. The Blush Duo is rich in light-reflecting agents, giving a natural look with a healthy and radiant glow.

For beautiful eyes, Nuances d’Aromes eye makeup enhances and treats the fragile epidermis of the eyelid.

"Darphin has taken extreme caution regarding raw materials used in the eye-makeup products and has formulated the most amazing textures," adds Doisneau. Darphin Eye pencil, powdered precision eyeliner outlines the eyes and shades its contours to achieve maximum definition. For the brows, the Eyebrow pencil blends into the eyebrow texture. Color your eyelids with the Eye Shadow Trio. It glides on evenly and feels smooth, adding depth to the eyes. Finish off with mascara for long and sexy lashes. The mascara was nominated the healthiest mascara in America by Health magazine because of its gentle and conditioning ingredients that fortify eyelashes. It contains conditioning ingredients and light-catching pigments that highlight the eyes.

Lips indeed reveal our charms. Lipsticks are something women cannot live without since they feel bare without them. Darphin Lipstick has a creamy texture and satin-like finish which protects and soften the lips with the candelilla and rice waxes. The Double Side Lip pencil outlines and covers the lip contour while the lip gloss enhances the natural color of the lips and nourishes them.

Women can now enhance their beauty with makeup without overdoing it. And maybe you can look like your favorite French stars.

"Darphin Nuance d’Aromes is an extension to skincare. This makeup collection uses natural ingredients to create a natural look," concludes Doisneau.

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Darphin products and Nuances d’Aromes makeup collection is available at Crossings Department Stores in Shangri-La Plaza Mall and Quezon Ave., The Darphin Institute is located at the Podium, and at Franck Provost, Bel Air, Makati City.