The house of beauty

There are three things a beauty junkie has to do to get ahold of the latest beauty booty: first, get tons of feedback from reliable sources like www.makeup alley.com. Then, try the latest celebrity buzz product gracing the magazines. And, brace for the Milenyo storm and go to the launch of Marionnaud. This is exactly what I did and it was definitely worth it.

Marionnaud, a luxurious European perfumery and cosmetics chain from the A.S. Watson Group, recently opened its first flagship store in Asia at the SM Mall of Asia. This 900-square-meter shop is packed with an extensive range of cosmetics, fragrances and body care. Plus, it has a juice bar for smoothies and treatment rooms for massages, facials, manicures and pedicures.

"Marionnaud is a one-stop beauty shop with a lot of exclusive brands," says Maria Norrman, strategic director of Marionnaud’s luxury Asia division. "The way you shop here makes you feel close to the products. We are not there to pressure you to buy but rather to help you."

I really like the look of the store – warmly lit, cozy and high-street luxury. Since there are just loads of brands to choose from, the products are divided into skincare, fragrances and cosmetics, which you will definitely go gaga over.

The Fragrance Bar is quite interesting – it brings an educational dimension to the world of fragrances. There is a computer to help you find and compare ingredients, from the top notes to heart notes and base notes. Plus, there are samples of perfumes ranging from woody, floral, citrus and even chypre that you can try.

Marionnaud has 17 exclusive brands. Here are some that really stand out:

I have been waiting for Becca Cosmetics from Australia to open here. It feels good to have a cosmetics brand with your name on it. The brand is known for the three-step Skin Perfecting Makeup system that will correct, perfect and enhance any complexion. There are 34 shades of concealers and 30 foundation colors that will help women achieve a natural-looking, flawless complexion. Cool, huh?

French cosmetics line Christian Breton created the Dermo Genetic System, which enables women to discover her true skin identity through a genetic beauty questionnaire. There is a personalized beauty prescription that suggests products suitable for your skin type if it is dry, mixed, oily, or normal. Try the Active Firming and Anti-wrinkle Gel with Face Lift Liposomes, a super-active complex to efficiently reduce wrinkles and give an immediate toning, lifting effect. Made-to-measure beauty care, indeed.

If you want an Ayurvedic approach to skincare, then try Herbline Essentials. This skincare range was developed by Anil Khanna as a result of over 23 years of research into the effects and applications of plants and minerals on the human body. Expect a lot of herbal extracts and oils that will activate the body to help itself. All the products are for a specific purpose and should enable the user to obtain the best results naturally.

Ingrid Millet, a French brand, began its quest for enhanced beauty when the founder integrated marine biology and deep knowledge of the skin into the formation of skincare products. The Caviarissime night cream is enriched with Caviar Complex and Marine Thalassospheres: little pearls filled with marine collagen that carry and release the nutrients while you sleep. Upon waking, your skin is well-oxygenated, feeling supple and radiant.

Molton Brown from the UK created sensory body therapies to achieve your desired state of mind, skin treatments to combat your environment, color that goes deeper than embellishment, and travel solutions to make everywhere feel like home. Dig the Pure Eucalyptus and Ginger Body Scrub with pure eucalyptus oil, root ginger and exfoliating sea salts that create a dynamic fusion to enliven the body and give the senses a blast of adrenalin. Boost the tempo!

Other exclusive brands from Marionnaud to include in your shopping spree are Allison, Black-Up, Botlux, Christina Fitzgerald, Dessange, La Colline, Lise Watier, Mister Mascara, Opalis, Paul Niehans, Qiriness and Spa by Valmont. So now, how on earth are you going to choose from the colossal variety of products?

"We want to establish credibility at Marionaud," says, Christophe Didion, country manager, Marionnaud China. "We want consumers to trust our professionalism and hopefully trust our advice in choosing brands suitable for them."

Oh, what a dream come true – a beauty haven to satisfy your ever-changing beauty needs.

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Marionnaud is located at the main mall of SM Mall of Asia. E-mail love-hate whatever things to becca_rodriguez@yahoo.com.