Power Plants

Ever since the ’90s, when minimalism was in and we went back to basics, beauty companies have been harnessing the power of plants. "All-natural" became the new catchphrase, which we equated with "healthier," and botanicals were all the rage. Soon, every skincare product, it seemed – from cleanser to anti-wrinkle cream – was infused with either a fruit acid or plant extract beneficial to the skin. And far from being a passing fad, companies like Aveda, Clarins and Origins have based their whole beauty philosophies on botanicals and a return to nature.

Here, three new products or product lines that derive their beautifying and relaxing properties from plants:

Origins: At-Home Dermabrasion

You go to your dermatologist for professional dermabrasion (where they jet a stream of micro-fine crystals over your face to reveal the baby-soft skin underneath), but what if you want to achieve a similar glow on a more regular basis?

Origins has come up with Modern Friction, "nature’s gentle dermabrasion," a facial scrub you can conveniently do at home two or three times a week.

There are a zillion face scrubs out there, you say. What makes this one different? For starters, Modern Friction is probably the gentlest facial scrub you’ll ever use. Its polishing power source is rice starch, cushioned in a creamy buffing paste, and the rice particles are spherical, as opposed to the sharp, jagged edges of the crushed nuts or seeds used in other scrubs, so your face feels protected, not like it’s being nicked or sandpapered over.

Rice is also a plant with a rich beauty heritage. In Japan, women are known to save the water that rice is washed in and use it to wash their faces. Apparently, the naturally sticky rice starch also helps tie up dirt and oil on skin.

Other beneficial ingredients are lemon oil, which kick-starts the process of illumination. Vitamin C mops up skin-menacing molecules, while aloe keeps skin calm and comfy. No redness or flaking follows, so even those with sensitive skin can use it. And of course, as with all things Origins, the heavenly-smelling essential oils play a key role in mood modification. Peppermint and lemon uplift, while bergamot soothes and calms.

Scoop a small amount of Modern Friction and massage it over clean, dry skin in circular motions for 30 seconds until the product "balls up." Add water and it blossoms into a rich, creamy foam that cleanses thoroughly. Rinse off to take the old, dead skin away. Voila, a fragrant radiance.

Modern Friction is available at the Origins outlets in all Rustan’s Department Stores.

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Clarins: Turn Your Bath Into A Spa

Long before the current trend for "at home" treatments emerged, Clarins created Anti-Eau Body Treatment Oil, the first 100-percent-natural body oil. This was soon followed by a whole slew of body- and face-treatment oils like Orchidée Bleue, formulated from pure plant extracts, which remain best-sellers to this day.

Clarins’ Aroma Body Care extends this groundbreaking range, packed with aromatherapeutic essential oils and designed to turn your quotidian bathroom into a haven for well-being.

There are two main aromas in the range: "Relax," which combines soothing essential oils of geranium, basil, petit grain and chamomile; and "Tonic," with energizing geranium, rosewood, rosemary and mint. Both "flavors" feature a body treatment oil for either relaxing or firming, bath and shower concentrate for cleansing, body polisher for exfoliating and body balm for moisturizing. Both Relax and Tonic prepare the body for Clarins’ contouring products like the Anti-Eau strengthening oil and the Contour bath and shower concentrate.

For maximum efficacy and enjoyment, Clarins recommends getting into the mood first. For relaxing, enjoy an herbal tea and listen to dreamy music. Pour some Relax Bath & Shower Concentrate into a warm bath to gently clean your skin. Then, exfoliate with Relaxing Body Polisher. Rinse and dry skin. Pour a little Relax Body Treatment Oil into the palms of your hands, warm them together and inhale the fragrance. Apply all over body, concentrating on shoulders and neck. For perfectly moisturized skin and a peaceful state of mind, finish by applying Relaxing Body Balm.

For toning, drink a glass of fresh orange juice and listen to upbeat music. Take an invigorating shower or bath using Tonic Bath & Shower Concentrate. Follow with Toning Body Polisher for supple, well-toned skin. Rinse with cool water and dry. Pour some Tonic oil into your palms, warm and inhale. To improve skin tone and suppleness, apply first over legs with a light pressure, working upwards from ankles to thighs, then all over the body. Finish with an application of Toning Body Balm for a perfectly hydrated body and revitalized state of mind.

Clarins Aroma Body Care is available at Clarins counters in all Rustan’s Department Stores.

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Sisley: Year-Round Skin Protection

Every day our skin has to fight against the sun’s damaging UVA and UVB rays as well as pollution, stress and environmental aggressions.

French beauty institution Sisley believes we have to put up our defenses as early as age 25, which is why it developed All Day All Year Essential Day Care, a hydrating day cream that forms a protective shield around the skin so it retains its youthful appearance and is free to focus on regeneration.

Think of it as a super-charged sunblock. The cream provides three successive levels of protection: 1) While other sunblocks must be reapplied every two hours to remain effective, All Day All Year screens out 90 percent of UVA and B rays for eight hours, and these filters remain on the skin surface without penetrating, so it’s safe; 2) Sisley uses anti-oxidant apple skin extract, Vitamin E-rich hazelnut oil, soy-derived tocopherol and white willow extract as a protective shield that traps aging free radicals and combats environmental stress; and 3) Natural extracts from rice and sesame nourish and boost the skin’s barrier function, while shea butter and phytosqualane retain moisture and suppleness.

The result? Right after application, the day cream’s light-as-air texture leaves skin feeling moisturized, plumped-up and velvety, not kabuki-white or greasy. With constant use, skin is supposed to regain smoothness and radiance, and lines and wrinkles are diminished. Best of all, after 28 days – the time required for natural cell renewal – the cells that reach the skin’s surface at the end of their migration process have been protected from environmental damage, and are therefore intact. Say hello to healthy skin – the way it’s supposed to be.

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All Day All Year Essential Day Care is available at Sisley counters in all Rustan’s Department Stores.