Lancome ages gracefully

MANILA, Philippines - The last time I stepped foot on the corner of San Lorenzo Drive and Arnaiz Avenue, Makati, there was a nightclub named after a planet. The boutique hotel that now replaces it still has the heavens in its name. Hotel Celeste, on Tuesday night, was transformed into a romantic wonderland, with velvety white roses carpeting an entire pillar of the Cicou restaurant, and floral candelabras adorning each table. Lancome celebrated 75 years of beauty with a dinner party, serving French food naturellement, paired with Les Jamelles wine from Terry’s while soprano Ana Feleo crooned French ballads. The duck liver ravioli truffle soup was excellent, but I really took to the French bread. It tasted so authentically good I wouldn’t be surprised if bottles of L’eau de Paris were flown in just to bake it.

Created in 1935 by Armand Petitjean, Lancome is today an undisputed international leader in the luxury cosmetics market, present in 135 countries with a staff of 20,000 beauty advisers. For 75 years, the brand has epitomized contemporary beauty, with a unique approach to femininity that is inclusive, and defined by Lancome worldwide president Youcef Nabi as “confident, tangible, responsible, and deeply anchored in its time.”