Guest post by Anita Webster

A few months ago I came across a coupon for a new Marcelle skincare product. So I did just what they hope you’ll do – I rushed out and bought it.

It was a good move! Essentials 1st WRINKLES Eye Contour Cream is lovely. It’s light, has an easy-to-use pump and goes on like silk.

I believe I am a bit older than the target market for this cream, (“The secret to beautiful skin is: early care is always better … smooths out wrinkles from their first appearance…”) but I’ve used and liked Marcelle eye creams before so went for it. Its hypo-allergenic feature attracted me too.

At $27.50 US it’s not cheap, but I find eye cream is a product where you really get what you pay for.

Good for Marcelle for providing a straight-ahead Tips and Solutions page It’s not all about looking young forever, but offers some practical, wise advice. Like this:

“Don’t worry about those fine lines and crow’s feet. Beauty is ageless and even if you are a few years older, you are just as remarkable and just as beautiful…with wisdom to boot!”

There’s a philosophy I can get behind!

Guest review by Raul Pacheco-Vega. Sorry it took us so long to get it online, Raul!

While I was completing my undergraduate degree in chemical engineering, my parents helped me decide which cologne would be my “trademark” fragrance, the one aroma that everyone would associate with me. I remember clearly that as I transitioned from the core courses in chemistry, physics, and math that everyone doing a B.Sc. would need as a basis for their individual undergraduate degrees.

I started taking more chemical engineering–specific courses. These would include Separation Processes I, which was taught by a female professor who (like me) loved perfumes. That semester, I transitioned as well to the next in a series of colognes created by Calvin Klein. I had already tested CK and Obsession for Men, and so it was the turn for Eternity for Men. I fell in love with it.

I’ve continued to use Eternity for Men (Eau de Toilette) after graduating, on select occasions. And now that Calvin Klein has released Eternity for Men Summer, I decided to try it out. In contrast to the other CK fragrance I tried, the scent in Eternity for Men Summer does not fix as well on my skin as CK One Summer does.

This is kind of sad, as the top notes of ginger and grapefruit (as well as a bit of passionfruit and a slight hint of melon) are easily detectable, but the lower notes of driftwood, amber and musks (creamy) tend to fade after a few hours (which wouldn’t happen with CK One Summer).

I have consistently tried Eternity for Men Summer every day I’ve been teaching, and the fragrance seems to be a hit. It’s a fresh, breezy, sweet and summery cologne and one I can easily recommend, hands down. I just wish it didn’t fade as much after 4-5 hours! Retails for around $75.00 CDN plus tax.

I have a new favourite scent. Rose Elixir Eau de Toilette by Canadian lingire store la Vie en Rose.

It is unusual for me to like a scent for sale at a lingerie store. That is why I was so surprised when I sampled Rose Elixir at the la Vie en Rose store in Metrotown mall on the weekend. After a few hours of enjoying the scent on my wrist I went back to purchase the bottle ($35) and the body creme ($20, but I only paid $10 as they have a BOGO on all body products in store).

Rose Elixir is described on the website as having:

a mesmerizing, elegant blend of glowing grapefruit and red currants mixed with blooming centifolia roses, white cedar, clear amber and sensual woody notes.

I really love the mixture of rose with a woody musc undertone. The scent is soft, almost powdery. I have even been applying it before bedtime because it makes me relaxed and warm inside.

June 1st, 2010—-Yves Rocher, The Creator of Botanical Beauty opened its first North American franchise in the West Edmonton Mall today.
The 648 square foot store called The Atelier of Botanical Beauty, is located on floor one of the mall near the 44 door entrance. “We are incredibly excited for both the Brand and our franchisee because this represents a real milestone for Yves Rocher globally and a real opportunity for Oksana Pachine and her partner Anna Stsibaylo,” says René Desmarais, CEO of Yves Rocher North America Inc. The Yves Rocher Group is a global beauty leader, ranked in the top 15 beauty brands in sales and volume, with 3.2 billion dollars in sales and one of the few large, family-owned, beauty-businesses in the world. “We were saddened to lose the founder, Mr. Yves Rocher, right before the start of the new year but pleased that the Brand is continuing on the path of global expansion laid-out by Mr. Rocher,” he adds. The opening coincides with the Brand’s 50th anniversary which is being celebrated this year.

Yves Rocher has been operating in North America since the mid-eighties running a direct mail business in Canada and the United States and a store business in Canada. Later, in 2005, it launched an Internet sales site as well. While both the direct mail and Internet business service both Canada and the United States, the store business remained regional, operating close to 70 stores in Eastern Canada with locations in Ontario, Quebec and New Brunswick. Last year, with the global launch of the new Atelier store concept, the company announced that it would be offering franchises across Canada to help with its on-going expansion. The company’s goal is to introduce franchising in the U.S. in the next few years.

The Canadian store business was somewhat of an anomaly as globally close to 75% of the 1,800 store chain is franchised. “We wanted to keep our stores corporate until we had the right formula for the North American market,” says René Desmarais. “With The Atelier of Botanical Beauty we know we have the right concept.” Launched in May of last year, the Atelier is delivering an average +15% sales increase versus the previous store concept.

The Atelier is a physical representation of the Brand. The main display table is a copy of the one
Mr. Yves Rocher used in his attic laboratory in La Gacilly, France when he first started the company. A large visual of one of Yves Rocher’s organic fields is front and centre at the cash. The company organically cultivates about 33% of the raw plant material it needs for its global production. The rest is ethically sourced around the world, depending on the actives needed in a product. Finally emblematic visuals of women and plants recall the Brand’s proximity to women and the fact that all its products are botanically-based.

“I am so happy to be the first franchisee in Canada,” says Oksana Pachine. “I’ve known Yves Rocher for many years because it is a very popular brand in Russia. What I like is its plant-based products and its focus on the environment and sustainable development. As franchisees we also receive very targeted marketing and communications support,” she adds. Yves Rocher is known world-wide as a highly specialized direct marketing company, which contributes to its success in all of its sales channels. “When you purchase an Yves Rocher franchise you always benefit from tremendous corporate support such as marketing and communications tools, training and data sharing, says Stéphane Duval, Director, Stores, Yves Rocher North America Inc. “Customers who sign up to our rewards program receive between 12 to15 special offers a year with additional discounts, free products, gifts and of course our expert beauty advice. On average between 18%-30% of customers come back with their offer,” says Duval. “That’s on top of walk-in customers,” he adds. In Canada, more than 90% of Yves Rocher store customers have signed up to the rewards program.

Yves Rocher plans to franchise more than ten locations before the end of the year and has interested parties for franchises from Halifax to Vancouver.

Did you know that most soap can leave soap scum on your skin? The good news? Dove doesn’t.

Take the Dove ‘bar exam’ and test your knowledge of the Dove difference — and why Dove isn’t soap.
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1. True or False: soap can leave soap scum on your skin?
TRUE!

Who knew? Washing with soap in hard water can leave soap scum on your skin. You may not see it, but it’s there, even after rinsing. Soap reacts with calcium in hard water to produce soap scum. Washing with soap can also leave skin feeling dry and tight.

2. True or False: most soap adds essential oils to the skin?
NOT TRUE!

Most soaps strip the skin’s surface of essential oils, and can dry the skin, leaving it feeling tight.

Dove isn’t soap. It’s a gentle cleanser made with 1/4 moisturizing cream to leave the skin feeling soft. The skin-essential fatty acids in Dove (which are also naturally present in the skin) are the essence of the 1/4 moisturizing cream. These deposit and penetrate into the skin during washing and because they are identical to natural skin lipids, are easily absorbed by skin and aid in the replenishment of the skin’s moisture barrier from within.

3. True or False: soap can lead to skin sensitivity problems?
TRUE!

Soap can worsen dry skin and aggravate skin conditions like acne and eczema. The Dove bar formulation is unique to Dove and has been shown to be compatible for use by acne, rosacea and atopic dermatitis patients.

4. True or False: washing your face with soap and water can’t damage your skin.

FALSE!

Washing your face with harsh soap can remove some of the protective oils, which can lead to dryness, rash and even aggravate symptoms of acne. Dove is gentler on the skin compared to soap and helps replenish essential oils that may be lost.
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Looking to purchase a new bar of soap this week? Bar none, Dove stands the test of superior care.

A few more facts about the Dove Beauty Bar:

• Dove Bar was introduced to the United States in 1957 and to Canada in 1964.
• Dove is milder than soap for all skin types, including children with sensitive skin.
• Dove cleans skin effectively, leaving skin looking healthy and radiant.
• Dove leaves skin softer and smoother than soap, after only seven days (sooner in many cases).
• Dove replenishes the skin as it cleans, actually depositing essential moisturizing lipids (fatty acids naturally found in the skin).
• Dove has been positioned throughout its history as a ‘beauty bar’, and not soap, because of the contrast of some ingredients in Dove vs traditional soap.
• Dove White, Unscented and Sensitive Skin Beauty Bars are dermatologically tested, and shown to be hypoallergenic and non-comedogenic. 57% of dermatologists use Dove at home.
• With every purchase of Dove, a portion of the proceeds is allocated towards the work of the Dove Self-Esteem Fund.

I have been using Dove since childhood, and always come back to this old favourite when I get tired of other soaps.