THE EXPERT
MATHILDE THOMAS, CO-FOUNDER CAUDALIE
DECEMBER 06.2012
by AIMEE BLAUT
"My husband Bertrand and I created Caudalie back in ‘93 after we met Professor Vercauteren from the University of Pharmacy in Bordeaux. We were touring my family vineyard, and he told us that we were growing the best part of the vine. He let us know about the French paradox, how French people drink more wine than anyone else in the world but have the least cardiovascular disease, even though they eat a lot of foie gras and good cheese (laughs). It is because the polyphenols found in red wine strengthen your blood vessels and prevent cardiovascular disease. Those polyphenols are extremely efficient at fighting free radicals, which are responsible for four out of five wrinkles. But they were extremely unstable and turned creams red. So we met with him the next day and learned that he was patenting a way to stabilize these extracts. We convinced him not to sell his patent to a big skin care company but to work with us.
We were living in Paris and two years ago we decided to move the family to New York. We love it here; and always say we have a crush on New York like all the French (laughs). It’s an exciting time for us, we are opening our first worldwide boutique in December. We wanted to open it here in the city. The flagship will be on Bleecker and Grove in the West Village, I love the area.
When I get up in the morning I use Micellar Water, which attracts the dust and leaves my skin fresh. Then I wash my face. Right now I am trying my new cleanser that will be launched in early 2013. I am redoing my cleansing line because I found some new recycled packaging, and want to make it even greener. Then I use my Vine Expert Firming Serum and layer Premier Cru over that as my moisturizer. Under my eyes I put the Premier Cru Eye Cream underneath the Eye serum. I put a lot of layers on like the Korean women do.
Right now I am trying a BB Cream that we are launching in a few months, but otherwise I use the tinted moisturizer. I use Bobbi Brown dark eyeliner on my eyes, Lancôme Hypnôse mascara and NARS Orgasm blush on my cheeks. If I need to mattify my T-zone I use some Trish McEvoy white finishing powder. I don’t use a lot of makeup.
When I arrived here I had lunch with those Upper East Side girls and they all had beige nails. With my dark polish I felt like a gothic, crazy, rock and roll person (laughs). I was eating at Cipriani and at Cipriani it’s all beige.
One of our most popular products is the Vinoperfect Radiance Serum, which is used for brightening the skin and a clearer complexion. When we launched it, it was not a big hit, but then we had two French journalists who made the difference. One was a very heavy smoker and was using it morning and night and her complexion turned rosier and less grey. It became a sensation because all the French women smoke (laughs). The second journalist brought the serum to Saint Tropez during her holiday and she put it on underneath her sunscreen and wrote that her suntan lasted longer with no brown spots. It’s such a great product and after that it became huge.”
Photos by: Aimee Blaut
Tags: Caudalie Flagship, France, Mathilde Thomas, New York, Paris
YOU ARE A BABE
ANNIE GEORGIA GREENBERG, NY EDITOR, REFINERY29
JANUARY 26.2012
by AIMEE BLAUT
"At Refinery29, I’m responsible for all of the New York newsletters that go out everyday. Gosh, it’s so nerve-wracking, once it’s up, even after there’s nothing else I can really do, I still click through it probably four or five times. I also put up seven to nine stories per day on the New York channel. If I don’t write them I edit them, just making sure it’s a good mix of beauty and fashion and keeping it local and in our voice. It’s different everyday and that’s totally fun."
“My beauty regimen involves waking up and trying to look as presentable as possible. Everyday I use Olay moisturizer and it makes my skin super soft. I have a La Prairie eye cream that I love. I put it on at my desk multiple times a day. That’s basically it for skin care, but I really love my Chloe perfume. The bottle is beautiful and the scent suits me well.”
“In terms of makeup, I start off with Benefit Erase Paste, it works wonders under my eyes. Then I throw a bit of Chanel bronzer on my cheekbones and a Benefit blush that’s super light. For eyeliner, I alternate between a gel and YSL pencil. I do the cat eye but it mostly looks like I smudged myself, but I try [laughs]. At night I do a smokey eye. I have tons of brushes but I usually just smudge some NARS brown on with my fingers and let it be. Since I have blonde hair and blonde eyelashes I have to wear mascara or else I look like the walking dead. I use L’Oréal Voluminous Lashes, which you can just buy at a drug store.”
“I try to keep it pretty natural, but sometimes I go for a pop of color on my lips. I use either a neon or go super dark like Tom Ford’s Black Orchid. If I’m doing a dark lip like that, I keep everything else very neutral. I won’t even do mascara on those days because I feel like it takes over.”
“Our Refinery29 nail line is coming out! Our beauty editor Megan McIntyre is doing a really great job of spearheading the initiative to get beauty in the mix. I have the pleasure of sitting next to her and that is where I get most of my beauty tips. ”
Photos by: Aimee Blaut
Tags: Annie Georgia Greenberg, Benefit, Chanel, Chloe, L'Oreal, La Prairie, Megan McIntyre, nars, New York, Oil of Olay, Refinery29, Tom Ford, you are a babe, YSL
LOVE AFFAIRS
MAUBOUSSIN, NEW YORK
DECEMBER 27.2011
by AIMEE BLAUT
2012 is days away -- what better time than now to find a signature scent for the new year?
On my quest for my next favorite fragrance, I linked up with Laurence Bouard, the newly appointed Director of Mauboussin on New York City's Madison Avenue. This was my first trip to their recently renovated five-story townhouse. The store is elegant and whimsical with a touch of 1900’s Paris. At Mauboussin, they boast that “luxury should be the universal language.” The French jewelry house manages to make luxury affordable with a broad range of inspired fragrances, hand-crafted by master perfumers.
I spritzed and sprayed the morning away with Laurence (trying my best not to get distracted by the shiny objects, ahem — the sexy rings.)
In the end, these were my favorite perfumes:
Pour Elle, Mauboussin’s provocative yet feminine scent with rose and red-fruit heart on a jasmine and gardenia blend. It’s known as their “love potion” and comes playfully topped with a signature ring.
Oriental, a mature fragrance with notes of golden plum, Indian jasmine and red mandarin.
M Moi, my personal favorite (partially because it is a play on my name, Aimee) I’m crazy about white flowers like narcissus – and M Moi combines them with white currant and cashmere wood.
I’ll take all three please! (That’s right, Santa, I do accept late presents.)
Photos by: Aimee Blaut
Tags: 2012, France, Jewelry, Laurence Bouard, M Moi, Madison Avenue, Mauboussin, New Years, New York, Oriental, Paris, Perfume, Pour Elle
