What is it? A French skincare range created three years ago by Patrick Sounigo, a former medical student who started working with essential oils in the early 1980s. Sounigo says that at the time, such oils were the only beauty ingredients that could penetrate the skin. 'Skin is an intelligent organ,' he says, 'so it can adapt to any conditions. But it has its limits, so you need to help it [with the right ingredients].' What's so good about it? Sounigo has created products that combine phytotherapy (plant extracts) and nanotechnology (active ingredients from plants). For example, high concentrations of shea butter combine with such things as mint extracts (to diminish irritation from pollution), milk sugars and vegetable sugars to 'reinforce the skin', he says. What products are there? Sounigo says most are light and non-greasy and there are four lines for the face. One of the more 'unique' products is an all-in-one mask, peel and cleanser: the Equalising Foam Peel (HK$610/50ml) combines essential oils and alpha hydroxy acids to slough away dead skin cells. There is also the Lavish Day Cream (HK$1,085/50ml), said to reduce the depth and length of wrinkles, reduce water loss, refine the grain of the skin and restore softness and clarity. Its Velvet Cleansing Milk (HK$280/200ml) contains rosewater, lime blossom and mint extract to remove makeup and rejuvenate the skin morning and night. Where can I get it? Lane Crawford, Pacific Place.
