The French define chemistry a little differently
By Susan Caba
You only know that Sylvie Chantecaille is wearing makeup because you’re looking for it. Founder of the makeup line that bears her name, Chantecaille epitomizes unstudied French elegance.
American women, she says, are very good at using makeup but not so diligent (until lately) about taking care of their skin. French women, she adds, are just the opposite—much more discreet in their use of cosmetics.
“For the French women, it’s all about what men think. It must be pretty and feminine,” she says. “American women don’t put on makeup for men. It’s armor. I don’t think American women give a damn what men think!”
After decades in the cosmetics industry, including a major role in the development of Prescriptives for Estée Lauder, Chantecaille decided when she was 50 to launch her own line of fragrances and then cosmetics (in St. Louis, available exclusively at Neiman Marcus). She invested in the most current technology and insisted on using natural and org-anic in-g-red-ients—90 percent are botanicals.
“Every woman is over-stressed,” says Chantecaille, who turns to flowers and essential oils for soothing. “Irritation is creating aging. Our skin is our largest organ. You have to get calm in your skin.”
