Chanel jumps on the "clean" bandwagon
The luxury you crave without the chemicals you don't.
Chanel skincare, cosmetics and fragrances have a certain je ne sais quoi… With a combination of fancy packaging and elegant formulas, these products create a feel-good experience in addition to achieving their intended goals. But more importantly, the accessible price point (as compared to couture) allows just about everyone to enjoy a bit of the cache associated with the fabled fashion house.
As consumer awareness about questionable ingredients in personal-care products grows, many prestige beauty brands are being left in the dust—and this also leaves customers to decide what’s more important (to them): Sustainable, “clean” formulations or sheer indulgence.
With the launch of Chanel’s No.1 de Chanel collection there’s no longer a need to choose between the two. This easy-to-navigate line includes makeup (foundation and a cheek/lip balm), skincare (powder-based cleanser, serum, lotion and cream for eyes and face) and a brand-new fragrance, and each offering is formulated with up to 97% naturally-derived ingredients.
The star of the show is the camellia flower (house founder Gabrielle Chanel’s favorite). All of these formulas tap into the skin-revitalizing benefits of its petals, seeds and yeasts—and all of the organically-grown camellia is sourced from Chanel’s very own fields in southwest France. The oil derived from this flower is rich in antioxidants—and research has shown its high concentration of a compound called protocatechuic acid may help keep skin cells acting younger longer.
Fun fact: The camellia flower has no smell. This meant house perfumer Olivier Polge had to get creative with the No.1 de Chanel L’Eau de Rouge Revitalizing Fragrance Mist. The resulting juice boasts a floral bouquet of jasmine, orange blossom, rose and red fruit—with camellia water and red camellia extract to keep it inline with the range’s theme.
Sustainability was of utmost importance when designing the packaging, and all lids contain recycled or bio-sourced materials. In addition to keeping the use of plastics to a minimum, the weights of the jars and bottles were reduced by up to 50%, and all glass jars are refillable. 80% of the packaging is highly-recyclable glass, and you won’t find any cellophane wrapping or paper leaflets.
I just ordered the Lip and Cheek Balm in “Camellia Red” because I have nothing like this gorgeous crimson in my makeup stash. I see myself tossing it in my bag so I can fortify the flush of my lips and cheeks when I’m out and about (even if I’m wearing a mask and I’m the only one who knows it’s there).
