NEARLY ALL OF US USE ANTI-AGEING PRODUCTS, BUT WHAT DOES THIS TERM REALLY MEAN AND HOW DOES IT ACTUALLY WORK? CHANEL EXPLAINS ALL WITH THE DEVELOPMENT OF ITS LATEST UNIQUE SKINCARE PRODUCT SUBLIMAGE L’ESSENCE FONDAMENTALE.
Chanel’s Sublimage skincare range is renowned for its ability to create radiance, restoring the skin’s natural glow with carefully chosen ingredients. Regardless of a woman’s age, or skin type Sublimage is designed to enhance a woman’s natural beauty and allow them to blossom. This year Sublimage takes on a new generation with a specially developed product using the absolute latest in technology and natural ingredients. Here we discover the development process behind Sublimage L’Essence Fondamentale, the latest cream to join the Sublimage family.
THE HISTORY
Sublimage has long been one of Chanel’s pillar skincare lines. Since 2006 its products have been committed to creating radiance. A unique combination of ingredients began with Vanilla Planifolia. Travelling to Madagascar, an open-sky laboratory was opened, offering the opportunity to cultivate and study this unique plant. Through these lengthy studies, Chanel developed its first natural active ingredient in 2006; Planifolia PFA. Extracted from the vanilla fruit and crafted with tailor-made technologies this was the first vanilla ingredient of its kind, and opened doors for many variations allowing the expects to unlock its magic.
THE DEVELOPMENT
2010 saw the opening of a new open-sky laboratory in the South of France. The first of its kind since the initial laboratory in Madagascar. The open sky laboratory is inspired by the naturalist approach of the King’s Garden created for Louis XIII which contained medical plants intended to advance medical knowledge. This, combined with what was learnt in Madagascar provided a great starting point for the development of unique ingredients. The King’s Garden has been in place for over eighty years. Known today as the Jardin des Plantes, decades of work have gone into studying over 500 plants. The plants’ history, medicinal properties, and endemicity were closely examined. The samples that were taken led to over 60 botanical extracts in the laboratory and the identification of molecules of interest via phytochemical analysis.
Bring in Chanel. With the opening of the laboratory, Chanel initiated a new research program. Working with regional experts they pulled this land in Provence Alpes Côte d’Azur from abandonment to locate and develop the latest natural latest cosmetic ingredients. Selected plants were acclimated; and the most promising were then planted in cultivation trial areas. This resulted in the creation of five extracts with exceptional biological properties for use in skincare products. One of these extracts was Solidago virgaurea alpestris, the key ingredient in the new Sublimage L’Essence Fondamentale.
The botanical garden allowed for a first harvest of the solidago flower. The long-term work made it possible to obtain a plant that is so rich in molecules. The idea was not only to adapt the cultivation to the climatic conditions and the specific soil, but also to determine the right yield so the plant could thrive. Year after year a complex process was developed to ensure this ingredient formed exactly as planned. This was a worldwide first.
THE FLOWER
The Solidago flower is a sunny yellow colour. Part of the Asteraceae family, it grows in the dry environment of the rocky foothills of the French Alps, at up to 2,800 metres in altitude. The word comes from the Latin solidago which means “I consolidate” – Perhaps a reference to its power on the skin? Each year, from June to September, the flowers are collected by hand. They are then dried before their active molecules are extracted. This plant is capable of stimulating the expression of SNEW which basically means it will counteract the effects of aging. The active ingredient, solidage extract, helps to improve cellular vitality and restore density to the skin by 54%. It targets the epidermal cells, the keratinocytes, as well as the dermal fibroblasts which produce collagen. The aged cells will begin to pause in their aging, literally putting the aging process on hold. When the solidago extract is combined with the Vanilla Planifolia of Madagascar, it reinforces the technique with its antioxidant power. The anti-aging properties combined with the radiance properties of the vanilla work in perfect harmony together.
THE PRODUCT
With the solidago flower as its key ingredient, Sublimage L’Essence Fondamentale was created. Designed to plump sunken areas, define features and enhance the face’s natural curves, this rich cream works over time with daily aggression. Our skin’s natural elastic texture is put to the test thanks to daily wear and tear on the face. When skin cells lose their vitality, the entire skin becomes damaged. Our expressions are no longer the same hence the ageing process. Sublimage L’Essence Fondamentale is a cream that smoothes, tautens and consildates the skin, making it appear more toned, firmer, smoother and of course radiant. The face regains its expressiveness and the aging process is frozen.
THE THREE-STEP RITUAL
Chanel has developed a three-step ritual that will restore harmony to the face by stimulating key anchor points on the face and scalp. This will optimise the performance of the Sublimage L’Essence Fondamentale.
Before application – Place the fingers at the hairline and press upwards to the top of the head. Repeat four times.Then, repeat on the sides of the head starting from the back of temples toward the top of the head. Finally, repeat this movement from the back of the ears to the back of the head.
The application. – Apply a drop to cheeks, forehead and neck. With both hands, smooth over the face, from the centre outwards.
After application – With fingers together, apply gradual pressure for a few seconds on the following five points: the top of the forehead and at temples toward the top of the head, in front and behind the ears toward the back of the head.
Sublimage L’Essence Fondamentale now available at Chanel
