5 posts tagged "Mathilde Thomas"
Beauty Etiquetter: Putting On The Pressure During A Massage
Beauty Etiquetter is a new column on Beauty Counter in which we address your beauty protocol predicaments with candid advice from industry experts and those in the know. To submit a question, email celia_ellenberg@condenast.com.
The Quandary: What’s a nice way to tell the spa masseuse that she’s not using enough, or too much, pressure during a massage?
The Expert in Residence: Mathilde Thomas, founder of Caudalie skincare and Vinothérapie spas
The Advice: “Even though you might feel awkward telling the masseuse to change her pressure, she really does want to know what you’re thinking. A good masseuse should ask you how deep you’d like to go at the start of the treatment, before you get undressed. Try to give her a specific guideline, such as, ‘I’d like the pressure to be a four on a scale from one to ten.’ Then she should check in with you after the first one to two minutes of the massage. If she hasn’t, speak up then—I find it’s easier to say something sooner rather than later. Just keep it casual with a comment like, ‘Can you put in a bit more (or less) pressure?’ Don’t explain or apologize, as that will make things awkward. Also, if you find yourself in a situation in which the technique isn’t to your liking time and time again, you might be booking the wrong types of treatments—deep-tissue-inspired massages, for example, will always be a bit firm, whereas Swedish-style ones tend to be gentler. So ask the receptionist to give you the details before you book. And if you simply don’t feel comfortable saying anything after the treatment is under way, you can ask the front desk on the way out to put a note in your file for the masseuse to use more or less force the next time. That way, you can get exactly what you want without any worry of being impolite.”
A Caudalie Flagship Grows In The West Village
Since being exposed to the antioxidant treasure trove found in the grapeseeds that were being discarded every season during her family’s wine harvest in Bordeaux, Mathilde Thomas has built an empire on the power of polyphenols. Her skincare line, Caudalie, launched in France in 1995 and quickly became known as “a solution-solver brand,” according to Thomas, who skyrocketed to renown on the back of the range’s original best-seller, Vinoperfect Radiance Serum, which brought to market the long-held tradition of slathering pruned-grapevine sap onto the skin to even out tone. There have been many revolutions—and revelations—since, including the creation of Vinothérapie spa destinations; a line of fine fragrances; the Vinexpert antiaging line, which combines a stabilized form of resveratrol with oleaic acid; and the heavenly scented Huille Divine dry oil, which Thomas worked on with a pre-Louis Vuitton-enlisted Jacques Cavallier.A flagship store has remained the one notch missing from Thomas’ belt, but that all changes this winter. “It’s not just the first store in the U.S., it’s the first store in the world,” she boasts of Caudalie’s new home in New York’s West Village, which is set to open its doors tomorrow. Every single product in the brand’s arsenal will be available at the Bleecker Street outpost, which Thomas describes as having “good vibes”—and good neighbors; Marc Jacobs, NARS, and Jo Malone have all recently set up shop on the stretch of prime real estate. Inspired by the iconic Les Source de Caudalie Vinothérapie Spa in Bordeaux and Chateau Smith Haut Lafitte, the 600-square-foot space will offer Instant Beauty Facials (a ten-minute “refresher”) for walk-ins and will ultimately include two or three treatment rooms for more in-depth services. There will also be a Fresh Crushed Cabernet bar, where guests will have the chance to devise their own scrubs using grapeseeds from Bordeaux, brown sugar, honey from Gironde, and a blend of six organic essential oils, including lemongrass, lemon, cypress, juniper, rosemary, and geranium.
But the real treat will be the opportunity to chat with Mathilde herself, who has all intentions of popping by the store with regularity—as she has been doing at its smaller, sister location that just opened on 74th and Lexington. It’s an opportunity for people who don’t know anything about the brand to come in and discover it, she explains—a business plan that seems to be working. One such customer wandered in, attracted by the new bright, airy space, while we paid Thomas a visit there last week, and after trying her first Caudalie product, she was hooked. “You must try this, too,” Thomas offerred with marked excitement, grabbing a bottle of Premier Cru The Eye Cream. Service doesn’t get more personal than that.
Caudalie, 315 Bleecker St., NYC, www.us.caudalie.com.
Beauty Etiquetter: When To Take It All Off For Spa Treatments
Beauty Etiquetter is a new column on Beauty Counter in which we address your beauty protocol predicaments with candid advice from industry experts and those in-the-know. To submit a question, e-mail celia _ ellenberg@condenast.com.
The Quandary: What spa treatments should you completely undress for? It’s never clear to me.
The Expert in Residence: Mathilde Thomas, founder of Caudalie skincare and Vinothérapie spas
The Advice: “As a general rule, I would suggest undressing fully for all body treatments and at least down to your undergarments for facial treatments. For body treatments this may be obvious, but for facial treatments many spas also massage your arms, chest, shoulders, and possibly your feet and legs, too. The point is for you to be as relaxed as possible with a free range of motion, and the less clothing, the less encumbered you will be. Many spas also offer spa undergarments, or disposable bra and underwear, so if you want to disrobe and still have some coverage, it’s completely appropriate to ask for these items if they’re not offered upfront.”
Beauty Etiquetter: How Long Is Too Long To Relax At The Spa?
Beauty Etiquetter is a new column on Beauty Counter in which we address your beauty protocol predicaments with candid advice from industry experts and those in-the-know. To submit a question, email celia _ellenberg@condenast.com.
The Quandary: After a relaxing massage, my therapist always says I should take my time getting up. But how long can I reasonably rest there? I never know what’s appropriate or expected.
The Expert in Residence: Mathilde Thomas, founder of Caudalie skincare and Vinothérapie spas.
The Advice: “You certainly shouldn’t get up too quickly following a treatment, as blood flow in your body will have shifted as a result of lying in a horizontal position for an extended period of time and increased microcirculation. That said, many spas do have to turn the room over for the next client. So feel free to take about five minutes to relax, put on your robe and gather yourself, but taking a nap—as clients have been known to do!—may lead to your therapist coming back to check on you. If you tend to enjoy a lot of time relaxing after a massage, find a spa that has a lounge where you can linger. That way, you can take as much time as you need.”
The 411: Mathilde Thomas of Caudalíe
You could say that Mathilde Thomas lives by the phrase, “in vino veritas“—after all, she and her husband Bertrand are responsible for creating the world’s premiere wine-driven beauty line, Caudalíe. Built on the principle that the polyphenols found in grape seeds are infinitely more effective at fighting pesky, age-provoking free radicals than Vitamin E, the brand has grown by leaps and bounds since its 1995 inception, thanks to innovative products and the spread of a range of vinothérapie spas. Though Caudalíe was born in France, Mathilde and her family recently made the move to New York. What major differences has the Manhattan transplant discovered so far? That Parisians’ laissez-faire approach to bike helmets doesn’t work in a city where taxicabs are moving menaces, for one, and that French and American women have different approaches to beauty. “I was surprised that here women often want to cover problems rather than treat them, so makeup is way bigger than skincare, and it’s the contrary in France,” Thomas told Style.com. “In France, we start taking care of our skin much earlier and here a lot of women will wait until they have a problem and then say ‘fix it.’ And in New York, everyone is in a hurry; women want results fast!” Here, she shares her beauty secrets on both sides of the Atlantic.
The Cosmetic Doctor: Dr. Bernard Hertzog
“He lives between London and Paris, and he is the absolute best for mesotherapy! (Editor’s note: Mesotherapy is a medical specialty that involves injecting microscopic quantities of natural extracts, homeopathic agents, pharmaceuticals, and vitamins into the skin, used to eliminate cellulite, promote weight loss, and treat aging skin.) He takes care of all the French celebrities, and after seeing him I glow for a week. He is very, very good and has a light touch. I met him in 1996, because he was the one behind our Beauty Elixir.”
Dr. Bernard Hertzog, 60, avenue de la Bourdonnais, 75007, Paris, 01 45 56 10 00.
The Essential Product: Caudalíe Premier Cru
“Because it took me more than eight years to design, and 200 trials, I would have to say my most-used Caudalíe product is the Premier Cru. It’s my Rolls-Royce of creams, and it has 15 years of technology behind it, and all the best anti-aging molecules at their highest concentrations. It’s a serum plus a moisturizer, and I will use it morning and night without anything else.”
Caudalíe Premier Cru La Crème, $120, www.sephora.com.
The Hair Stylist and Colorist: Warren Tricomi
“I discovered the Warren Tricomi salon when I arrived in New York and I love it. I see Edward [Tricomi] for cuts, and Naoko Suzuki for the best blowouts. And for color, I always go see Joel [Warren]. Everyone there is very talented!”
Warren Tricomi Salon at The Plaza, 1 W. 58 St., NYC, (212) 262-8899, www.warrentricomi.com.
The Yogini: Louise Lougalates-Hale
“When I’m in Paris, I like to see Louise for a private session at least once a week, because doing yoga always makes me feel so healthy. We have even arranged for her to come to the Caudalíe offices so that the entire team can do yoga together!”
For more information, call +33 6 80 26 80 32 or e-mail lougalates@hotmail.com.
The Makeup Artist: Delphine Sicard
“Delphine is my favorite, and I’ve been working with her forever. She is very good and she does a lot of magazines and television in France. She always takes care of my makeup for special occasions.”
For more information, email delphinemaquille@wanadoo.fr
The Makeup Essentials: The Power of Prestige
“I really don’t like to use a lot of makeup, but when I do, it is extremely important to me that the look is natural. I rely on Guerlain Terracotta Bronzing Powder, Lancôme Définicils mascara, and NARS Blush in Orgasm to help give me a simple, sun-kissed glow without looking overdone.”
Guerlain Terracotta Bronzing Powder, $47, Lancôme Définicils High Definition Mascara, $24.50 and NARS Blush in Orgasm, $26, www.sephora.com.
The Alternative Medicine Practitioner: Dr. Nadia Volf
“Nadia has been my acupuncturist in Paris for some time and I trust her immensely! If I could find someone in New York as good as her, I would be so happy!”
Dr. Nadia Volf, 5 Rue Quentin Bauchart, 75008, Paris; +33 1 47 20 09.
The Destination Spa: Caudalíe Vinotherapie Spa, Elciego, Spain
“I have two favorites. If I’m in an arty mood I go to the Caudalíe Vinotherapie spa at the Marqués de Riscal Hotel in Elciego. It’s the only Gehry-designed hotel, and the whole place feels like you’re living in a piece of art. Plus, every time I’m there, I get to go see my favorite spider sculpture by Louise Bourgeois. My other favorite is the Vinotherapie Spa in Bordeaux. It’s my family vineyard, so it’s like going home.”
Caudalíe Vinotherapie Spa at Marqués de Riscal Hotel, Calle Torrea 1, Elciego, Spain 01340, +(34)(945) 180880; www.starwoodshotel.com.
The Restaurant: Le Meurice
“When we are in Paris we always like to visit our friend, Chef Yannick Alléno, at Restaurant Le Meurice. He is a very talented chef and prepares the most decadent food…it is always a very special treat, and a luxurious dining experience.”
Le Meurice, 228 Rue de Rivoli, 75001, Paris, +33 1 44 58 10 10.; www.lemeurice.com.
The Edible Necessity: Cheese
“Food is very important to us French, so I’m constantly looking for new places in the city. Cheese is my essential, though, and I think Artisanal has the best selection. I go there for my 12-year-old Comté and the very stinky, but delicious Époisses.”
Artisanal Cheese, 2 Park Ave., NYC, (212) 532-4033, www.artisanalcheese.com.