In the late 1990s, a new high-end beauty line called Chantecaille appeared on the counters of select U.S. department stores. Chantecaille makeup, skin care and fragrances caught on slowly but surely as women who discovered the line on their own praised its exemplary quality to friends. Praised by beauty editors and used by celebrities, models and makeup artists, the Chantecaille brand quietly basks in the limelight even in the absence of widespread advertising.
About the Creator
French-born Sylvie Chantecaille, founder of Chantecaille, has an impressive 25 years plus in the beauty industry. Her formative years were spent in New York, where she co-launched a cosmetics line with Diane von Furstenburg. Chantecaille's first endeavor eventually led to a long tenure with Estée Lauder company. Chantecaille, whose reputation was established when she launched Lauder's best-selling Prescriptives line in 1979, struck off on her own in 1997. She first created four fragrances, which remain cornerstones of the Chantecaille brand, and shortly expanded into makeup and skincare. As a business, Chantecaille is a family affair. Sylvie Chantecaille draws on the creativity and expertise of daughters Olivia, Chantecaille's creative director, and Alexandra, the company's sales director.
The Chantecaille Difference
If many women without access to the Chantecaille brand have never heard of it before, there's a reason: Chantecaille's company philosophy is to place money normally spent on advertising into creating quality products using high-quality organic ingredients. In a 2003 interview with "Travel + Leisure" magazine, Sylvie Chantecaille stated, "We do not skimp on cost. You'll never hear us say 'That's too expensive for us.' We say 'That's the best, we want it.'" Chantecaille continues to be promoted mostly through beauty reviewers in major print and online publications, as well as by word of mouth. Chantecaille does not use animal testing or animal derivatives in its products, and all are free of fragrance, lanolin and mineral derivatives.
Chantecaille: The Makeup
A compelling reason to try Chantecaille is the exemplary makeup line, says Paula Begoun, author of "Don't Go to the Cosmetics Counter Without Me." Colors are gentle, subtle and elegant--mercifully absent of outre, impractical hues and large pieces of glitter. The Chantecaille look draws attention to the lily without gilding it (think Catherine Deneuve, not RuPaul). Highly pigmented blushes and eye shadows mean that colors stay true without creasing or fading during the course of a day's wear. Chantecaille mainstay, Real Skin, a "barely there" cream foundation, and Future Skin, a translucent gel-like foundation, blend easily with the skin, enhancing the face's natural beauty. Begoun describes Chantecaille's foundation range as "beautifully neutral" and goes on to say that "Chantecaille has made it very easy to assemble a makeup wardrobe that makes skin look smooth, polished and radiant."
Other Chantecaille Products
The Chantecaille skincare line includes an array of botanically packed cleansers, moisturizers, masks, serums and hydrating creams, which also includes an anti-aging line. Chantecaille's spray-on flower waters are used as skin refreshers and include rosewater, wild blackberry bush, Moroccan orange blossom and French peppermint. Sylvie Chantecaille also created four highly realistic soliflores: Frangipane, Wisteria, Tiare and Le Jasmin, sold in spray perfumes, bath and shower gels, body creams and candles.
Beauty with a Heart
Chantecaille also appeals to female consumers through the company's ongoing philanthropic endeavors. Chantecaille donates a percentage of every purchase from custom-designed, limited-edition products to support targeted conservation efforts. Chantecaille's recent endeavors include the La Baleine and Le Tigre makeup collections, which are dedicated to the blue whale and wild tiger, respectively. Other Chantecaille charitable causes include protection of fragile marine habitats and that of the endangered Monarch butterfly. In April 2009, "T Magazine" beauty editors chose Chantecaille's Blanche Face highlighting powder compact--part of the La Baleine line--as their Earth Day "eco-pick."
Purchasing Chantecaille
The price tag on many Chantecaille products may not appeal to beauty bargain shoppers or those on a budget. In October 2009, the cost of Real Skin was $62 and Cheek Shade was $28, with pan refills costing slightly less, while makeup palettes ranged from $68 to $117. Spray perfumes start at $58 for 50 ml, while skin care items like the Nano Gold Energizing Cream are priced at $420 for 1.7 oz. Chantecaille can be purchased at Saks, Neiman Marcus, Bergdorf Goodman and Barneys New York and select brick-and-mortar spas and salons, as well as online through Bliss Spa and the Chantecaille site (see link in Resources).
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