Oil’s good at Nuxe
In 1991, pregnant with her first child, Nuxe founder Aliza Jabes craved a multipurpose beauty product she could use on her hair, face, and body. There were none on the market so she came up with her own, blending six botanical oils with nourishing, reparative and softening properties.
The resulting product — Huile Prodigieuse (Prodigious Oil) — became Nuxe’s breakthrough product (20 million bottles sold thus far) and a cult favorite with beautistas everywhere. Not only did it melt into skin and hair without any residual greasiness, it made you smell great, too, with its beach-y essences of coconut, orange blossom, and vanilla.
“It was something unique, the first one on the market,” says Nuxe international director Julien Coutas.
“You can even use it on oily skin,” assures Nuxe international operational marketing director Sophie Moisdon. “Mix one drop with your moisturizer to make your skin really smooth and soft, but not greasy.”
Huile Prodigieuse was so successful it spun off a whole line of anti-aging Cremes Prodigieuse; a fragrance, Prodigieux le Parfum; and a variant of the oil that illuminates skin with golden shimmer, Huile Prodigieuse Or.
It also cemented Nuxe’s identity as a French skincare brand that differed from its competitors in its use of natural botanical flower extracts, as well as developing rigorously researched products that were far from clinical but a joy to use.
“We have 45 patents on specific flowers in our formulas like rose extract,” notes Moisdon. “Nuxe is all about Parisian beauty and it offers a sensorial experience: it smells great and it feels great.”
Consequently Nuxe has 30 spas all over France and a few in exotic locales like Morocco, but no plans for a Philippine spa… yet.
The brand offers four skincare ranges: Nuxellence holds a patent on being able to repair 43 percent of mitochondrial DNA, which means skin is regenerated and dull complexions are revived; Nirvanesque reduces the first expression lines; Merveillance is an anti-wrinkle range for those in their late 20s to 40s; and Nuxuriance firms as well restores a healthy glow.
For those new to the brand, Moisdon recommends a good cleanser like Nuxe Micellar foam cleanser and the Exfoliating Gel to clear skin of impurities and prevent blackheads; Crème Prodigieuse in the lighter texture to treat and mattify skin; and a richer cream for nighttime to ensure hydration and moisture.
Nuxe has also created a range specifically for the Asian market, Nuxe White, which whitens skin with white crocus, porcelain rose and vitamin C. “It’s for those who desire even, rosy skin,” Moisdon says. “We don’t have it in Europe, it’s only sold in Asia.”
Personally I’m already a fan of Nuxellence Detox, an anti-pollution night cream that makes you look as if you’ve had two extra hours of sleep; Nuxellence Eclat, a day lotion that gives your face an immediate boost of radiance; the Reve de Miel line — nourishing body washes, facial cleansers and an amazing lip balm made with actual honey; and, of course, Huile Prodigieuse, which I found so addictive I even ordered the scent online.
Coutas understood perfectly when I told him I had an insta-love reaction to their most iconic product: “Nuxe is an emotional brand, much more than the competition,” he said with a wink.
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Nuxe is available at Beauty Bar, Rustan’s Makati and Rustan’s Shangri-La. For more information, like the Facebook page “Nuxe Philippines” and follow them on Instagram @NuxePH.
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