“I’ve never had fantastic skin,” says Marie-Astrid, disillusioned. She’s always been extremely dry for as long as I can remember, but since menopause and all the joys that come with it, she’s become downright rough, flaky, and feels tight all the time. Not to mention it is much less toned and less elastic. And that’s not even talking about the brown spots that have appeared on my forehead, nose and cheekbones, which give me a Dalmatian face every summer. These “graveyard flowers” as some call them (personally I find it a bit creepy) are the result of a long term tan I got when I was younger… and a bit unconscious. In short, when she noticed about a decade ago that the drop in estrogen led to a cascade of phenomena that began to have a significant impact on her face (“my skin was constantly dull and my oval undeniably more blurred, she explains”), without which she would have been fine went around, this business director from the west of Paris, very concerned about her appearance, immediately researched the various anti-aging agents available on the market. “Retinol, collagen, hyaluronic (or glycolic) acid, vitamin C, peptides, ceramides… I was almost an expert at it,” the 50-year-old explains with amusement.
“When I think about the amounts I’ve spent, sometimes my head spins”
Believing that I had the solution to all my problems and that I would see amazing results on my skin in a short period of time, of course I didn’t just ask. For years, I’ve been robbing my neighborhood perfume shop every month or more.” Brightening serums, nourishing creams, thickening masks… that took a toll on her budget. “As soon as I heard about the new treatment, more confidential, more sophisticated, it was beyond me, I had to run right away and buy it,” admits Marie-Astrid. When I think about the amounts I have spent, sometimes my head spins.” Especially since, as he himself admitted, the result was far from meeting his expectations (and the money invested). “Even though I applied my products morning and night according to the rules of the art, I didn’t see any noticeable difference,” she says. My skin didn’t look any less wrinkled, any less dehydrated, any more radiant than when I was following a minimalist skin care routine. Worse: red spots appeared here and there. Then I realized I had overdone it. Instead of repairing and pampering my skin, I assaulted it and suffocated it with synthetic, potentially toxic ingredients.” A glance at the ingredients in her products (she had never thought of that before) was enough to freeze her once and for all. “I was shocked,” he admits. I thought it’s really not wise to apply all this to the face.’
Since then, Marie-Astrid has turned 180 degrees and decided to produce her cosmetics herself, from raw materials without any harmful substances. “I didn’t want to smear my skin with petroleum derivatives, antifreeze, or anything else that was so horrible,” she explains. I wanted to regain control of my beauty routine. To be sure of what I put on my cheeks, eye area and décolleté.” For two or three years, Marie-Astrid washes her face with Aleppo soap or rhassoul powder mixed with a little water. To hydrate the skin, he applies a drop of aloe vera gel, which he enriches with a drop of argan, jojoba or almond oil, depending on the current mood (and especially the need). “On the weekends, I also sometimes exfoliate myself with white clay, baking soda, or powdered sugar with honey,” she adds. And I end with a yogurt or avocado mask (real nutritional bombs!).
Statement? Soothed and soothed skin. “Obviously my wrinkles and jowls haven’t disappeared (unless I get cosmetic surgery, I’ve lost all illusions that I’ll see them disappear one day), but my skin is visibly clearer and I feel significantly less tingling. The icing on the cake: I no longer have the slightest redness. I am so happy that I am now testing recipes based on shea butter, coconut oil and cornstarch on my hair. In addition to the fun side of turning into a budding chemist, making Marie-Astrid’s natural cosmetics also allows you to save a lot (which she reinvests in beautiful stays in France) and make a gesture towards the planet by reducing the waste in your fridge. and by reducing the packaging volume. So many reasons that should encourage him not to stop there (if he does).