The beauty products brand was started by Yves Rocher, a French who drew on his love for flowers and plants.
This was the beginning of the family-run business that now makes botanical lotions, scrubs, shower gels and makeup.
As the world shifts to healthier lifestyle ranging from food and fitness, there is also increased demand for botanical cosmetics that are less harsh.
Walking into a Yves Rocher store, the scent is what strikes you most. It smells like a garden in full bloom. The skincare products at Yves Rocher are plant-based and contain only a small percentage of preservatives.
The beauty products brand was started by Yves Rocher, a French who drew on his love for flowers and plants. This was the beginning of the family-run business that now makes botanical lotions, scrubs, shower gels and makeup.
“Our skincare products are GMO free, paraben free, silicon and mineral oil free with only one or two per cent preservative,” said Lou Prunier, brand representative and international trainer of Yves Rocher.
As the world shifts to healthier lifestyle ranging from food and fitness, there is also increased demand for botanical cosmetics that are less harsh.
“People are understanding what is damaging to the skin,” said Lou. The company, she says, keeps a tight control on its production line from plants to flowers.
They have over 250 botanical sources globally for its products. The vast sources allow the plant to be grown and harvested in the best condition.
“We get plants from Senegal, Madagascar, Mexico, Canada, France and even China,” says Lou, adding that they have about 150 beauty experts in the company including botanists, dermatologists and agronomists.
“All our products are tested on humans. We do not do any animal testing,” she explains.
They recently launched a new formula of making biodegrabale shampoo which is more environmentally-friendly.
As many brands rush to launch products for different skin colours, Yves Rocher’s focus is more on skin types.
‘‘We explain to customers to understand face care,” says Lou.
During each visit to the store, a customer goes through skin testing. This is to determine if the skin is dry, oily, combination or even problematic.
Once this has been ascertained as well as any allergies and other histories, the client is then offered a selection from the range that best fits.
“We advise that you get skin tested every time you come in. This is because different factors play a role on the state of the skin at a particular time,” she explains.
“Pollution, dust, sun, cigarettes and alcohol are major causes of ageing. If you have travelled to a different climate, then your skin may also have a different reaction,” she adds.
One may come into the store with dry skin, but as they teach you on use of the products, the skin may become less dry.
Oily skin may become less oily over time and therefore there is need to change the products.
“Some people may think they have acne yet it is just oily skin. The excess oil blocks the pores causing a breakout hence they need sebum control instead of acne treatment,” says Lou.
The use of more than 90 per cent biological products also means that when it comes to the makeup selection, they are not at the top of the trends.
Lou explains that the matte lipstick, for instance, took years to formulate.
Rather than create a lipstick, they made a lip primer from shea butter and bees wax which mattifies any lipstick applied on top.
“Nature inspires our shades. One of our mascara uses hibiscus peptide to promote growth of lashes,” she says.
Their top-selling range is the face care including the hydra vegetal, seba vegetal as well as the anti-ageing oils. Vegetal has no preservatives.
