6 Skin Secrets From The Founder of Bonjout Beauty

Natacha Bonjout, the founder of Bonjout Beauty, was a French pharmacist. I didn’t know this, but in France the pharmacies are the ones who really run the skin-care industry. “When you have any questions about products, you always go to the pharmacy to find the best,” Natacha Bonjout tells Vogue.

Natacha Bonjout has been living and working in New York for over a decade now, and after 15 years researching skin, she has launched an eponymous beauty brand called Bonjout Beauty, with a single do-it-all hero called Le Balm Skin Savior Solid Sérum.

We were fortunate that a real French pharmacist and skin-care founder shared her skin secrets with Vogue, read her advice on achieving a beautiful complexion below.

Use Actives that work with - not against - each other

When applying product Natacha emphasizes not to overload your skin, and to only use actives that work together. Actives that don’t mix are retinol and Vitamin C because when they are used together they can create irritation and inflammation. Natacha also notes that retinol and niacinamide used together will simply cancel each other out. She suggests using Vitamin C with a protective SPF, or a retinol with a hydrating hyaluronic acid.

Skip your morning cleanse

In order to protect your skin barrier, Bonjout suggests gently double cleansing at night and then in the morning only rinsing your skin with thermal water or spritizing on a toning mist. This goes against our ‘squeky clean’ American method, but Bonjout insists on cleansing this way and the reason is that every night your skin reconstitutes its flora to protect itself, so simply rinsing in the morning with thermal water or a gentle water toner is all you need to do before starting your day. Natacha notes that double cleansing is crucial at night to remove all of the sunscreen, makeup, and polluted particles. To double cleanse, you can start by gently cleaning your skin with a micellar water and then follow this with a foaming or softening cleanser.

Apply Everything - including your makeup - with your fingers

Bonjout always uses her fingers to apply makeup because massage is therapeutic for boosting our confidence and reduces stress and anxiety. This sense of ‘touch’ is considered a healing power in France and a big reason many french women get facials at least once a month. You can massage almost any product into your skin with your fingers, and Bonjout encourages this as it provides an immediate soothing and regeneration.

Embrace natural remedies

Although science is at the forefront of French pharmacy, Bonjout highly recommends and respects natural remedies for their organic healing abilities. A great natural remedy she suggests is royal jelly, which is a nutrient-dense substance produced by worker honeybees and it is actually the only food the queen bee will eat. You can eat royal jelly or apply it directly to your skin. It is the best immune system booster and is packed with antioxidants that fight inflammation and boost wound healing. It’s also rich in carbs, protein, amino acids, fatty acids, vitamins, and minerals.

Reach for mineral sunscreen

Bonjout claims that the best sunscreens are 100% mineral filters, and that we must steer clear from sunscreens with chemical formulas. She warns that toxic sunscreens can give you acne, burning, itching and stinging of skin.

Less is more

Your skin-care routine shouldn’t contain too many cosmetics from too many different brands. The French way is using mutli-use skin care and a light hand.

https://www.vogue.com/article/french-pharmacist-beauty-secrets