Wednesday, March 7, 2012

Interview with Alex Chantecaille


          The highlight of my day at the Nordstrom Trend Show was meeting Alex Chantecaille. (You can imagine how excited I was!) Alex is the Director of Sales at Chantecaille and daughter of Sylvie Chantecaille, the brand's founder. Chantecaille (pronounced shan-teh-kai) is a family business. The brand is known for botanical based skincare, a natural makeup look, and environmental campaigns. If you've passed by Chantecaille counters, you've most likely seen Olivia, Alex's sister and Creative Director, who models for Chantecaille collections. Meeting Alex was just as wonderful as I hoped it would be; she is genuine and personable, and as you can see above, beautiful too! In the midst of an incredibly busy day, she kindly agreed to answer a few impromptu questions about Chantecaille,  her inspirations, and what we can look forward to this year. Enjoy!


Could you describe the quintessential Chantecaille woman?
Modern, natural, and luxurious. Someone who appreciates beauty, but  in an effortless fashion, really embodies what it means to be chic, [and] also gives back.

What would you say makes Chantecaille special?
I think the fact that we're women making products for other women. It's my mother, sister, and I developing these products, communicating what we're all about, and sharing what we've learned. [We want] to empower women to feel better and look better, [to] give confidence as a sister would.

What inspires you?
 Honestly, nature. The simplicity, the intelligence and the beauty of nature and how well thought out it is. [From] something that just shocks you like a giant clam in Indonesia to a little hummingbird, it's all so perfectly created and there's so much to learn from that.
 

Could you share what colors you are wearing today?
I believe what I packed on my trip were the new classic palette we launched last fall, St. Barth's bronzer to get a little bit of warmth to the skin (it's a very lightweight beautifully milled bronzer), and our longest lash mascara.
  
Could you share a part of your daily beauty routine?
It's about feeding your face: from the morning cleaning it and refreshing it with rosewater. Using our vital essence every day, morning and night, gives a very redness calming, rosacea minimizing, healing experience. [I use] a lightweight moisturizer during the day and a richer one at night. [When] using our foundation, the coverage can always be controlled. If you're going out at night you can wear more, but during the day you can use a little bit to even out some red spots or areas of concern. And at night no matter how tired you are you have to wash your face!

For someone who's just starting on Chantecaille products what would you recommend?
We have an amazing value set called the Aromacologie starter kit that's in a really pretty faux croc pale pink travel zip pouch.  It has travel sizes of our foaming cleanser (naturally exfoliating and very softening), as well as the the vital essence full size, flower harmonizing cream (a very soothing basic cream that was originally developed as an eye cream), and a mini rose water (to spray throughout the day or [as a part of your] morning regimen).

What can we expect in summer or fall 2012 from Chantecaille?
In September we did the makeup for Christopher Kane. With the partnership we worked on creating a new cheek color from three of our current different cheeks: Cheer, Emotion, and Laughter. It was all about the focus on cheeks that pop, very natural eyes, pretty pink mouth with our color Comet, and bushy eyebrows (almost as if a girl had run up the hill, a very natural kind of flush). From that partnership we developed a new Poudre de perle called Akoya Pearl.


          I hope you enjoyed my interview with Alex Chantecaille! I'm grateful to have gotten the chance to meet her and catch a few pearls of Chantecaille wisdom. Have you tried any Chantecaille lately? I'd love to hear your recommendations! Do you visit counters when special guests or artists are in town?

Love, Dovey.

P.S. But wait, there's more! (More Chantecaille, that is). Stay tuned ...

13 comments:

  1. i am very intrigued by the brand and it is on my "lust" list. i would love to try their beautiful eyeshadow quads. ;)

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    1. Hi Lena, Me too! I love their quads; usually I have to admire from afar :)

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  2. That's so awesome that you got to meet her!! I love Chantecaille products a lot. I use some of the skin care-in fact I got that starter kit she talks about and it's great! Highly recommend it for starting out in the line!

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    1. Hi Tracy, Thanks so much for your comment! It's great to hear your opinion on the kit; I was sorely tempted though it is a little pricey--- esp by the vital essence and rosewater. The bag is quite cute too! I've still been thinking about the Chantecaille 'Wind' blush I saw on Beauty Reflections :)

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  3. How cool you got to interview a brand bigwig :D She seems like a lovely person, too

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    1. Hi Sarah, Thanks! It is always really nice to meet accomplished people who also have great personalities!

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  4. THANK YOU for this! You asked great questions. Chantecaille is one of my favorite brands.

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    1. Hi Zuzu, thank you so much!! I think we need to have a Chantecaille powow; I need to learn more!

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  5. What a lovely post! I'm so glad you got a chance to meet and share all this information with us. :D

    I'm too scared to use Chantecaille in case I fall in love with it. But I'll work my way there eventually. ;)

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    1. Hi Liz, I'm so happy you liked it! I think I share your exact sentiment; I'm trying to keep myself on a limited Chante diet for now (we'll see how that works) :)

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  6. I went to the local Trend Show here in Washington State yesterday and had my make-up appointment at the Chantecaille counter with Fernando. I already owned an 8 piece custom palette and a few brushes from Chantcaille and loved them so it was no surprise to my family when I came home with the coral reefs palette, 2 eyeliners, and mascara! :) I love Chantecaille and I hope some day I am as lucky to be able to meet one or all of the Chantecaille ladies!!

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  7. Hey Dovey, I was just researching vegan makeup brands and I've found a lot of sites claiming Chantecaille's line is entirely vegan! But, I can't find any ingredients shots of packaging... was anything mentioned at this even about the brand's vegan status?
    Thanks <3 Sarah S.

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  8. I love your blog and photography, just gorgeous! I think the woman in the background of your last photograph [the one facing the camera whose face is slightly out of focus] looks like she belongs in a Vermeer painting. Lovely!

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