Invigorate Yourself -- The French Way

By Gigi Anders

Thirty years ago, in 1987, Clarins introduced Eau Dynamisante. Revitalizing Water. It was the first eau de toilette to combine a perfume with the treatment power of plants and the principles of aromatherapy and phytotherapy.

When I first tried it all those years ago, I wanted to spray the entire bottle all over my body and go change the world.

How?

When people smelled me, men and women -- for this fresh, clean, warm fragrance can go either way beautifully -- they’d all turn merry, charming, relaxed. They’d speak perfectly fluent French.

They’d naturally integrate the concept of joie de vivre. Life would turn into paintings -- Renoir’s Luncheon of the Boating Party, Manet’s The Balcony, and Monet’s Women in the Garden. In other mots, Eau Dynamisante Treatment Fragrance ($58) is my Proustian madeleine.

As it were.

Now Clarins has introduced an irresistibly dynamisante quartet of new hair and body products, all online exclusives, creating a family that extends that intoxicating fragrance and feeling

Shampooing Vitalité Brillance Invigorating Shine Shampoo with Ginseng ($28) As refreshing as a bright green apple, this leaves all hair types in a much happier state of mind.

Après-Shampooing Vitalité Brillance Invigorating Shine Hair Conditioner with Shea Butter ($33) nourishes, thickens, and boosts hair’s shine.

Gel Moussant Vitalité Invigorating Shower Gel with Ginseng ($28). The name says it all. I’m sure Mama Cubana will steal this the next time she’s here visiting. She has a nose for The Good Stuff.

Lait Corps Hydratant Vitalité Invigorating Body Lotion with Hazelnut Oil ($40) is perfect for midsummer when you want to hydrate your skin but not with a heavy formulation. By the way, all these products come in pump bottles. I love pumps. I live for pumps. And for Clarins Invigoration. Vive La France!