When many of us travel abroad and become more aware of great beauty products and pharmaceuticals, at some point our desire to stock up on rare products supplants snow globes and coffee table books. That certainly was the case with New York art dealer Stephen Schulte, who tried every product on the market from both sides of the Atlantic to remedy his lifelong dry skin condition. Ultimately, his date with skin repair destiny arrived during a vacation to St. Barts, where a French friend of his had introduced him to the product. Impressed with the immediate results, Schulte bought as much of the Gabriel Couzian Washing Oil and Highly Nourishing Body cream he could pack in his suitcase.
When Schulte’s precious supply ran out, he contacted Couzian in France to see if there was a way he could order more product for himself and his friends. Couzian eventually acquiesced on the condition he buy cases. And with the arrival of cases, he found himself preaching the gospel of Couzian’s nourishing body care line and sharing bottles to prove his point. Not surprisingly, his friends and associates were converts, and his wife advised him to propose to Couzian that he could be the US distributor for the products.
In Southern California, Gabriel Couzian’s line (which includes the Washing Oil Shower and Bath, Highly Nourishing Body Cream, Body Moisturizer Light, Hand Cream, Foot Cream and various products formulated for the face) is available exclusively at The Studio at Fred Segal and on-line at www.gabrielcouzian-usa.com. What makes the products so special and covetable? A mix of natural ingredients that do the impossible—allow oils and water to mix, and deposit the nutritious aspects of the oils onto the skin without greasy residue. The recipe for success within this product includes Vitamin E, Borage Oil, Sesame Oil, Shea Butter and Bisabolol (a derivative of chamomile). Though other products are made with some of the same things, Schulte points out that it’s the proportions of the ingredients and Couzian’s patented oil-in-water suspension technology that makes all the difference.
This week, one lucky winner will receive a canvas tote filled with Gabriel Couzian’s line similar to the kit sent out to Los Angeles’ top fashion and beauty editors. The supply is truly a tool kit for all kinds of skin maladies that come from extreme heat, cold, wind, sunburn or even genetic causes. At a time where people are forgoing luxury in favor of more simplicity in their lives and routine, this collection brings luxury and simplicity together.
