In Partnership With Mustela
The French Classic I Can’t Quit
Our editorial director muses on her decades-long love affair with the cosmetic brand.
- Written By
- Phoebe de Croisset
I grew up in a little town called Larchmont, which was largely inhabited by the French, thanks to the charming French-American school that was nestled in the center of town. Families from Belgium, Canada, the Ivory Coast, and of course France, all flocked to this little town for a bilingual education and upbringing, and when my family moved from London to find that the school was conveniently located across the street from our home, my sister and I were enrolled immediately with no consideration for the minor detail that neither of my parents had ever uttered a word of French.
Being enrolled at FASNY meant I was an early adopter of certain traditions: the four-course lunch, for example, which was always comprised of an entrée, a plat, a salade and a dessert. Each course was eaten with a real knife and fork, and all the children seemed to know how to use these utensils at an expert level. Wednesdays were half-days and Fridays I slept over at my best friend Pauline’s house. And that is where I first met Mustela. It only took half a dozen sleepovers at various French friends' homes to realize that this cosmetic brand was like the four-course lunch: mandatory, and much beloved. To this day, a whiff of any Mustela product sends me careening back into my childhood, and I can’t help but feel a soft spot for this brand that I grew up with, especially now that I have a baby of my own.
Being enrolled at FASNY meant I was an early adopter of certain traditions: the four-course lunch, for example, which was always comprised of an entrée, a plat, a salade and a dessert. Each course was eaten with a real knife and fork, and all the children seemed to know how to use these utensils at an expert level. Wednesdays were half-days and Fridays I slept over at my best friend Pauline’s house. And that is where I first met Mustela. It only took half a dozen sleepovers at various French friends' homes to realize that this cosmetic brand was like the four-course lunch: mandatory, and much beloved. To this day, a whiff of any Mustela product sends me careening back into my childhood, and I can’t help but feel a soft spot for this brand that I grew up with, especially now that I have a baby of my own.
Mustela has been combining cutting edge science with natural ingredients for 60 years, always following EU cosmetic safety guidelines (which are much stricter than those in the U.S.). Their products are made from 95 percent naturally derived ingredients, like their latest discovery Avocado Perseose, which is found within the heart of the Fuerte avocado and works to reinforce the skin’s moisture barrier and maintain hydration. Plus, it’s biometric, meaning it works in harmony with your little one’s skin.
The products are hypoallergenic and free of parabens, phthalates and phenoxyethanol. This time of year, I love the Dry Skin Bath Time Set, which includes bath oil, cleanser and lotion to hydrate and protect against dry skin and counteract the drying effects of bathing. And although it’s geared towards my baby, don’t think I’m not borrowing it for my own bath! I used the Musti Eau de Soin well into my teens, and still spritz it on from time to time when I’m feeling nostalgic.
Shop the Mustela collection here.
The products are hypoallergenic and free of parabens, phthalates and phenoxyethanol. This time of year, I love the Dry Skin Bath Time Set, which includes bath oil, cleanser and lotion to hydrate and protect against dry skin and counteract the drying effects of bathing. And although it’s geared towards my baby, don’t think I’m not borrowing it for my own bath! I used the Musti Eau de Soin well into my teens, and still spritz it on from time to time when I’m feeling nostalgic.
Shop the Mustela collection here.
