Skinimalism is the buzzy word in the beauty industry that suggests tapering down one’s skincare routine. Keep it simple, they say. Throw out the unnecessary, they shout! As someone who’s always loved the meditative rhythm of a long skincare routine, I say back: Nay! Why get rid of a routine that forces me to take the time to take care of myself?
My morning routine is usually 5 or 6 steps long, sometimes longer; cleanser, toner, serums, eye creams, overnight masks galore! I’m a devoted collagen applier thanks to QMS Medicosmetics' 3-step collagen routine. And, I love a good rebalancing mask from Biologique Recherche (recommended by my esthetician, Yuliya Gerchik). But, there’s one secret weapon that I’ve been indulging in; gold. Yes, gold. 24 karats to be exact. Laced with 24k gold and antioxidant-rich silk extracts, Chantecaille’s Gold Recovery Mask is a recurring member of my skincare armada.
I apply it overnight, and I wake up with skin that hits all the right buzzwords: soft, rejuvenated, clear, and plump. I've become addicted to this little luxury. Though I am seduced by its seemingly mystical powers – and the results after using it for nearly a year now have been positive – I, too, initially approached it with skepticism. Below, I’ve dissected the use of gold in Chantecaille products for those who are weighing whether or not its steep price tag is worth it.
Credit: @Chantecaille
Merging Skincare, Luxury, and Environmentalism.
I was first introduced to French skincare brand Chantecaille during the waning days of lockdown in New York City. Like most, I picked up a deep passion for skincare during our days rooted at home. While deciphering which products I loved and which actually worked, a good college friend of mine suggested a few products that Chantecaille offers. The Bio-Lifting Mask ($198) was one, and I instantly fell in love with the creme’s light weight and how my skin appeared firmer the next day. The Rose Water ($76) was another, and I adored how hydrating the product was. But, my eyes and heart, always attracted to the glittering things in life, honed in on the Gold Recovery Mask. Since then, I’ve been hooked.
My deep love for the brand grew tremendously after doing a background check on it. Sylvie Chantecaille launched the luxury skincare brand with her daughter in 1998. Together, the two championed beauty products forged naturally, using high concentrations of pure botanicals and plant-based ingredients. For example, the aforementioned Rose Water was actually forged after the two came across a field of the rare Rose de Mai in Grasse, France.
But, the brand takes the crossover between luxury, beauty, and nature to another level. The anti-aging technologies are surely evident in the products. But, what I love most about Chantecaille is the brand’s dedication to giving back. It boasts the power that many luxury skincare brands accumulate and uses that influence to aid wildlife foundations of all sorts. Wildaid is one, and the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust for African Elephants and the Monarch Butterfly Fund are two others.
The Gold Products That I Use
As someone who has a heavy social calendar (I’m literally a party reporter for Vogue!) my skin is something that I think about all the time. Through the smokescreen of glamour, my skin can sometimes look and feel tired. Here and there, I’ll have the woes of a blemish from the late nights. With all that said, the gold products – and all of their antioxidant and soothing properties – from Chantecaille minimize my worry.
Aside from the regenerative mask mentioned earlier, I like to use the Nano Gold Energizing Eye Serum ($212) daily. The skin around the eyes is among the most delicate on one’s face, so this is a vital part of the routine. (I’d like to look like I drink out of the fountain of youth for as long as possible.) Using rosewater, antioxidants out of raspberry stem cell extract, a unique blend of peptides and botanicals, the serum helps make your skin look smoother and firmer.
My most recent acquisition is Chantecaille’s Gold Recovery Intense concentrate A.M and P.M serum (both priced at $320). Following a 6-month stint in Paris filled with indulging in my favorite vice (cigarettes), I knew my skin needed extra attention. Is it worth the steep price? I think so. The serums are made of a blend of reviving botanicals; gold heptapeptides (boosting radiance), tranexamic acid to reduce redness and aging; and even spirulina-derived enzymes that fight digital and photoaging. For me, the results are nothing short of pure bliss.
What Do the Experts Think?
“Yes, it really works,” NYC-based esthetician Yuliya Gerchik tells The Quality Edit. “Gold is packed with antioxidants that fight free radicals, increase collagen production, and help regenerate cell growth and cell turnover.”
Within her newly opened studio in Midtown Manhattan, Gerchik’s client list – which includes stars like Irina Shayk and Dua Lipa – seems to be drawn to her effective treatments. Many of them include several top-line products including Biologique Recherche and Medical Beauty Research. “A lot of the products actually use gold particles because they’re extremely beneficial.” She cites brightened skin and minimized aging spots in addition to the aforementioned.
“You know, Irina did that campaign with gold lip treatments. She wouldn’t do it if she didn’t believe in it, you know,” Gerchik says.
In Summary: Gold-Infused Skincare Is Worth The Price
When it comes to skincare, especially gold-infused skincare, it makes sense that one may be skeptical. Prices can be steep and results may be varied. But, aside from the glitz of saying that you use gold-infused skincare, the scientific truth of the matter is that there are tremendous benefits to using such products. According to Gerchik, there are “significant results from people who have used them for a long time, as well as immediate.”
Chantecaille as a brand merges my deep desire for luxurious skincare and interest in animal conservation. Its gold-infused products and all of the benefits that come with them match my lifestyle which often includes late nights and a bit of vice. Perhaps I’ve waxed poetic about it enough. When it comes to skincare, Chantecaille strikes gold.
