What can cosmetics learn from haute cuisine?
Just like in haute cuisine, good skincare relies on four pillars: terroir (quality plants, organically and locally grown), a recipe (plant-based active ingredients formulated for the skin), freshness (small-batch production), and verifiable results. This is the Belle Luce method, a Swiss brand founded in the Val de Bagnes, in Valais.
"I have always been fascinated by what connects the pleasures of the table to the rituals of skincare. Two worlds that seem distinct, but share the same high standards."
— Mildred Dandelot, founder of Belle Luce
1. Terroir: it all starts with the plant
A chef chooses their producers before writing their menu. We do the same: our skincare products are formulated with plants from organic and local farming.
Our signature plant is edelweiss, the flower of the Alps. The extract in our facial skincare comes from edelweiss grown organically in Valais. Around it, other plants chosen for their benefits for the skin: nettle, calendula, hemp, and verbena.
Four of our skincare products carry the Valais Wallis label, which distinguishes products from Valais: the Edelweiss Day Cream, the Eye Contour Elixir, the Nettle Oil, and the Calendula Oil.
"We choose our active ingredients the way a chef selects their produce: with uncompromising standards. Each component has a history and a reason for being."
— Mildred Dandelot
2. The recipe: formulating for the skin with plant-based active ingredients
A good product is not enough: it must be crafted well. In cosmetics, the recipe is called the formulation. Ours relies on plant-based and naturally derived active ingredients, chosen for what they bring to the skin: plant extracts, oily macerates, vegetable oils, floral waters, and plant-based glycerin.
Just like in cooking, precision matters: an active ingredient must be present in sufficient quantity to have an effect. Our Edelweiss Day Cream and our Eye Contour Elixir are built around an extract of edelweiss from Valais.
3. Freshness: small batches, made regularly
A high-end restaurant prepares its dishes the same day rather than stocking them. We make our skincare products in small batches, renewed regularly. The time between production and the moment you open your bottle thus remains as short as possible.
4. The result: formulas that can be verified
A dish is tasted. A formula, meanwhile, is read. The Yuka app analyzes the composition of cosmetics: all of our products are rated "Excellent" on it. Our oils and our serum, Hemp Serum, Nettle Oil, and Calendula Oil, score 100/100, as does our Verbena Floral Water Lotion.
"I wanted every Belle Luce skincare product to be a meeting between science and pleasure. Each texture has been designed to envelop the skin with delicacy."
— Mildred Dandelot
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does a cosmetic product need preservatives or antioxidants?
Because it must remain safe for weeks in your bathroom, a warm and humid environment, opened daily with your fingers. A skincare product that contains water (cream, lotion) needs a preservative to prevent the development of microorganisms. An oil or a balm, without water, does not need one, but an antioxidant slows its oxidation, i.e., the rancidity of the oils. Without them, a natural product would not remain healthy until the last use.
Why produce in small batches?
For freshness. Batches made regularly reduce storage time before the product reaches you.
Where do the plants in your products come from?
We prioritize plants from organic and local farming. The edelweiss extract in our facial skincare comes from organic edelweiss grown in Valais. The Edelweiss Day Cream, the Eye Contour Elixir, the Nettle Oil, and the Calendula Oil carry the Valais Wallis label.
How should I store my natural skincare products?
Away from heat and direct light, tightly closed after use. The small open jar symbol on the packaging (e.g., "6M") indicates the number of months the product can be used after opening.
Who founded Belle Luce?
Belle Luce was founded by Mildred Dandelot, in the Val de Bagnes, in Valais (Switzerland).
To learn more: How does Belle Luce choose the ingredients for its skincare?