Clarins yesterday, today and tomorrow: Virginie Courtin-Clarins, Serge Rosinoer, Jacques Courtin-Clarins’ right-hand man; Christian Courtin-Clarins, Prisca Courtin-Clarins, Claire Courtin-Clarins, Olivier Courtin-Clarins, Jenna Courtin-Clarins
SHANGHAI — Clarins turned 60 with a big bang brand celebration last September. The brand is named after a childhood character the founder, Jacques Courtin-Clarins, played in a school stage production. He invented himself by inventing Clarins.
On Clarins’s signature colors — red, white and gold — recognized worldwide, Jacques said: “From my office on rue Tronchet, I could see a ‘No Entry’ sign. Red catches the eye. If I wanted to get noticed, red was my color. Okay, let’s go with red. Then there’s white, simply because everyone associates it with the medical world, with rigor, purity and efficacy…and a touch of gold for luxury.”
Sixty years on, Clarins continues to be ever-present and relevant.
Whatever Clarins does, it does with a pioneering spirit, armed with its curiosity, its approach to science and its respect for others. That is why Clarins is unique.
CLARINS LOVES WOMEN
“Women were my inspiration. I created Clarins out of love and respect for women’s beauty,” founder Jacques Courtin-Clarins declared.
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He would devote his life to them. Now, his two sons, Christian and Olivier, have taken over the realm with the same passion and devotion. “My passion for women’s beauty has marked my life. This passion shared with a whole team is the secret to Clarins’ success,” he said.
Last Sept. 18, Clarins took over Shanghai’s most iconic spot, The Bund 3, a legendary six-story Neo-Renaissance style building with some Baroque details completed in 1916 to house the brand exhibit. The exhibition, “Clarins 60th Anniversary — Skin Care Pioneer,” was an experiential journey and an interactive learning path. A gigantic storybook of the brand’s history was the first stop of the exhibit.
Clarins initiated beauty through plants, and laid the foundations of modern aromatherapy. From the revolutionary manual massage methods to body shaping, sunscreens, anti-pollution and the concept of “feeling good and looking good,” all these are Clarins innovations. So were employee profit-sharing, corporate citizenship, environmental responsibility, the protection of nature, humanitarian initiatives, and long-term partnership commitments.
BEAUTY’S BOTANIST
For the past 60 years, the world of plants has been an endless source of inspiration. Clarins was among the first to foresee the extraordinary potential of plants for cosmetics. Every day, Clarins Laboratories rise to the challenge of finding the part of the plant that can fulfill a specific beauty need — and then proving it. Clarins science has developed a unique botanical know-how, an expertise that is ethical and professional, which is the foundation of the company’s identity.
Currently, Clarins uses more than 250 different plant extracts in the formulation of its products. One of Clarins’ most precious sources of information is a “club” of ethnobotanists from different countries, all loyal to the brand. They constantly investigate new sources and keep up-to-date with developments all over the world.
For Clarins, it’s simple common sense. According to its ethics, everything is closely linked, as it is in nature. Plants are precious and must be treated with utmost care and respect.
CLARINS, CUTTING-EDGE INNOVATION
AND CREATIVE DARING
The Clarins Research has developed a fusion of plants and technology to enhance beauty and well-being. It has worked constantly at the cutting-edge of innovation to meet the beauty needs of women, while continually perfecting what already exists. Clarins has created many revolutionary firsts — from problem-solving products to delivering real results — with a choice of textures and application techniques that boost their effectiveness.
With pioneering innovations that are often imitated, classics that are constantly reinvented and bestsellers that stand the test of time, Clarins has made creative daring its trademark.
RESPONSIBLE BEAUTY
Clarins is not only about beauty and well-being — it is also committed to the protection of nature and future generations. Origins, methods of production, harvest, transformation, transport, and fair trade agreements — every raw material is considered according to its implications for sustainable development. Clarins was the first to invent the key combination of product benefit/feeling/well-being. Each product offers the solution to a genuine need, a sensory texture, an application method and advice, from cleansing to treatment creams, and exfoliants to foundations.
Clarins is committed to the following: create formulas that are safer and more environmental friendly, help protect biodiversity, design products, packaging, and communication tools with a low environmental impact, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and optimize the use of natural resources, limit unnecessary production and improve the supply chain, raise awareness concerning responsible development values, support members of staff and encourage their development within the company, and establish itself as an exemplary socially-responsible company.
“Biodiversity is life. When we protect it, we give our lives meaning. This is our ethic, it governs our everyday actions and decisions,” explains Christian Courtin-Clarins.
LISTEN. THINK. ACT.
The committed cutting-edge brand’s motto is, “Do more, do better, and enjoy doing so.”
The pioneer of beauty boasts 60 years of plant science expertise and an exclusive science of touch. This French family brand continues to innovate and attributes its success to its ability to listen to women, particularly Asian women.
“It was women themselves who convinced me of the importance of beauty. I simply listened and followed them,” Jacques Courtin-Clarins once said.
The brothers Clarins make a good team. Christian, now the group’s president, has driven international expansion and sustainable development. On the other hand, Olivier, who is pragmatic and scientific, has turned his medical experience to the benefit of the family business. Dr. Olivier Courtin-Clarins, an orthopedic surgeon, joined the company in 1995. He believes beauty, well-being and health are closely linked.
“Our vocation is to bring women happiness. Beauty contributes to happiness, to health and to harmony,” says Dr. Olivier Courtin-Clarins. Together, they share another good reason to understand women’s future beauty needs. All four daughters — Virginie, Claire, Prisca, and Jenna — are now brand ambassadors for Clarins and shareholders in the company. Additionally, they are on the supervisory board for Clarins, and help choose the brand’s charities. Their main project has been their involvement with the non-profit organization, FEED, run by George Bush’s granddaughter Lauren Bush.
The company also continues the Association de Recherche sur la Polyarthrite (ARP), created by their father Jacques in 1989. It is now presided by Olivier and in 2006, became Fondation Arthritis to promote and provide funds for research in chronic inflammatory rheumatism, and encourage the discovery and evaluation of new treatments.
“Clarins’ mission is to make life more beautiful for future generations,” says Christian Courtin-Clarins
Every year since 1997, Clarins pays tribute to dynamic women involved in the protection of children in danger. The Clarins Dynamic Woman Award creates a web of support around the world and is now present in 13 countries: France, Germany, Switzerland, Russia, the UK, Spain, Denmark, the US, Canada, Korea, Hong Kong, Mexico and South Africa. In 2011, there were over 60 Dynamic Women who were given a chance to give hope to these children.
Christian’s passion for environmental concerns led him to make Clarins an eco-minded brand. In line with this, the company has supported organizations and partnerships, like Pro Natura in 1992 to protect Brazil’s natural areas, Alp Action in 1993 for the restoration of the region’s natural heritage, the planting of 10,000 Katafray trees in 2007 in Madagascar, and the protection of the Bearded Vulture in the Bargy mountain range in France — the last bird born there was named “Clarins” in April 2011.
In 2004, Clarins created the Clarins Men Environment Award to recognize those who act on behalf of the conservation of plants and nature using a responsible development approach. Jean-Pierre Nicolas, ethnobotanist and founder of the Jardins du Monde organizationm was recognized in 2004 and in 2010, Betrand Piccard, initiator of the Solar Impulse Project, received the award. The creation of a Responsible Development department in 2007 emphasizes the company’s commitment to making all employees feel responsible by collectively finding innovative ways to ensure that the brand is continually operating in respect with nature and mankind.
In March 2012, the French Minister of the Economy, Sustainable Development, Transportation and Housing awarded Christian with the Legion of Honour. This award distinguishes a man who has been able to perpetuate and renew his family’s group ethics.
Yearly, around 20 million euros go back to the protection of nature and children. Now, that’s a company that gives back!
YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL
This was the night’s theme and guests were asked to don the Clarins colors — red and white with a touch of gold. The celebration was capped with a gala evening at the Mandarin Oriental Pudong. Christian reiterated Clarins’ core values during his speech. For the dinner, Olivier, who firmly believes that the right diet can be beneficial to beauty, created a special salad. He personally selected all the ingredients from the Clarins herbarium. Then, a special wine dedicated to founder Jacques Courtin-Clarins — Chateau Corbin Michotte 2004 — was served.
Clarins is more than a brand. It is the success story of an exceptional family. “At Clarins, we do not simply design unique skincare products from generation to generation. We hand down our passion for beauty and devote our lives to it.”
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Clarins is exclusively available at Rustan’s Department Stores: Ayala Center Makati, Shangri-La Plaza Mall, Alabang Town Center, Essenses Rockwell Power Plant Mall, Ayala Center Cebu. and Gateway Mall Araneta Center.
Email Joyce Oreña at jo@joyceorena.com or follow her on Twitter @joyceorena and Instagram @jo_joyceorena.
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Special thanks to SM Kultura, photographer Dan Harvey and Town & Country for Joyce Oreña’s new column photo.
