Category Archives: “On the road again”

My Beauty Routine in Japan

A Cologne in Tokyo

I like to associate a fragrance with a trip. So for my last trip to Japan, I took with me one of the Hermès latest creations, the Eau de Citron Noir created by the nose Christine Nagel. I was immediately intrigued, because I love citrus scents (like yuzu, grapefruit and lemon) and I’m huge fane of Le Jardin de Mr. Li of Hermès.

“Citrus caviar, Buddha’s hand citrus, Eureka lemon …So many original lemons have challenged me, but it is the black lemon, so smoky, so racy, which finally became the one” explains Christine Nagel. Lemon is a lime put in brine and then dried, hence its brown color. Iran’s black lemon is a traditional condiment of Persian and Middle Eastern cuisines. Present in many dishes, its scent is rich with fresh and powerful notes of traditional lemon, but also sweeter.

During this trip I was a lot outdoors. And I especially wore this Cologne at night. I found it both light and a little “dense” without being ostentatious. Perfect for dining in an intimate place. This unisex fragrance has a beautiful dark blue glass bottle. Simple and so chic! 

  

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The Skin Cares

While Traveling,

I try to take only essential: multifunctional nomadic products focused mainly hydration.

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On the photo above taken at Hakone Suishoen (near Fuji san): the awesome Decléor Aroma Cleanse 3-in-1 Hydra Radiance Cleasing Mousse with Neroli essential oil. I mainly use this delicate melty cream that effectively and smoothly cleanses (including sunscreen) at night. It rinses with water. Surprinsingly, my sensitive skin had no problem with the Neroli essential oil.

In the morning, Uriage’s Light Water Cream SPF20 is refreshing (yes!), antipollution and very pleasant when my combination skin overheats. Light enough to then apply sunscreen without gleaming like a sardine. I alternate with the excellent Uriage’s Fluide HYSÉAC SPF50+ (photo 2 below). As a day serum with hyaluronic acid to boost hydration: The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5. Moreover it gave me very much want to test other products of The Ordinary and Deciem (to follow …).  

In the evening, after cleansing my skin and using an essence, I apply a thick layer of Qiriness Wrap d’Eau Baume Extreme Moisture Balm, a velvety gel-cream texture mask with algae, plants, watermelon, white flowers and lipids. Very very fresh (thanks to its gel texture) and super moisturizing. I go to bed without rinsing and the next day, using a damp cotton I remove the excess product. My skin is plumped and bright, ready to welcome the care of the day.   

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Dans l’avion

  

Sheet maks, yes please!

As any self-respecting beautista (lol!), I took a slew of face, eye, hand and leg sheet masks for my long flights back and forth between Brussels and Japan. And my favorites are: Qiriness Wrap Yeux Hyal-Eclat Eyes Radiant Eye Patches including vitamin B3, gold, caffeine, green tea, hyaluronic acid, rooibos and Aloe Vera (for the best known ingredients). In short, a dressing for my dark circles!

I also really like the Qiriness Wrap Mains Hydra-Repair Masque Soft & Smooth Hand Mask with (among other ingredients): Hyaluronic Acid, Macadamia Oil Nut and Shea Butter, Grapefruit, Honey and Vitamin E (pictured above). As I wash my hands very often, they are super dry. This mask soothes and nourishes them deeply. They look better and feel more comfortable!

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Ma routine beauté au Japon

Une eau à Tokyo

J’aime associer une fragrance à un voyage. Aussi pour ce dernier voyage au Japon, j’ai emporté avec moi une des dernières créations de la Maison Hermès, l’Eau de Citron Noir créé par le nez, Christine Nagel. J’ai tout de suite été intriguée, car j’aime beaucoup les senteurs d’agrumes (yuzu, pamplemousse, citron) et je suis fane du Jardin de Monsieur Li d’Hermès.

“Citron caviar, citron main de Bouddha, citron Eurêka…Tant de citrons originaux m’ont interpellée, mais c’est le citron noir, si fumé, si racé, qui s’est finalement imposé comme le point d’orgue” explique Christine Nagel. Le citron noir est un citron vert mis en saumure puis séché, d’où sa couleur brune. Le citron noir d’Iran est un condiment traditionnel de la cuisine perse et de celle du Moyen-orient. Présent dans de très nombreux plats, sa senteur est riche avec des notes fraîches et puissantes du citron traditionnel, mais aussi plus sucrée.

Lors de ce voyage, où j’étais beaucoup en extérieur, j’ai surtout porté cette Eau de Cologne le soir, car je la trouve à la fois légère et un peu “dense” sans être ostentatoire. Parfaite pour aller dîner dans un lieu intimiste. J’apprécie son côté androgyne et le superbe flacon lanterne en verre bleu noir. Simple et contemporain. 

  

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Les soins

Durant un voyage itinérant,

j’essaye de ne prendre que ce qui me paraît essentiel : des produits basiques (majoritairement tournés vers l’hydratation), nomades et multifonctions.

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Photo ci-dessus prise au Hakone Suishoen (près de Fuji san) : l’Aroma Cleanse Crème mousse hydra-éclat 3 en 1 à l’huile essentielle de Néroli de Decléor, dont je ne me passe plus. J’utilise surtout le soir, cette crème fondante et délicate qui nettoie efficacement et en douceur (y compris l’écran total). Elle  se rince à l’eau. Ma peau sensible n’a fait aucune réaction à l’huile essentielle de Néroli.

Le matin, l’Eau Thermale Crème d’Eau Légère SPF20 d’Uriage est rafraîchissante (oui!), antipollution et très agréable lorsque ma peau mixte surchauffe. Suffisamment légère pour pouvoir ensuite appliquer un écran solaire, sans luire comme une sardine. J’alterne avec l’excellente Hyséac Mat’ Emulsion Matifiante d’Uriage (photo 2 ci-dessous). En guise de sérum de jour, avec de l’acide hyaluronique pour booster l’hydratation : The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 (1). D’ailleurs ça m’a donné très très envie de tester d’autres produits de The Ordinary et Deciem (à suivre… ).

Et le soir, après avoir nettoyé ma peau et utilisé une essence, je tartine mon visage d’une épaisse couche du Wrap d’Eau Baume Hydratation Intense de Qiriness (3) : un masque à base d’algues, de plantes, de melon d’eau, de fleurs blanches et de lipides. Très très frais (grâce à sa texture gel) et super hydratant. Je me couche sans rincer et le lendemain, à l’aide d’un coton humide j’enlève l’excédent de produit. Ma peau est repulpée et lumineuse, prête à accueillir les soins du jour.  

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Dans l’avion

  

Des masques, toujours!

Comme toute beautista qui se respecte (lol!), je me devais d’emmener une flopée de masques visage, yeux, mains et jambes pour mes longs vols aller et retour Bruxelles-Japon. Et mes chouchous sont : le Wrap Yeux Hyal-Eclat de Qiriness, comprenant de la vitamine B3, de l’or, de la caféïne, du thé vert, de l’acide hyaluronique, du rooibos et de l’Aloe Vera (pour les ingrédients les plus connus). Bref un pansement pour mes cernes!

J’aime aussi beaucoup le Wrap Mains Hydra-Repair Masque Mains Douces & Lisses de Quiriness, avec (entre autres) de l’acide hyaluronique, de l’huile de noix de Macadamia et beurre de Karité, du pamplemousse, du miel et de la vitamine E (photo ci-dessus). Comme je me lave beaucoup les mains, elles sont souvent desséchées. Ce masque les apaise et les nourrit en profondeur. Elles gagnent en confort, souplesse et éclat!

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France: Wellness & Yoga Week-end in La Clusaz

  

Day 1

The Yoga

I had the pleasure of rediscovering the mountain in the summer, during the Satiam Yoga Festival in La Clusaz, in the French Alps. An epic arrival after a day between two flights, two airports! In the morning, I flew back to Belgium (first trip), then changed airport that turned into an odyssey via the train (lol). Followed by a big thunderstorm over the airport of Geneva that has us (a journalist friend and I) held an hour and a half in the air … Then transfer by car to La Clusaz. 

So the next morning at 8 AM, sitting on my yoga mat, I can’t wait to benefit from the first yoga and meditation “Master Class” with Robin Golt marking the opening of the festival. In the background, the mountains! Very good meditation session followed by workshops and activities around Yoga and well-being. In the photo above: SUP yoga (or Stand-up paddle yoga) at Lac de La Ferriaz, in a beautiful setting!

  

Sushi Time

Lunch break at Sushi Fumi: cool little restaurant with a slightly surfer atmosphere. Very nice sushi dishes with traditional sushi and others reinterpreted by the two cooks and patrons, with local ingredients and more Western flavors (photos above and left).

We ate so much sushi that we had trouble getting off the restaurant, where you can also have a drink in the afternoon. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Beauty Discovery : SNÖ Eternelle

The workshop that I really liked (you know I’m a beauty junky, lol): the meeting with the founder of luxury organic cosmetics and relaxation, Snö Eternelle and also former multiple World Champion in moguls skiing, Raphaëlle Monod.

The range of the brand includes sun protection (“Mon fluide protection”), a face skin care (Ma crème riche) and a body oil (“Mon huile S.O.S”) with 100% natural ingredients.

As soon as I have tested them, I will give you my thoughts. As they contain essential oils, I prefer to wait this fall or this winter, my skin being more reactive in spring and summer. Coached by the bubbly Raphaëlle to tone our face, we made a lot of grimaces (and laughed a lot). A kind of facial yoga (photo below). 

The Dinner

We go up to the Chalet du Lac, an altitude restaurant of Savoyard traditional cuisine based on local products. Awesome landscape! The cottage is in the Aravis nature reserve. Too bad that night falls quickly.

The dishes are delicious, with huge portions and the atmosphere really cosy thanks to the very friendly owner who made us taste many different Génépi. Photo below: a 5 kilo bread made especially for the restaurant.

  

Day 2

Finally in Nature!

As I didn’t want to try for the first time mountain biking, I took the Beauregard cable car and then walked for an hour through the pastures in altitude. 

Feeling of peace and euphoria sourrounded by the mountain tops and my friends, the cool cows (lol). Then again the cable car to join the group for lunch.

Bucolic Lunch

While part of the group arrived by mountain bike, we arrive on foot to the Chalet de Paccaly located at 1490 meters (photo above and photo on the right). The Aravis chain is spectacular! And the weather oscillates between threatening clouds and blinding sun.

The dishes are simple, but tasty based on flowers and cheeses (photos below). A pure moment of relaxation. 

  

The spa

And to finish in style this short weekend in La Clusaz: 2 hours Deep Nature Spa, one of the largest spa in the French Alps (with an area of 850 m²). The water course of 160 m² is designed by Serge Blanco (a French famous former rugbyman) and includes multiple hydromassage jets …

Exactly everything my body needs before the long drive to Geneva by car and then the plane! 

Photos : © Mademoiselle Le K – Tous droits réservés

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La Clusaz

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Many thanks to the Tourism Board of La Clusaz for this beautiful invitation. As always theses are my opnions.