N.Z. women becoming more beauty conscious: Parisian

Press, 7 August 1985, Page 13

N.Z. women becoming more beauty conscious: Parisian

In vogue

Paula Ryan

Anne-Marie Albouy of Paris, lives in a world of fragrance and beauty. In New Zealand during recent weeks, Mrs Albouy was training sales women for five Christian Dior outlets throughout the country. The in-depth training has been intensive. Mrs Albouy has an impressive record in the beauty business, and an equally impressive card — International Executive, Staff Training and Inspection, Beauty Department, Parfums Christian Dior. Her motivation is obviously that the product, from counter to customer, changes hands with a complete knowledge of its use and effects, its value, and its potential rewards. It is seven years since Mrs Albouy last visited New Zealand. She was greatly impressed with the changes in the attitudes to beauty and fragrance. On her first visit she was “amazed” to find that New Zealand women were not very interested or aware of their beauty potential, nor were they very willing to make any kind of investment in their beauty. Saleswomen, she has found, have changed too. The}' are now careeroriented, and in the main are ambitious and eager to learn instead of simply standing round waiting to pick up their pay packets. This is a world-wide trend, she finds, as both customer and salesperson become more intrinsically involved with the care and

enhancement of the skin, and the subtle use of fragrances that become signatures. Slowly, the cost factor is

becoming less of a deterrent to investment on beauty. In France, young women from 19 upward are spending on quality products, and

are using full ranges of beauty care. The rest of the world follows, but the age group differs. An average age for an investment in lasting beauty begins at around 15 years’ of age. But Mrs Albouy notices the trend is for younger women being educated to the lasting investment of good skin care and cosmetics. Anne-Marie Albouy’s mother had skin described as “porcelain.” This illustrated for her, at a very early age, that the skin is the best basis for beauty, the essential background that is then enhanced with beauty products that do not cover the natural glow of the skin, but emphasise it. Because of her early appreciation of lovely skin, she had no hesitation in deciding on her career. She studied beauty therapy, including the many ways to treat the skin to improve and enhance its appearance. Eventually she moved on into an in-depth study of make-up and the enhancement of the natural features, and personality of the face in order to get the very best out of make-up. After these studies, Madame Albouy moved to Canada, and worked for a cosmetic house for many years. Eight years ago, she returned to France and took up her appointment with the famous Parisian perfume house. For four months of every year she travels — England, Italy, Canada, Asia, Tokyo, Singapore, and the Pacific.

She lectures and trains on new products, refinements in skin care and treatments, new fragrances, and new introductions to the Dior make-up palette which have been introduced to suit the seasonal fashion trends. In Asia, she finds that there is most demand for her make-up advice. But on her last visits to both Singapore and Tokyo, she noticed the demand for skin care products was definitely increasing. Visiting New Zealand in the winter, Mrs Albouy had only one word to say ... “protection.” She found the climate very drying, with extremes of temperature and dehydrating, cold winds. In this country she sees cleansing, protection, and nourishment as the three top priorities. “Why,” she asked, “do New Zealand women want to cook themselves?”

The biggest mistake that women all over the world (except France) make is to rigorously sun tan their faces. “Oh! The damage they do!” says this vibrant, auburn-haired woman, throwing up her hands with typically French, expressive gesticulation. “They think they will look good ... younger, sexier, with a tanned face. The damage they do is irreparable. In this part of the world, with the serious threat of skin cancer, the}’ still do it!” The skin, unprotected and unnourished, is damaged daily by the sun and the wind, and so it deteriorates. “So silly!” she says. For spring and summer, Dior is launching a cosmetic range, a mixture of soft pastel shades played against very bright colours, with four colours in each category. Each season the colours are up-dated. The favourites remain in place, and move easily from season to season. After 20 years in the beauty business, /Vnne-Marie Albouy is still zesty, and full of the promise of the future. She believes all women will take the time and trouble to seek professional advice about their skin and makeup and the fragrance they use, that they will stay out of the sun and protect themselves from the chilly winds, and beauty will abound.