Discovering new things, whatever they are, always give me a bit of a buzz. Skin care products are no exception.
I am quite touchy about my skin, I had very bad eczema as a child and was admitted to hospital twice as my skin became badly infected. Apart from unhealthy skin, as a teenager being acutely aware of looking awful at times triggered lots of issues (as you can imagine). But I digress. Maybe those issues are posts for another day, if you want to talk issues I have an extensive list...
So. Skincare. I am a fan of products that are as natural as possible (although I appreciate sometimes skincare can need a bit of an added oomph). So on a recent trip to New York, I was delighted when I stumbled upon a new product called Balbec in my cousin’s bathroom.
My excitement multiplied when I discovered that this range was created by my cousin’s wife, Maneesha Patel. But, that’s not the headline. I’m telling you about these products because I've tried them, I liked them and they have worked for me. If it hadn’t I wouldn’t be writing about it (I wouldn’t want to hurt my lovely cousin-in-law's feelings!).
I am a fan of oils and Maneesha very kindly gave me a few bottles (well, I am family after all!). I used them under my moisturiser during the day and on their own at night and after a few days my skin was more glowing and radiant.
Whilst my skin problems took over my childhood and teenage years, Maneesha started having problems with her own skin as an adult. She found no respite from mass-produced skincare brands or from dermatologists' recommendation, so she was compelled to create something that worked for her.
She began a facial cleansing regimen based on a classic Indian preparation of yoghurt and turmeric and created fresh, preservative-free, food-grade & nutrient-dense preparations. She even got used refrigerating her cleanser and toner!
I guess the kicker here is you have to accept a shorter shelf life for your skincare products. But the ingredients are so pure and fresh it makes perfect sense.
A lot of thought and care has gone into this range (trust me, I know the creator). The name "Balbec" has been taken from the seaside resort in Marcel Proust's In Search of Lost Time, where the narrator recuperates from his illness within a landscape of fresh air, sea, and light. Knowing the origin of the name adds something intangible.
I am well aware that different people like different things. But I want to share with you things that I like, and work for me.At the moment, Balbec is in its infancy and is only available in the US, but I have a feeling it might be winging its way to our shores at some point.
And on that note, in case Maneesha is reading this, I have run out of my lovely oils…
Check it out, www.balbecbeauty.com