When one beauty product might be just enough
While visiting MakeUp in New York, we met with Dr. Natacha Bonjout, founder of her eponymous brand, Bonjout Beauty, a French beauty brand based on the East Coast of the United States. Focused on beauty from the French Riviera, the pharmacist founder wanted to launch a beauty product full of rich ingredients for enhanced efficacy and a simplified routine. The brand's unique SKU, is a serum boasting 68 active ingredients.
300 iterations
Research and development debuted in 2017 with a focus on sourcing the right combination of actives for added skincare benefits, including testing thousands of skincare and makeup formulas, analysis of hundreds of active ingredients and over 300 iterations of formulas. It resulted in a balm as a serum, which melts subtly on the skin and allows a deep care ritual with a single ointment. The balm is lightweight and easy to apply, and smooth on the skin while mainly containing lipids (a.k.a oils) to mimic the skin naturally. It doesn’t leave a greasy effect on the skin while successfully nourishing thirsty skin.
“ It is a breathable and protective shield on skin’s surface as it moisturises, restores and regenerates skin from within. Never heavy or greasy, the “skin savior” leaves skin feeling more supple and smooth, visibly healthier and more radiant. Et voilà!" says Bonjout.
The Bonjout Radiance System ™
Based on Bonjout's studies on the science of radiance, she created a unique 2.6.60 formulation protocol. As a result, every Bonjout Beauty product claims to work on two skin levels delivers six key skin actions and is powered by 60+ active ingredients, including the potency of 1.5 million Native Plant Stem Cells per formula. “ Every ingredient works in sync with one another to soothe, repair and support the skin, and bring back skin’s natural healthy glow", emphasises Bonjout.
Focusing on radiance, Natacha wanted to create an everyday product - like a superfood for the skin - that would nourish and light up the skin while easing the beauty routine with an all-in-one hero product. “ Le Balm is made in France and powered by the Bonjout Radiance System ™ —Dr. Bonjout’s signature formulation protocol—features the regenerative and healing properties of Bonjout Beauty’s hero ingredient: whole native stem cells derived from the prickly pear using patented technology.
“Every active in Le Balm is at the maximum concentration recommended and tested by the labs to benefit the skin”, expresses founder Bonjout. The balm is an 8-in-1 product and acts as a moisturiser, nourishing cream, eye cream, night cream, overnight repairing mask, ointment treatment and lip care.
Le balm is waterless and made following the “clean beauty principles”—dear to American consumers—eliminating all controversial ingredients such as phenoxyethanol, PEGs, or parabens, to name a few. Ingredients are mainly extracted from plant stem cells and include vitamins, 21 amino acids, minerals, proteins, and essential fatty acids.
Sustainability at its core
The balm is housed in a clay-like aluminium container and a polypropylene (PP) inner cup, resembling a pebble or a French macaroon. The packaging is refillable. Secondary packaging is made of recyclable corrugated cardboard and a sleeve made with FSC-certified paperboard and recycled content.
The brand conveys a message of sobriety with a universal product while flirting with the codes of simple sophistication, also called quiet luxury.
Bonjout Beauty is available online via their website and at selected retail stores in the US.