Chantecaille began as a fragrance brand. What is your signature scent? Does it change?
Pétales ($185) has always been a favorite. It was inspired by my mother’s backyard, where she has beautiful gardenia bushes flowering by the door, and every time you walk through the door, their scent wafts in with you. I had gardenias in my wedding bouquet because I wanted that scent with me on a special day—a touch of home, a sense of security and peace. So I love a gardenia scent for that reason. I wear Pétales at home. When I travel, I bring Le Wild ($210), another white-flower gardenia scent that’s a bit greener and wilder.
Given your use of botanical ingredients in formulas, you must find flowers very powerful. Why is that?
Botanical ingredients are the most harmonious with our bodies, working with us and not against us, whereas chemicals are designed to shock the skin to achieve results. After growing up in the industry, I can immediately feel the difference. My skin is highly sensitive and speaks to me very clearly. I know immediately if a product is created with botanicals. We put our efforts into making the purest products, and our clients recognize that skincare and makeup should also be good for you.
Your role at Chantecaille has evolved over time. What do you focus on now, and what do you find to be the most rewarding?
My favorite part of my work is tying our love of animals and conservation into an upcoming color collection—the possibilities and inspiration are endless. Our family is very passionate about conservation, and we work arm and arm with our partners. We get to know each of them personally, and they become our dear friends. It’s important to us to help them on the front lines of conservation. It’s so valuable to visit our conservation partners in their world, to see what they’re working on, and discuss how we can make a bigger impact in their important work. You feel so much more connected, especially to the animals and the wild. Seeing the progress and the animals in person is deeply rewarding. It also gets us thinking about what to do next! Our growing passion for the environment and endangered species has truly grown hand in hand with our brand. It’s become such a powerful and magical platform for education and support on a global level. It’s incredibly rewarding and hopefully inspiring for other brands, too. But of course, my favorite part of every day is coming home to my family—my daughter, Delphina, my husband, Ren, and our growing number of pets.
How do you think your personal growth has impacted Chantecaille’s evolution?
When it comes to aging, I believe that the older you get, the more fun you have—and you care less about what people think. I don’t focus on a number with age. I focus on what feels good. And when I look in the mirror for too long, I’m grateful that I get to develop products that I myself want and need. I work on developing the most potent, innovative plant-stem cells to really repair and rejuvenate tired skin. Chantecaille’s skincare line and I have grown up together, and I’ve been able to create products that I realize I need and that our clients need, too.
