Vicky Sanderson For the longest time I didn’t pay too much attention to what I used to clean my face, as long as it wasn’t abrasive or irritating to my sensitive skin. The main thing, I reckoned, was to make sure my skin was clean morning and night, prepped and ready for treatment and moisturizing. But as I get older, it becomes more and more clear that EVERY skin-care product I use should have a moisturizing effect, and why it’s worth it look for ingredients like high-grade collagen.
Choose milky products for sensitive skin
I recently switched, for example, from a foamy cleanser to a milk cleanser from La Maison Clayton Shagal, the Quebec-based company that manufactures, develops and distributes (through salons) high-end body and skin-care products.
It was the latest of several products I’ve tried from the brand, which was founded in 1980 by Lyse Denommé and Daniel Renaud. They have a fascinating start-up story. Once again, it did not disappoint. NOTE TO READERS: I was supplied product by Clayton Shagal, and have bought product on my own. They did not sponsor or vet this piece.
The first product they developed was one of the very earliest collagen gels. That was in 1982 when the impact of collagen on mainstream skin-care was just emerging. I remember buying small blue-glass jars of collagen lotion from a salon on Toronto’s Carlton Street. Co-incidentally, it did come from Quebec, and it was divine. The collagen products Clayton Shagal makes today are equally luxurious.
Collagen is good for skin of any age
Don’t just take my word for it. My daughter Emma, who lives in France, where skin care is practically a religion, loved the gel so much I kept sending her jars in the mail. But it got to the point where the delivery cost more than the product did, so we stopped. Don’t worry, I’m going to visit her in August, when I’ll smuggle a few jars in.
My step-daughter Elise Legrow has also become a fan. Being a rock star, her skin has to handle a lot of make-up, hot lights, and late nights. Since Elise (below right/pic by Greg Mak) has a large following in Europe, she also faces the havoc that travel can play with skin, and she finds the line minimizes the effect of dry airplane cabins, shifting time zones, and smoggy cities. All three of us agree, though, that a hydrating mask is a must after a long flight.
Skin treatments for every type
We all adore different day/night creams for different reasons. Let’s just say I’m a fan of the Idratense cream, which restores firmness.:) Which brings me to another reason I like Clayton Shagal-the company’s philosophy that with the right products skin of any age can appear radiant without injections.
Because all three of us have sensitive skin, we like that product is tested by independent laboratories to guarantee that they will not irritate. There’s no animal testing.
It’s a little thing, but I also like that the product design is pretty enough to leave out on the counter.
But back to where I began, with the milk cleanser. Here’s why I like it.
- It has a creamy, soothing texture that slides easily on skin
- It removes make-up without have to tug skin—especially important around my eyes and jaw
- Water-soluble, it’s easy to rinse
- Ingredients like meadowfoam seed oil, cocoa butter, and vitamin E are gentle and effective.
Lovely product design in soothing colours is a bonus.
P.S. Since I’ve started covering self-care, I’ve discovered that there are lots of terrific emerging skin-care and cosmetic companies in this country. I’m looking forward to sharing more of them soon. Stay tuned:)
