By: ERIN MICHELLE NEWBERG
Skin care meets artistry with five brands stepping out of their comfort zones.
VALMONT
Didier and Sophie Guillon’s multi-tiered company, headquartered in Switzerland, was founded on four pillars that include cosmetics, fragrances, art, and hospitality. While Sophie focuses on the formula and fragrance elements, Didier spearheads the Fondation Valmont program housed in three villas in Greece, Switzerland, and Italy. Their primary residence in Venice is also home to some of the foundation’s international exhibitions that share space with over 200 works in its permanent collection. At La Résidence Bonvicini, the four-story Italian palazzo, Didier welcomes tourists, artists, and patrons of the arts into a world of contemporary exhibits curated by Venice Art Factory. Up next? The Guillons are working on their next artful residence. This one will take root in Barcelona.
NATURA BISSÉ
The Spanish luxury skincare line partnered with Zaragoza-born artist Pablo the Cuadro for the Diamond Well-Living collection ad campaign. Pablo used images from other creatives to produce digital and handmade collages for this project. The results are visually stunning contemplations on eternity. “Collage art is a never-ending process,” explained the artist. “You can put as many images as possible over and over again.” Sounds a lot like a Natura Bissé’s skincare routine.
LANCÔME
Lancôme and BE@RBRICK, the ever-so-collectible, playful figurines by Japanese designer Tatsuhiko Akashi, have made a beautiful baby and named it “Happy.” These limited-edition relics are offered as a gift with the purchase of Génifique, the brand’s most iconic serum, or L’Absolu Rouge – its renowned lipstick and a fan favorite. Now you can add a daily dose of fun to your beauty routine with these embossed bottles that feature red and white designs created explicitly or this partnership.
JO MALONE LONDON
The British giant partnered with Martyn Thompson, a New York-based, British-born, and Australian-raised artist, on the packaging design of some of its candles, offering a twist to its storied and fragrant lineup. The result boasts a pop of color on larger than usual, sustainable candles. These can morph into a repurposed home accessory long after its aromatic content is gone. The decorative packaging is FSC-certified, made from 70% of recyclable materials, and doubles up as a colorful storage solution.
LA PRAIRIE
In 2017, La Prairie, the Swiss-based, skincare brand, became a leading global sponsor of Art Basel, the world’s pre-eminent contemporary art fair. This, however, was not its first time delving into the art space. That pioneering engagement yielded not only La Prairie’s long standing commitment to the arts; it contributed a significant part of its branded identity. In the early 1980s, La Prairie’s creative team shared its New York studio space with the prolific French American sculptor and painter Niki de Saint Phalle. A recipient of accolades for her work focused on the female form, much of Saint Phalle’s ouvre used a deep, cobalt blue. Today, that audacious hue can be found on La Prairie’s packaging, a nod to their mutual appreciation of creative expression