Reveal a New You

TOUT LE MONDE Antioxidant Eye Gelée
ALL THE WORLD Antioxidant Eye Gel

Under eye circles, signs of fatigue and fine lines can show up on a woman or man's face due to lack of sleep, improper nutrition and also when the eye area is not kept hydrated by drinking enough water or using a eye creme or gelée.
Whether you are 16, 85, or anywhere in between, it is recommended that you use a eye creme or gelée to hydrate and moisturize your delicate under eye area.
Using a quality under eye cream or gelée with hydrating power ingredients is an important step in your daily routine in keeping your skin looking young. Hiding dark circles begins with moisturizing the delicate area around your eye (including above your eyelid.)
You should always use a moisturizer made especially for the eye area as it has ingredients created to work with the skin around your eye which is thinner and requires extra moisture.

Votre Vu has an eye hero!
TOUT LE MONDE Antioxidant Eye Gelée every day and night. This powerhouse eye gel works overtime to reduce fine lines and wrinkles, fade dark circles and eliminate puffiness. It was developed to improve the overall health, moisture level and quality or your skin but it also firms, tones and tightens the entire eye area while protecting from the elements. Here are a few of the ingredients and their benefits that make this product a superstar:

*Aloe Extract known for healing and reducing inflammation
*Parsol is a UVB filter and protects against the sun’s harmful rays
*Roman Chamomile Extract conditions, reduces dark circles and puffiness
*Vegetable Glycerin is a gentle emollient that softens and moisturizes

Chill for an even more refreshing experience.

Use this soothing gel daily and you will be ready to face ‘All the World’.

Each and every person, man or woman, can benefit from Tout Le Monde!

VOTRE VU products may be purchased online at: www.votrevu.com/classychic

Diminish Cellulite Naturally

Summer is just around the corner which brings us to short and bathing suit season. We all want to look and feel our best when we head out to the beach & poolside.
Cellulite is one of the biggest skin issues that women suffer from at any age or body type, and although we’re always looking for new ways to get rid of them, we’re not so successful.

What is Cellulite?
Cellulite is an imbalance between lipolysis (fat breakdown) and lipogenesis (fat formation), cellulite is a natural and likely inevitable condition that occurs as a result of many factors beyond one's control.
Hormones, metabolism, genetics and warm cookie syndrome can all contribute to the ever dreaded development of "cottage cheese" down to your knees. Rest assured, knowing that it happens to almost all women, and even some men.
That's life.

Here are some excellent anti-cellulite options:

1. A recipe you can make in the comfort of your own home!

One of the most important things to remember when trying to diminish cellulite is to massage the cellulite area. Massaging it will help redistribute the fat cells that are trapped, making the cellulite less visible.

Coffee Body Scrub

Ingredients

* 2 cups ground coffee
* 1/2 sugar or sea salt
* 2-3 tablespoons of massage oil of your choice

Preparation

Mix all the ingredients. Start off by taking a quick, warm shower. Then, start applying the scrub, gently massaging the skin. Rinse off with luke warm water.

Using coffee increases the circulation. By doing so, it distributes the clusters of fat that give the skin that “orange” appearance. You could also add ground coffee to your regular body wash.

2. Anti-cellulite Slimming Gelée & Slimming Crème

VOTRE VU C'est la Vie Slimming Gelée, an abundance of active ingredients work together to stimulate drainage, provide a strong offense against retention, revive sluggish circulation and encourage a reduction in body fat. The powerful, healing, rich and active plant and marine elements are mobilized to refine your silhouette, correct your contours and eliminate unattractive fatty deposits. After all, dimples are best left for the face! C'est la Vie Slimming Gelée's advanced formula is aromatically and texturally refreshing. Applied with ease, the gel will melt into your skin, leaving a stimulating sense of well-being and comfort. Your skin will feel firmer and smoother to the touch.
VOTRE VU C'est La Vie Slimming Crème is a complex anti-cellulite double agent driven to refine, renew and repair while delivering outstanding moisture for incredibly soft and smooth skin. Sunflower seed oil nourishes your skin while a cocktail of caffeine-infused botanicals flush, drain and purify your inner workings. An abundance of active ingredients, like ruscus and fucus extracts, work together to stimulate drainage, provide a strong offense against retention, revive sluggish circulation and encourage a reduction in body fat. The powerful, rich and active plant and marine elements are mobilized to refine your silhouette, correct your contours and eliminate unattractive fatty deposits. After all, dimples are best left for the face! C'est la Vie Slimming Crème's advanced formula is aromatically refreshing and comforting upon application, leaving you with velvety-soft and silky-smooth skin. Applied with ease, the crème will melt into your skin, leaving a stimulating sense of well-being and comfort. Your skin will feel firmer, smoother and more refined to the touch.
Smooth Things Over.

VOTRE VU products may be purchased online: www.votrevu.com/classychic

Did you know what is in your shampoo can harm you?

Both Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) and its close relative Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES) are commonly used in many soaps, shampoos, detergents, toothpastes and other products that we expect to "foam up". Both chemicals are very effective foaming agents, chemically known as surfactants.

SLS and SLES are esters of Sulfuric acid - SLS is also known as "Sulfuric acid monododecyl ester sodium salt", however there are over 150 different names by which it is known - see them here. In fact, SLES is commonly contaminated with dioxane, a known carcinogen.

Although SLES is somewhat less irritating than Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, it cannot be metabolised by the liver and its effects are therefore much longer-lasting.

A report published in the Journal of The American College of Toxicology in 1983 showed that concentrations as low as 0.5% could cause irritation and concentrations of 10-30% caused skin corrosion and severe irritation. National Institutes of Health "Household Products Directory" of chemical ingredients lists over 80 products that contain sodium lauryl sulfate. Some soaps have concentrations of up to 30%, which the ACT report called "highly irritating and dangerous".

Shampoos are among the most frequently reported products to the FDA. Reports include eye irritation, scalp irritation, tangled hair, swelling of the hands, face and arms and split and fuzzy hair. The main cause of these problems is sodium lauryl sulfate.

So why is a dangerous chemical like sodium lauryl sulfate used in our soaps and shampoos?

The answer is simple - it is cheap. The sodium lauryl sulfate found in our soaps is exactly the same as you would find in a car wash or even a garage, where it is used to degrease car engines.

In the same way as it dissolves the grease on car engines, sodium lauryl sulfate also dissolves the oils on your skin, which can cause a drying effect. It is also well documented that it denatures skin proteins, which causes not only irritation, but also allows environmental contaminants easier access to the lower, sensitive layers of the skin.

Perhaps most worryingly, SLS is also absorbed into the body from skin application. Once it has been absorbed, one of the main effects of sodium lauryl sulfate is to mimic the activity of the hormone Oestrogen. This has many health implications and may be responsible for a variety of health problems from PMS and Menopausal symptoms to dropping male fertility and increasing female cancers such as breast cancer, where oestrogen levels are known to be involved.


VOTRE VU cares for your health! That's why we created fabulous SLS Free hair products:

CHEVEUX HEUREUX
"HAPPY HAIR" that is SLS Free!
For more information about our CHEVEUX HEUREUX products go to:
http://www.votrevu.com/classychic


source: www.natural-health-information-centre.com

Protect your family & yourself from the skin damaging effects of ultraviolet light/UVA UVB

Sunlight has a profound effect on the skin causing premature skin aging, skin cancer, and a host of skin changes. Exposure to ultraviolet light, UVA or UVB, from sunlight accounts for 90% of the symptoms of premature skin aging. Many skin changes that were commonly believed to be due to aging, such as easy bruising, are actually a result of prolonged exposure to UV radiation.Damaging Effects of UVA and UVB
Both UVA and UVB radiation can cause skin damage including wrinkles, lowered immunity against infection, aging skin disorders, and cancer. However, we still do not fully understand the process. Some of the possible mechanisms for UV skin damage are collagen breakdown, the formation of free radicals, interfering with DNA repair, and inhibiting the immune system.

Collagen Breakdown
In the dermis, UV radiation causes collagen to break down at a higher rate than with just chronologic aging. Sunlight damages collagen fibers and causes the accumulation of abnormal elastin. When this sun-induced elastin accumulates, enzymes called metalloproteinases are produced in large quantities. Normally, metalloproteinases remodel sun-injured skin by manufacturing and reforming collagen. However, this process does not always work well and some of the metalloproteinases actually break down collagen. This results in the formation of disorganized collagen fibers known as solar scars. When the skin repeats this imperfect rebuilding process over and over wrinkles develop.

Free Radicals
UV radiation is one of the major creators of free radicals. Free radicals are unstable oxygen molecules that have only one electron instead of two. Because electrons are found in pairs, the molecule must scavenge other molecules for another electron. When the second molecule looses its electron to the first molecule, it must then find another electron repeating the process. This process can damage cell function and alter genetic material. Free radical damage causes wrinkles by activating the metalloproteinases that break down collagen. They cause cancer by changing the genetic material, RNA and DNA, of the cell.

Votre Vu offers the powerful benefits of our sunscreen and bronzing products.
Did you know that the number one way to protect yourself from skin cancer is to wear a daily sunscreen that protects from both UVA and UVB rays?

Votre Vu’s Self Preservation Le Bloc De Soleil SPF 30 Crème Total has both UVA and UVB protection with a physical sunscreen, Titanium Dioxide and chemical sunscreens, Parsol MCX and Eusolex 232 and 4360. In addition to these powerful ingredients this product also offers the features and benefits:

*Vegetable Glycerin to soften and moisturize the skin
*Shea Butter which hydrates, calms and repairs
*Avocado Oil that contains high levels of vitamin A,D and E to nourish and condition

Don’t forget to highlight the healthiest and best way to get a golden tan is with Self-Preservation Bronzer Pour Le Corps and Bronzer Pour Le Visage
* this is how I keep my healthy glowing tan year round ;)

Here are a few benefits of Votre Vu’s bronzing products:

*Dihydroxyacetone or DHA is a safe skin coloring agent derived from natural sources such as sugar beets and sugar cane
*Glycerine improves skin elasticity and provides hydration
*St. John’s Wort Oil soothes and heals skin


Products can be ordered directly off my site http://www.votrevu.com/classychic
and are shipped directly to your door within a few days via FedEx

source: www.votrevu.com; www.about.com

First of it's Kind Serum~ a FROZEN treat!

LES SORBET Advanced Ice Care Pour Le Visage
LES SORBET Advanced Care Iced Sérum for Face

We proudly introduce Les Sorbet, the frozen treat that we encourage you to get all over your face. Scientifically advanced and "old school" cool, you'll be delighted with the surprisingly refreshing sensation you will feel when applying this frozen sérum to your skin. This uniquely special treat is chock full of 100% goodness for your skin's health. You may need a few days to get used to the routine of applying skin care from your freezer, but we guarantee you'll quickly make this part of your daily routine.
This innovative solid wand is full of wonderful anti-aging superstars: marine elastin and 40% collagen, organic muscle-relaxing vegetable peptides, hydrolyzed collagen to moisturize and protect, and a complex vegetable broth that soothes, revitalizes, regenerates, smoothes and stimulates. The sérum is frozen to preserve and magnify the efficacy of the formula's advantages.
You are protected from free radicals while the compound is working to regain the properties of a firm and glowing complexion. The old school application of the cold element creating a contraction when applied to warm muscles is absolutely brilliant science at work for you.
Upon contact, Les Sorbet will contract your fine facial muscles, providing exercise to firm and tone, rev up the circulation of your delicate circulatory system, encourage renewal of cell turnover and provide the flush of vibrancy. This takes the phrase CHILL OUT to a whole new level!

Source: www.votrevu.com

Travel with us! Join me in a Ground Floor Business Opportunity

Pack your passport for a great adventure and opportunity!

Truth be told, at-home sales may be the bright spot in today’s dim economy. Labeled “recession resistant,” by the Direct Selling Association (DSA), direct sales grew 4.5 per cent on average during recessionary times from 1987 to 2007. First, there’s an increase in the number of people selling through direct sales, then there’s a surge in sales overall, according to Amy Robinson, vice president of communications and media relations for the DSA in Washington, D.C.

“In this economy, I’m finding many more people interested in hearing about my company’s income opportunity,” confirms Mary Johnson, a North Carolina-based consultant for Votre Vu , a new luxury French skin care line sold via direct sales. “People want to hear about ways to supplement income from their full-time job or provide a second income. And many who wouldn’t have looked at direct sales in the past are taking a second look.”

No doubt, with unemployment hovering at just over 8 percent as of February 2009, the labor field is ripe for the picking. “When Great Indoors was closing down, I was there handing out my business card left and right,” states Votre Vu consultant Judy Rollins of Arlington Heights, IL. “It’s a job opportunity – and no one’s going to fire you. If you don’t share the news, you’re just being selfish.”

Today’s novel proclamation that “we’re hiring” has a welcome ring … and must be reaching the ears of the want-to-be employed. “Each month, we add about 10 percent to Votre Vu ’s national sales force; it’s a rapidly growing team,” states Ann Brodette, Vice President of Sales Development for Votre Vu, which boldly launched in January 2009 despite the timid economy. “We’ve no doubt this perpetual growth is just the beginning.” Brodette credits the stable growth in part to Votre Vu’s low start-up cost of only $99, which provides a new consultant with more than $250 worth of products with which to start selling. “Moreover,” adds Brodette, “Votre Vu offers supportive on-line training, personalized web sites, and convenient online shopping – so consultants can have their Votre Vu business up and running the day they sign up.”

Couple this start-up ease with offering the right product mix for the economic times – and Votre Vu may be cooking up a recipe for business success.
According to a March 2009 report by research firm NPD Group, Inc., of Port Washington, NY, prestige skin care was the only category among the prestige beauty industry that stayed afloat in 2008 -- capturing a 29 percent dollar share, an additional share point over 2007. Moreover, anti-aging face products, premium-priced face products, and natural/spa/wellness skin care brands showed strong dollar growth in 2008.
“Votre Vu is all that and more,” states Votre Vu CEO and Founder Harold Zimmerman, “Our French-made products are spa-quality, botanically based, and feature anti-aging benefits. But even better – we offer luxury products at less-than-luxury prices – meaning women don’t need to stress out about their skin care in a stressed economy.”
Historically speaking, this value market niche should bode well for Votre Vu . “During recessionary times, consumers choose differently,” states DSA’s Robinson, “selecting products that offer a little luxury yet don’t break the bank.”
Moreover, she adds that people are more likely to cocoon during recessions – a venue trend that bodes well for the direct selling industry’s at-home sales strategy. As an exaggerated case in point, Robinson cites the first quarter after 9/11, which marked record sales because people stayed home and looked for ways to reconnect.

“In this economy, people want an event -- a personal experience,” concurs Votre Vu consultant Traci Kuhn of Naperville, IL. “Like the company, our sales soirees are fun and chic. People come because it’s a social event; we don’t rush or pressure them into making a purchase. Instead, we promote they try before they buy – and people favor that approach. We know that once they’ve sampled our amazing products, they’ll recognize the value. In my opinion, now is the perfect time to sell Votre Vu"
Formed in March 2007, Votre Vu is a privately held luxury skin care company offering the finest French-made formulations.
Company headquarters are in Sugar Grove, Illinois, with all products crafted in a family-owned laboratory in France, except the beauty beverage, SnapDragon, which is manufactured in the U.S.


If you are looking for the perfect opportunity to succeed at your own rate of ambition and effort then VOTRE VU just may be the business opportunity for you. Whether you are looking to gain an extra income, finance a special project, stablish a new career and support your family or earn some extra spending money, your definition of success is yours...

Creme de la creme!

We've designed the most lucrative, Consultant-friendly model in the industry:

1) LOW START-UP COST ( AS LOW AS $99)
Just $99.00 with an easy and quick autoship enrollment, receive approximately $250.00 in amazing products and business supplies in your startMEup Pack.


2) NO INVENTORY
Votre Vu will ship EVERY order direct to your client eliminating your need to stock up inventory.

3) NO DELIVERIES
Direct customer delivery for EVERY order means no hasle or "scheduled delivery lag time " for you and your hosts and customers.

4) FREE HOST PROGRAM
Have quick, simple, yet lively soirees and experience a great way to introduce many people to products in a short period of time. And don't worry about rewarding hosts out of your pocket, Votre Vu will take care of that!

GET PAID WEEKLY ON YOUR VERY OWN VOTRE VU MASTERCARD DEBIT CARD!!!

AND MUCH MORE..

Please visit my website to view our opportunity videos and read about our Compensation Plan (PDF)


Source: www.votrevu.com/corporate

I'm Hiring! Recruiting NEW Consultants to join me in a ONCE in a LIFETIME opportunity with VOTRE VU~ Change Your Outlook!

Is Ignorance Bliss?

Our daily anti aging skin care is lined up - bottles, tubes, jars. Our skin is smooth and the wrinkles have gone. We do not need to know anything else.

So many times you hear people say what I don't know can't hurt me. But today in our modern world of chemical toxicity I am afraid the answer to that question is a resounding NO. You couldn't be further from the truth.

Just look at the list of ingredients below in this anti aging skin cream:

List of Chemicals:

Aqua, Cyclopentasiloxane, Squalane, glycerine, arachidyl, alcohol, behnyl alcohol, arachidyl glucoside, cetearyl alcohol, cetearyl glucoside, aluminium starch octenyl succinate, butyrospermum parkii, c13-14 isoparrafin, laureth-7, polyacrylamide, retinyl palmitate, tricapryln, BHT, polymethal methacrylate, dipalmitoyl hydroxyproline, avena sativa kernel oil, petrolateum, tocopheryl acetate ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate, disodium edta sodium hydroxide, parfum, 2-bromo-2-nitropropane-1, 3-diol, dichlorobenzyl alcohol.

How would you like to be served that up on your plate for tonights dinner. No, seriously all of that is in just one small jar. A very small part of your anti aging skin care.

You might not be eating the stuff but your skin certainly is and then its getting into your blood stream.

Now answer truthfully the following 3 questions:

1. Do you know how each one of the ingredients benefits you?
2. Do you know the definition of each compound?
3. Do you know how each ingredient was made?

The answer is no. To be honest neither do you have any idea of exactly how many other chemicals were used but not labeled.
The other question is. Do you have any reservations about using such chemicals?

Probably not. But do you know that many of the chemicals used in personal care products have been found, by extensive studies, to perform a variety of nasty jobs - they can suffocate the skin, cause irritations, rashes, lung disorders, brain and immune system damage.

The list goes on but all I want to do is to make you aware that you really need to be mindful when choosing your anti aging skin care products. But it isn't only anti-aging skin cream, it is everything that you buy.

Believe it or not even your fruit and vegetables (unless organic) have been coated with so many different pesticides. The household cleaners, car cleaners, air fresheners.
The list could go on and on.

What is it that you are always told? READ the label before you buy! Well that's fine, but what if you don't understand the label (as with most of us) then reading or not reading the label will not make any difference.

So then, what do you do? You need to ask the cosmetic manufacturers what exactly is in their anti aging skin cream and any reputable dealer will tell you exactly what is in it.

Most cosmetic companies (as with any company) want your repeat business. But yes there are those who just want to make a quick buck off you. So beware!

Another alarming factor with any kind of cosmetic product is that manufacturers (of be it anti aging skin cream or anything else) are not obligated to make any claims to the FDA of what ingredients (apart from those that are banned) they have used in their products.

Literally then cosmetic manufacturers could use anything and not even put all the ingredients on the label. It's frightening isn't it? But you need to find a reputable, honest company with whom you trust and have confidence in.

Some companies will (if they believe in their product wholeheartedly) even give you a 100% risk free trial which means you are able to try their product and if you don't like it return it to them and get your money back.

Remember your skin is the largest organ in your body and if you don't treat it well it won't treat you well either. It is better to take a bit more time over choosing your anti aging skin care than being sorry later on.

So you may ask... what makes VOTRE VU unique and sets us apart from our competitors in the industry?

Our products are French-made and contain the finest natural ingredients available. They are hand-crafted by a family of artisans who have been perfecting the art and science of naturally-based skin care formulations for nearly a century. Among the many things that set our products apart is the superior proportion of power ingredients within each formula. Many low-to-medium-grade skin care products are comprised of primarily fillers, with only trace amounts of power ingredients. Votre Vu products, in contrast, boast high percentages of the power ingredients...they are superior products that give superior results!

Quality control is also of utmost importance throughout our entire organization - from the research, formulation and production to the processing of orders and quick and convenient deliveries. We are 100% committed to providing an exceptional customer experience.


Does Votre Vu test its products on animals?
No, we do not test any of our products on animals.


What is the shelf life of your products?
The shelf life of Votre Vu products varies from item to item depending on the ingredients. Most last from 6 months to 1 year. To find the shelf life of an item you purchased, look for the Period After Opening (PAO/"open jar") symbol on the informational insert that was included in the packaging. "12 M" indicates a shelf life of 12 months after opening. "6 M" indicates a shelf life of 6 months after opening, etc. This information can also be found on our corporate site or your Consultant's personal web site.


Are all of your products made in France?
At this time, all of our products EXCEPT the SnapDragon Beauty Beverage are manufactured in France.


What do the symbols on your packaging mean?
The following the volume declaration indicates that the product has been filled in accordance with the average system of measurement used in the European Union (EU).is the "Period After Opening" symbol and it varies from product to product. The number listed in the jar icon tells you the recommended number of months within which the product should be used after you have first opened it, provided the product has been stored under normal conditions and not exposed to extreme temperatures. For example (12M) means that you should replace this product within 12 months of opening.


How can I determine when an e-mail about cosmetic safety is an Internet rumor?
It can sometimes be difficult to tell if an e-mail, or other information we see on the Internet, is true or false. Misinformation can be dangerous and it is important to be sure that the information you have is true and factual. Some people seeking to use misinformation for their own purposes may represent the e-mail as being factual. It is very important to get the facts. Make sure to thoroughly check the actual source of information before processing it into your daily life.

There are several government information sites that can be helpful:
United States:
http://www.dhs.gov/xcitizens/general_1165337828628.shtm
http://www.fbi.gov/cyberinvest/escams.htm
Canada:
http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/cps-spc/person/cosmet/hoax-vente_e.html
Europe:
http://ec.europa.eu/information_society/industry/comms/internet

The following Web Sites might be helpful in determining when a message is a hoax:
(1) http://hoaxbusters.ciac.org/HBHoaxInfo.html
(2) http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/521469_2
(3) http://www.hoax-slayer.com/spotting-email-hoaxes.html
(4) http://www.internetsecurityguide.com/


Where do the ingredients used in Votre Vu products come from?
Our ingredients come from all over the world. They are products of nature, so elements like climate and soil composition are critically important in producing the premium quality that we demand. Because they are natural, many ingredients are native to certain regions. We scour the globe to find the premier producers of each ingredient and only the very finest make it into our finished goods.


Are your products organic? What does "organic" mean?
If a product is organic, the majority of its ingredients (90% or more) have been grown and processed according to government-controlled, organic agricultural standards. These standards do not allow for any use of synthetic pesticides, chemical fertilizers, or genetically modified organisms (GMOs). They also adhere to strict criteria regarding the treatment of animals and the environment. Organic products will not contain any petrochemicals (synthetic ingredients derived from petroleum or oil) and will only have been minimally processed to preserve the integrity of the ingredients.
Some of our products are organic. If a product is organic, this is noted in the product's description on our web site and on the product's packaging.


Do your products contain preservatives?
Preservatives are an essential part of all skin care and hair care products. Without preservatives, products would quickly become a breeding ground for bacteria and microbes. Preservatives are used only as necessary to prevent the growth of microorganisms that would otherwise damage our products or render them un-safe.


Are your products hypo-allergenic?
Because our products are made with natural ingredients, we have found that even those with very sensitive skin can use most of them. Every effort is made to use the most hypo-allergenic ingredients possible, but even the gentlest ingredient can cause an allergic reaction to some. If you are prone to allergic reactions, we recommend testing each product on a small patch of skin prior to using.


Are your products non-comedogenic?
Our products are not tested to determine whether or not they are non-comedogenic, however, we do try to use non-comedogenic ingredients whenever possible.


Do your products that contain SPF protect against both UVA and UVB rays?
Yes. Our SELF PRESERVATION Sunblock Crème for Face and Body contains SPF 30. Our FULL BENEFITS Anti-Aging Day Crème contains SPF 15.


Why do you use parabens?
Parabens are a type of preservative and they have been used in skin care for over 70 years because they are safe, effective and have a lower incidence of causing allergic reaction than other preservatives in studies and tests.
Why do skin care products need preservatives? When water is added to a formula, the formula must be preserved or it can become a breeding ground for microbes and bacteria. If you were to use a lotion, cream, or wash that was infected with bacteria and that cream, lotion, or wash went into your open pores or a cut on your skin, you could get an infection. Parabens protect the product and thus protect you, the consumer.
The world's skin care and cosmetic scientists are searching for a natural preservative, but to date a safe and effective one has not been discovered.
Furthermore, the FDA full endorses the use of parabens:
Preservatives may be used in cosmetics to protect them against microbial growth, both to protect consumers and to maintain product integrity. The FDA believes that at the present time there is no reason for consumers to be concerned about the use of cosmetics containing parabens. However, the agency will continue to evaluate new data in this area.


Why do you use fragrance in a few of your products?
Fragrances are ingredients used in a wide variety of cosmetic and personal care products to make the products more pleasant and to make them more familiar to the users. Fine fragrances, or perfumes, are used specifically to provide a pleasant and attractive aroma for the consumer, to provide pleasure and a familiarity/memory response.
The use of safe and tested fragrances in some of our products is to enhance the consumer's experience, and to deliver the most pleasurable formula as recommended by our laboratory, which is dedicated to product quality and consumer safety.

Link to the Web Site for the International Fragrance Association:
http://www.ifraorg.org/


Why is there alcohol listed in some of your ingredients?
Many alcohols are moisturizers. In the labeling of cosmetics, the term "alcohol," used by itself, refers to ethyl alcohol. Cosmetic and skin care products labeled "alcohol free" may contain other alcohols, such as cetyl, stearyl, cetearyl or lanolin alcohol. These are known as fatty alcohols, and they are moisturizers. The effects of these ingredients on the skin are quite different from those of ethyl alcohol. Disinfectant or astringent alcohols, like alcohol SD 40, are great for the skin when used in specific amounts.


What should I know about skin care ingredient labels?
You might feel like it sure would help to have an advanced chemistry degree to understand ingredient labels. But you do not need to go back to school to feel secure about Votre Vu and our products! Skin care and cosmetic chemistry isn't a simple matter of ingredients that are good or bad - it's a matter of how much is good or bad, how things react with each other, the age and quality of the ingredients, the origin of the product development, whether they are appropriate for your skin type, how they will be used on your skin, how often they are to be applied, is it the right season for this product, do other personal factors negate the efficacy of using these ingredients, (i.e. smoking and drinking too much alcohol)... the analysis can go on for days! Votre Vu has taken this burden away from the consumer by tackling these questions ourselves in conjunction with our formulators.


Can there be too much of a good thing when it comes to skin care ingredients?
A sprinkle of this, a tablespoon of that: knowing something is blended in a formula is not enough information to decide whether or not it is good for you. In baking, a pinch of sugar is often a good thing, enhancing the flavor and assisting a chemical process so the recipe comes out right. But a cup of sugar is something else completely - too much of a good thing! This relates beautifully to skin care. If you decide to reject products simply because they list something that someone said was bad, you are just as likely to end up settling on a different product that may be worse for you. The lesson learned here? You'll need more information than the simple fact that something is included within a formula to know whether or not it will be a beneficial blessing or a consumer's curse.


Are products with long ingredient lists usually better than those with shorter ingredient lists?
No, long lists aren't always more luxurious! Many companies load up products with long lists of ingredients that allow them to write enticing advertising copy. But consider length of list - with so many ingredients, it's very likely that many of them won't be present in sufficient enough concentrations to provide much benefit.


I am fearful of ingredients I cannot pronounce easily. What should I do?
Do not trounce what you cannot pronounce! We're not sure how this so-called good rule of thumb crept into our collective consciousness, but we hear often from people that they are worried about ingredients they can't pronounce. Think about it, everyone can pronounce ammonia snake venom, but do we want them in our skin care products? Remember that everything on the planet is a chemical and has a chemical name. For instance, Tocopherol is Vitamin E; Glyceryl Stearates are tropical oils like soy oil and palm oil.

The lesson here? Find out what it is before you decide its benefits based on how it sounds.


** At our recent La Fete Sales Symposium in Chicago we were fortunate enough to have the grandson of the founder of the lab in Paris that manufactures our products speak to us about the ingredients. He told us that he has eaten the products, when he was a young child in the lab with his grandfather. Now he does not recommended eating our products however to make a point, our products are safe enough to eat :)