I couldn’t wait to show Kendall the Guinot Skin Care headquarters in Paris. I studied and visited with Rene Guinot in the beginning of my career in skin care.
The founder of Rene Guinot was a chemical engineer, and a well known chemist who began working with skin care products in the late 1920’s.
Guinot’s chemistry background allowed him to approach the skin and beauty care market from a scientific viewpoint. In 1930, Guinot achieved his first breakthrough by recognizing that deep cleansing the skin allowed the active ingredients in skin care products to penetrate more deeply. He was one of the first pioneers in skincare to add active ingredients in his products. Over the next several decades, Guinot built up a list of more than 55 biologically active ingredients that could be used to treat various skin types. Guinot also began experimenting with the use of electricity as a means of stimulating the action of the different substances incorporated into his gels and creams.
These innovations were supplied to his wife, who was an esthetician. She used them in her own Parisian SkinCare Salon. By the early 1960’s Guinot’s formulas had begun to attract interest from other spas in Paris.
The Rene Guinot Company was started with 22 salons in France. In 1965, Guinot had succeeded in his first breakthrough treatment, which he called “Hydradermie”. The use of special gels applied with the aid of roller electrodes. This is the same treatment used today all over the world at exclusive spas. I’ve been doing this special treatment for 35 years, and it’s still one of the most gentle, thorough, hydrating and effective treatments in the world. It is the most popular treatment before plane travel or vacations.
Of course, we couldn’t leave France without visiting Eperney, Reims and the Champagne Region. I wanted Kendall to see Chagall’s beautiful stained glass windows, and show her how Champagne was made. Remembering my experience on visiting this region in the 80’s was fascinating and I wanted her to see that part of France. I also wanted to give her that first sip of champagne. One of my favorite artists is Chagall and in Reims, France is the beautiful Notre-Dame Cathedral. In 1974, Marc Chagall created three stained glass windows for the axial chapel of the Cathedral, they are beautiful. Those windows inspired me to learn the art of stained glass and it became a hobby of mine.
We toured Verve Clicquot. We learned about the fascinating blend of winemaking, and biography of the remarkable woman, Madame Clicquot Ponsardin, who transformed champagne into a global industry back in the 19th century.
We toured Moet & Chandon, and Kendall’s first sip of Champagne was Don Perignon! Even with one week, we barely scratched the surface of Paris. It’s a huge city that takes a lifetime to really see. Our trip ended with lunch at Laduree, a bakery that opened in 1862 by Louis Ernest Laduree. The Parisian cafe and pastry shop was one of the first tea rooms in Paris. After looking at all the beautiful colors of the macaroons, we scooped up a few dozen for our trip home.
Oh, and a quick stop at Reppetto, to pick out a pair of french ballet slippers for my girl…she chose red!
To take Kendall to Paris and watch her skip from one Parisian sight to another, and see the city through her innocent eyes was a dream come true, and one I will cherish forever. Our week in Paris was sunny and perfect, an hour before we left it started raining. It was magical.
Avec Amour,
Veronica
True beauty in a woman is reflected in her soul. It’s the caring that she lovingly gives, the passion that she shows and the beauty of a woman only grows with passing years. – Audrey Hepburn
This is the spirit that I always follow and hope that you nurture your beauty within.
Love, Veronica
Beautiful. Your story moves like you do, flowing ‘avec amour’
Xo doria
For my 13th birthday, my amazing grandparents took me on a trip of a lifetime to Paris, France. Not every 13 year old gets to travel to Paris, France… I had been out of the country before, but his was my first time to Europe. Every girl dreams of going to Paris. When I thought of Paris I thought of the shopping, eating the most amazing food, visiting the most historic landmarks, and museums full of beautiful artworks and sculptures, elegant restaurants, and lavish parks. And this is exactly what we did, and even more. First off, Paris was a trip I will most definitely never forget. Paris will always have a special place in my heart. Not only did I get to go to Paris, but I was really able to bond with my grandma, and grandpa. Paris was also a learning experience, and I matured. Every single moment of the trip was a learning experience, and always a great time. We stayed at The Four Seasons George V Hotel. I have visited over ten countries, my dad works with some of the top hotels in Los Angeles, and I have stayed at some amazing hotels in Costa Rica, Hawaii, Italy and so on, but when I say The Four Seasons George V Hotel is the most beautiful hotel I have ever seen in my life, I mean it!!!! When we first arrived in Paris at our hotel, I already knew our trip was going to be amazing! This hotel was gorgeous. I remember how they would change the flowers every single day at the hotel… hundreds and hundreds of beautiful, exotic looking flower arrangements all over the hotel. The hotel had the most beautiful gardens, restaurants, ball rooms, and shops. Whenever I go to a hotel, I always like to visit the pool, spa, and hotel gym. Before going to the gym, I already knew the pool and gym were going to be something spectacular. One of the days, my grandma and I went to the gym. Since I was eating so much amazing food, I wanted to workout…well, just when I thought I was just getting in a little extra cardio on the eliptical, I turned my head and Hugh Jackman was right next to me on the treadmill. Remind you, this is a hotel gym.. no one else was there! It was just Hugh Jackman, and I. Also remind you, this was during the time of the new movie ‘Wolverine’ he was starring in, so you can already imagine what kind of shape he was in. hah hah hah! I was probably the luckiest girl at that moment. In France, and with Hugh Jackman! hahaha! The indoor pool was beautiful. We had it all to ourselves, and I felt like I was swimming in an indoor pool in a castle. It was amazing!!!! Everyone at the hotel was so sweet, and always so helpful. This hotel was out of a movie… girls would come in with bags of Chanel.. and being 13, I was just in awe. I felt like “Eloise At The Plaza.” haha!
Visiting Paris in the Spring was so beautiful. Everything was in bloom. So gorgeous!!!
Second, if I had to list my favorite historic places we visited I would 100% first put Notre Dame on Easter morning, second, Palace Of Versailles, third, visiting the Eiffel Tower, fourth, visiting Moet & Chandon, and fifth, visiting Coco Chanel’s apartment. Every single destination we traveled to in France was amazing, and so beautiful but there was something about these three places that really stood out to me. Being a Christian, Notre Dame on Easter was so amazing. It was so beautiful, and to be at such a significant place on Easter was breath-taking. The Palace Of Versailles was amazing!!! Wow! Not only the beauty was something you have never seen before, but Versailles was enriched, and filled with so much history, and it was just so fascinating to me that I was standing where so many important, historic events happened at. Just the thought of that was breath-taking. Versailles was beautiful. We walked thru the gardens, and it was just amazing. Visiting Moet & Chandon as so cool! We toured Moet & Chandon, and saw how it was made. Amazing!!! It was so cool to see exactly how they make it. So interesting to be there, and see. To see where Coco Chanel’s apartment was located was so cool!! Was I dreaming?! Growing up I always saw my mom, and grandma with Chanel handbags, makeup, and perfume but I would never guess I would be at the real Coco Chanel’s apartment!?! Where Coco Chanel’s apartment is, the CHANEL store is below it. This store, and location is where the CHANEL fashion show is held. This was the original CHANEL store. amazing!!! Everywhere we toured was amazing. Visiting The Guniot Institute was so special. Growing up with a grandma who is the skincare guru, this was such a cool, and fascinating thing to be able to see. I have always been in love with beautiful skin, skin care, and beauty products so to see Guinot was so cool!!! From having my first sip of champagne of Don Perignon, visiting Laduree and eating the most amazing macaroons, visiting the Eiffel Tower, being in the most beautiful hotel, visiting Notre Dame Cathedral, and spending time, and sharing these experiences with my amazing, young, grandma and grandpa was amazing. It was a trip of a lifetime, and I definitely want to go back to Paris, France very soon!!! Maybe even check out the South of France! I will never forget this trip till I pass away. It will always have such a special place in my heart, and I share my experiences of France as much as I can. 2 years ago, I went on a Summer trip with my parents, and siblings and we visited Germany, Italy, Poland, Switzerland, Austria, and the Czech-Republic… Visiting France, and all these countries, made me realize how much I love Europe!!! I plan on traveling the world the year after I graduate. I am currently studying Nursing to become an RN at Auburn University. I love sharing all my experiences with all my friends, and sorority sisters here at Auburn. The greatest thing about this trip is being able to relate my History textbook to the places we visited. When my history professor is talking about Versailles, picking out my own pair of red Reppetto ballet slippers, Notre-Dame, and all the other historic places in France, and I am able to relate the places I saw while I was in France to historic events, and times that took place so long ago, it makes my class so interesting, and come to life. It turns my history book into something more than words, because I have these pictures in my mind. I could right a novel of this trip…
I am so thankful for the best grandma and grandpa, and for this trip of a lifetime!!!!! Whenever I think of this trip, my heart is filled up with happiness, always puts a smile on my face.
I actually journaled the entire trip after each day of what was seen, my thoughts, and what we did. When I go home for Summer from college, I will post pictures from my journal I wrote
when I was 13.
I love you Grandma!!!
Xo, Kendall