September/October 2007

L’Athene Update: A Passion for Purityby Marilyn Green

In November, 2004 Worldwide Spa Review published an article on a remarkable company: L’Athene. Created by two nurses, Nan Brown and Lil Bogdan, specialists who consulted on burns and severe dermatological conditions at Johns Hopkins, the organic skincare products were exceptional.

It is the fanatical purity of the ingredients that distinguishes L’Athene. They refine their botanicals without solvents or chemicals and in small batches. They also use Biopure Water, created by a special steam distilling process that removes contaminants.

Their product range has broadened and they have received well deserved praise in consumer and medical publications. L’Athene is being sold by doctors, hospitals, spas and upscale stores and on their own website at www.lathene.com.

Nearly three years after the first review, WSR looks at the company’s Nutriage Total Eye Repair Crème and a truly outstanding pair of moisturizers.

The Eye Repair Crème is aimed at four different problems: dark circles, puffiness, hydration and lines and wrinkles. Like the other L’Athene products, much less is required to do the job and the skin absorbs the crème very quickly. There is no residue at all and, because the crème is so soft, no pulling at the delicate skin around the eye when you apply it.

The directions are two applications a day, morning and night, and I followed this for three weeks. By that time there was a very significant difference in my eyes. They were definitely less puffy, even in the morning, even when my sinuses were kicking up. Little lines and wrinkles had become invisible and, best of all, the dark circles that seem to be hereditary among women in my family were definitely reduced.

Hydration was considerably better, with the skin around the eye looking smoother and more taut. And it was not the kind of hydration that causes eye makeup to run; there was no trace of oiliness at all.

The Emollient-rich Restore Balancing Skin Moisturizer is supposed to be used only on dry areas for combination skin. I confess, I used it all over occasionally because it felt so good and because I had to adjust to using less product and sometimes took more than I should have.

Pharmaceutical-grade essential fatty acids from natural oils absolutely softened and plumped my skin, and it became hard to tell which were the original dry areas of the face. The freshness of my skin was remarkable and I saw a glow I haven’t had for more than 10 years.

A friend swears by the Ultra-Intensive Moisture Therapy, but she’s an ardent surfer and skier and her skin really takes a beating year round, although you wouldn’t know it.

L’Athene cautions that, during rebalancing, your skin may break out in the initial stages. I did have a little of that, but it was hardly noticeable, and passed after the first week – no price at all to pay for the results.

Once again, use the products sparingly, as directed, and they last a very long time.

Nutriage Total Eye Repair Crème is $80; Restore Balancing Skin Moisturizer and Ultra-Intensive Moisture Therapy each sell for $90.