An Atlas of Natural Beauty NATURAL BEAUTY


Nothing is simpler, more enjoyable, more self-evident, or more efficient than taking good, natural care of yourself. Nothing is easier than devoting the requisite amount of time to it—no more than you would spend on commercial cosmetics—and nothing is more pleasant than giving meaning to your beauty rituals. Just like a short breather, this can fit into any day’s schedule. It is a lifestyle which does not require much space and does not even involve fancy words or overly intricate steps—a source of delight that lends sweetness to everyday life.

And that must be the world’s best-kept beauty secret: there is no need to go overboard to stay at the top of your game. All it takes are a few gentle movements and the many things nature and nurture have to offer, generously and often economically.

This book also provides the perfect opportunity to regain control: it is no longer about brands, fads, and appearances—it is about you. The simple knowledge we have gathered here, along with your own experimentations, should give you the gratifying ability and privilege to care for yourself and your loved ones.

Beauty is not all about marketing and promises. To attain beauty and well-being you must keep it simple and speak the truth. This type of natural beauty exists, and it is within reach. Discovering these authentic beauty secrets also provides an opportunity to travel through time and space, to marvel at the riches of the plant world and at man’s ingenuity in discovering and making the most of them. Nature-based beauty has the precious added benefit of encouraging us to use gentle organic ingredients, whose active concentration is much greater than that of the average industrial product. With these beauty recipes and natural products, which L’Officine Universelle has had the pleasure of collecting and sharing, you know exactly what your skin is getting: nothing but the best.

At L’Officine Universelle Buly, we select with passion and curiosity the very best of these “raw” materials. By favoring traditional agriculture and the work of rural cooperatives, we support the endurance and growth of these communities, which are rightly proud of their know-how and of perpetuating these traditions.

This book lists eighty ingredients and raw materials to take good care of yourself, along with tested recipes garnered from the collective experience of all of the world’s cultures. These simple and precious products have been kept alive by continued use and by the beauty habits of the inhabitants of all continents.

This is an experience that is simultaneously millennial and yet ever so contemporary.

Time stops, beauty is universal. Re-enchant your bathroom, join in the game, and create your own beneficial and efficient rituals.