Food and wine lovers have long been familiar with the notion of terroir, avidly seeking out pinot noirs from Burgundy, chickens from Bresse, olive oils from Nyons and fleur de sel from Guérande. Now, skin-care aficionados are getting in on the act, enjoying the unique properties of creams, oils, soaps and other beauty potions that claim geo-specific provenance. The newest crop hails from terroirs ranging from tropical islands to Alpine meadows.

PACIFIC PAMPERING
This past April, the largest spa in French Polynesia opened at the Bora Bora Pearl Beach Resort. There are now five Manea Spas in the archipelago, creating the islands’ first brand dedicated to beauty and wellness. Along with traditional Polynesian massages, visitors to these luxurious retreats will soon be able to experience the new Manea Spa line of skin-care products. All will incorporate a bit of this Pacific paradise: vanilla from Taha’a, coconut from the Tuamotus, pine-apple from Moorea—even white sand from legendary Bora Bora.
    “Our objective was to create products that are both technologically advanced and have a strong Polynesian identity,” says Thierry Buttaud, director of South Pacific Management, which runs the Pearl Beach hotels. “So we partnered with one of the top cosmetic laboratories in France, the same one that works with Chanel, Dior, Sisley and other top brands.”
    The project was launched a year ago, and Buttaud expects his first delivery to arrive in August. The inaugural collection will consist of eight skin-care products and five body oils, each with a Tahitian name and packaging inspired by traditional Polynesian architecture.
    One of the more unique items is a balm called Te Ati, the name of a tree that bears large green nuts that produce tamanu oil. Polynesians consider the tree sacred—probably because its oil is extraordinarily effective at healing burns, insect bites and other skin irritations. “People here have used it for centuries,” says Buttaud. The balm also contains monoi butter (to soften), ginger essential oil (to tone) and bamboo extract (to purify). Because it penetrates the skin so well, it is especially recommended for elbows, knees and heels but can be used anywhere on the body.
    Another product, Te Moana (“ocean”), picks up on the French tradition of thal-assotherapy. The main ingredient in this refreshing body mist is purified water from Tahiti’s famous lagoon. “The water there rises from the depths of the sea and filters through the coral reef that surrounds the island,” explains Buttaud. “Along the way, it picks up lots of minerals and trace elements that can be absorbed through the skin, replenishing the entire body.”
    As for that sand from Bora Bora, it’s ground into a fine powder that is combined with coconut powder from Tahiti, then suspended in a gel to make a body exfoliant called Taurami One (“sand massage”). A gentler facial scrub uses bamboo extract and has been christened Maro Tea: “great royal crown of bamboo.”
Available (as of August) in Manea Spas and through maneaspa.com. Negotiations are currently under way with retailers in France and the United States.


OLIVE SKIN
O&CO knows from terroir. Founded in 1996, the Provence-based company has established an international reputation as a purveyor of top olive oils from around the Mediterranean. They work so closely with their suppliers that they can tell you exactly where each bottle comes from and how it was produced. Indeed, the makers’ names now appear on the labels.
    Earlier this year, the company, which has 75 stores worldwide, launched a small skin-care line consisting of three creams (face, hand and body) and two soaps (liquid and bar). All are made with olive oil and olive-leaf extract.
    “People are sometimes surprised to learn that we have branched out into skin care,” says Rose Malindretos, O&CO’s U.S. representative. “But actually, olive oil was used on the skin thousands of years before it ever found its way into the kitchen.” While few people now rub themselves down with it as Greek Olympians once did, olive oil is still used throughout the Mediterranean in soaps and lotions. “What we are doing is taking these traditional products to a new level,” says Malindretos. “Our line is all about quality.”
    To begin with, O&CO uses only organic olive oil—the products are certified bio (organic) by Ecocert, an independent organization. The company also hired a specialist in natural perfumery to create a signature fragrance. A tonic blend of herb and citrus notes, “Bois d’Olivier” delivers a pleasing punch of aromatherapy yet does not linger, making it suitable for both men and women. And while the olive oil and shea butter moisturize and soften, the creams are engineered to absorb quickly—rub in a dollop of Crème Mains, and you can immediately get back to your keyboard.
    This new sophistication is conveyed by the packaging: Instead of retro-Provençal, O&CO has opted for a hip combination of brushed silver and blue-gray. “Our products are truly innovative,” says Malindretos. “We wanted the visual elements to reflect that.”
Available in O&CO shops as well as through oliviersandco.com.


MOUNTAIN HIGHS
Jocelyne and Jean-Louis Sibuet launched chalet chic when they opened their first hotel and spa, Les Fermes de Marie, in 1989. The cluster of picturesque wooden buildings perched above Megève evokes an Alpine village and has become a favorite with guests seeking authentic décors infused with contemporary luxe.
    Long associated with good health (think Heidi), the Alpine meadows even-tually inspired Jocelyne Sibuet to develop skin care products that would incorporate mountain plants. The Fermes de Marie line debuted in 2000 with face creams and soon expanded to include body care. The leading active ingredient is derived from edelweiss (please don’t think Sound of Music), which reputedly moisturizes, softens and protects from UVA and UVB rays. It is also said to be an anti-oxidant and rich in minerals.
    This snow-white super-plant (edel means noble and weiss means white) is a protected species, however, so Sibuet grows her own in hothouses in the Savoie. Her products also boast a bouquet of other Alpine flora—horsetail, gentian, arnica—each offering its own special benefits.
    In 2004, the company added a second line, Pure Altitude, especially formulated to combat the effects of sun, wind, pollution and other outdoor aggressors. Packaged in small round tins, they are designed to follow—and protect—the urban nomad wherever she may wander.
    New this year is Elixir d’Himalaya, which incorporates ingredients long used by women in the Hunza Valley to fend off skin damage caused by the harsh high-altitude climate. The 100 percent natural serum blends essential oils and plant extracts—including apricot oil, jojoba, borage, musk rose and the beneficent edelweiss—into a potion that promises to rejuvenate tired skin after a 21-day regimen. The elixir is designed to complement the company’s first and still best-selling product: the silky smooth Crème Edelweiss No. 1.
Available at all Compagnie des Hôtels de Montagne spas, at parapharmacies and major department stores in France and Europe, and through fermesdemarie-beauty.com.