Borage Oil

When asked the secret to her gorgeous tresses, Julia Restoin-Roitfeld confided that she rubs borage oil into her hair to nourish it and also takes the oil internally in capsule form by Solaire. As Julia says, "My own trick is to protect it with some borage oil. It is the best nourishing oil. I also take borage as pills in the morning and put some on my skin after being exposed under the sun." If you heed only one piece of advice from my site make it this one: begin using borage oil today and you will look and feel better inside and out.

The oil is pressed from the borage, or starflower, a delicate blue flower native to the Mediterranean region and parts of Asia, Africa, and South America. Not only will your hair shine as a result: borage is the plant with the highest concentration of gamma linolenic acid (GLA), the only omega-6 fatty acid known to stop the growth and metastasis of tumors. Borage has also been proven to metabolize bad fat, reduce inflammation, ease cramping and mood swings associated with PMS, promote healthy circulation, and even help with impotence. Borage — the wonder oil!

Please note that unusually high levels of borage oil taken internally may be toxic and can be especially dangerous if you have existing liver problems. I have been taking ¼ teaspoon of Borage Liquid Gold daily for two weeks and also rubbing it into the ends of my hair from time to time and I have noticed a definite improvement in the texture of my hair and skin. Try it and let me know what you think...

Borage oil image courtesy of newdirectionsaromatics.com.
Julia Restoin-Roitfeld photograph courtesy of fashionista.com.

Jil By Jil Sander

Julia Restoin-Roitfeld stars in the recent advertising campaign for Jil, the signature fragrance of Jil Sander. She is a perfect face for the scent. In Julia's words, "I feel that I am a new generation Jil Sander woman; strong, independent, and hard working... The Jil Sander woman is tough and confident, but also has a soft, feminine side. That's how I feel sometimes... I am really very, very proud to be the new face of fragrance."

Mademoiselle Restoin-Roitfeld enjoys wearing Jil as well as modeling the luxury product: "It reminds me kind of when I mix two scents together which makes my perfume more unique... At first scent it is strong and then it evaporates and smells lighter, very feminine too. It has flowers and amber at the end. It is like a subtlety of a woman who seems very tough and confident but is actually very feminine and fragile."

Julia Restoin-Roitfeld in Jil Sander's "Jil" campaign images © 2009 Coty. All Rights Reserved.

Johnnie Sapong

When asked about her favorite hairdresser, Julia Restoin-Roitfeld named Johnnie Sapong at The Studio, a new concept salon in London. As Julia says, "He is such a great hairdresser, I completely trust him and he is so funny." Sapong is one of the hottest names in hair primarily because he is a genius with the scissors and because his beneficent manner immediately puts clients at ease. He was born in London and got his start working at a friend's sister's Molton Brown salon in the West End.

Sapong says of his calling, “I’ve always wanted to create shapes with hair because sculpture was something I felt I’d missed out on at school. I use the hair as a raw material, build it and go from there. Sometimes it’s harder to underdo hair, to make something look unkempt and dishevelled, but sexy.” He lives in London with his wife, Karen, and three sons. If you'd like to know more about his savvy style, read Sapong's interview with The Guardian.

Johnnie Sapong photograph © 2008 New York Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Johnnie Sapong studio photograph courtesy of johnniesapong.com

Tom Ford Black Orchid

In November 2006, Julia Restoin-Roitfeld became the face for Tom Ford Black Orchid and she also lists this strange and dark beauty among her favorite fragrances. Black Orchid is incredibly luxurious and hypnotic, exactly the type of scent one imagines being worn by a film noir starlet in her most seductive femme fatale manner. Concocted by a team at Givaudan led by Roman Kaise, Black Orchid is an alluring potion of exotic wood and fruit accords with notes of amber, balsam, bergamot, black currant, black gardenia, black truffle, citrus, dark chocolate, French jasmine, incense, lotus wood, mandarin, orchid, patchouli, sandalwood, vetiver, vanilla, and ylang-ylang.

The Art Deco inspired bottle of jet black crystal was created exclusively for the Tom Ford Fragrance Collection by Lalique and its simple elegance adds to the cachet of the perfume. When Ford chose this premiere crystal company, he essentially announced the end of minimalism in perfume packaging: “The Lalique heritage, tradition, craftsmanship and legacy of iconic fragrance bottles made the decision an easy one… In the 1990s, it would have been a transparent bottle with minimalist packaging, transparent juice and a minimalist scent. But we have become so dermatological in our approach to beauty that I wanted to put some glamour back into beauty.” Timeless, exotic, glamorous, rich, sensual — Julia again fits the bill, inspiring as the ideal muse.

Julia Restoin-Roitfeld in Black Orchid campaign images © 2006 Tom Ford. All Rights Reserved.

Embryolisse Lait-Crème Concentré

For decades Parisian women have trusted Embryolisse as their preferred beauty cream; this cult favorite appears in the medicine cabinet of Julia Restoin-Roitfeld as well. Lait-Crème Concentré (known as 24 Hour Miracle Cream in English) delivers serious moisture while gently soothing and calming. This rich moisturizer is renowned for its versatility: top makeup artists apply it as a primer in preparation for cosmetics, it can be used to remove makeup and cleanse safely even for babies, its soothing effects can reduce skin irritation after shaving, and its multiple uses make it perfect for traveling. Lait-Crème Concentré respects the organic balance of your skin and promotes renewal of its natural protection. As you restore and strengthen your skin, you gain a soft, glowing, ageless complexion à la Roitfeld, ooh la la !

Please note that Embryolisse Hydrating Cream is pictured. Image courtesy of Amazon.
Julia Restoin-Roitfeld photograph courtesy of Fashion Spot.