Melvita celebrates 30 years (and I learn to cook a fancy French meal while learning of an organic sunscreen)

Melvita might be a brand we have only been familiar with for the past 2 years, so it was quite surprising to learn that they actually celebrate their 30th Anniversary this year! The brand started in 1983 and is now a leading Ecocert certified organic skincare brand in France and I have seen growing interest in many parts of the world, even locally. I think the idea of certified organic skincare has captured the imagination of many. You will be seeing the illustration at most Melvita stores worldwide, featuring Belle and the Bee, the bee being the core of the brand, as the founder Bernard Chevilliat is a beekeeper!

To celebrate this, Melvita Malaysia invited some members of the press to an organic cooking lesson at Nathalie’s Gourmet Studio, a French restaurant that also offers cooking lessons. Mmm… cooking lessons! I had to make time for this one :)

It was also there that I found out that Melvita carries an organic sunscreen with SPF50! Ahhh!! That was the most exciting part of the day for me LOL! I’ll tell you a little more about it, and some of the bestsellers from the brand :D

The No. 1 bestseller from the brand are their beauty oils. There is a large selection at affordable prices, and can be used for many things. I was told the bestselling oils are the Rosehip Oil and Argan Oil. The Rosehip oil didn’t work for me, but then I’ve learned most rosehip oils break me out so it isn’t the brand, it’s the product. The only complaint I have, which was shared by many other people I spoke to, is that the packaging of the oils. Hopefully they repackage them to something more leak-free.

The way they have repackaged the popular Floral Waters.

I like the floral waters and I still have bottles on my dresser that I use from time to time. I particularly like the Rose one for a refreshing face mist/toner before I apply serum and moisturiser because damp skin helps product absorb better and more quickly.

I learned the blue glass packaging has now been replaced with recyclable plastic which doesn’t quite endear me as much, I have to say. Part of the charm was in the glass packaging but I suppose it does become hard to transport.

And remember I said I learned there is an organic sunscreen? Indeed! Right there, as their Top 8 Best selling product is Prosun, a broad spectrum sunscreen that like everything else in Melvita, certified Organic.

Now, I can see how this one will appeal to those who are trying to keep to an organic lifestyle but who have trouble filling this niche item in their skincare. I haven’t come across many natural or organic sunscreens locally, so I was very very excited to see this one. A quick look at the ingredients revealed Zinc Oxide and Titanium Dioxide as their UV blockers. I tested a little on my hand, and it didn’t feel too sticky although it took a while to absorb, and there was a funny scent. I plan to get this to give it a go, so you’ll know when I know how it fares :)

As for the cooking, let’s just say that French cooking whilst not that hard, requires precision and attention and a lot of work! We made a slow cooked chicken and raspberry lychee pavlova, but I was on chicken duty and was greatly thrilled to have learned how to debone a chicken leg to create a chicken chop, and to learn how to make a roulade! Yay me! :D

We were guided by Chef Nathalie Arbefeuille and her able assistant, who must not have been amused at the way some of us butchered the food prep. Someone jokingly mentioned that it was like being in Hell’s Kitchen, minus the shouting LOL! I do think we might have moved on a little more quickly with a little shouting :P

Still, lunch was eventually served, and I learned how to plate a fancy dish. I’d seen them do it so many times on TV, I thought it would be a cinch!

Turned out, it is quite unnerving putting that first dollop of carrot and potato mash on your plate, because if you get that placement wrong, there goes the symmetry of your dish! Plated 2 dishes, one which went out to an unsuspecting member of our party (I hope it looked good enough to eat!) and one for me which is proudly brandished above.

I wish I could say I could replicate this for a fancy dinner party, but I’ve learned I can’t do it without a sous vide which I’d also just learned about. Still, that would be a new kitchen gadget to investigate! I’ve realised that my kitchen gadgets do get used, unlike the white elephants that are my beauty gadgets :P But I’ve also learned to make a really fancy, really excellent mash and THAT will definitely feature on my menu some time – yum! :D

Have you tried any Melvita product and do you have a favourite?

Mine is the Floral Water. Rose and Lavender are ones I use most regularly and have replenished. I’m going to investigate Prosun soon – it looks very promising! I wish I’d learned about it earlier!

Paris B