INDUSTRY

Objects of desire

WITH ITS FANATICAL EYE FOR PROPER CULTIVATION AND PROCESSING OF BOTANICALS, THIS IS ONE BEAUTY PRODUCT MAKER WITH A MISSION

By Gena Ansell-Lande, JULY/AUGUST ISSUE 2018

OBSESSION

California-born entrepreneur Matthew Milèo’s eponymous face oil is that elusive combination of Zen meeting luxury. An early wellness renegade, he has long had a passion for healthy eating, yoga, and meditation as pathways to a better life.

“That elusive combination of zen meeting luxury”

Milèo’s obsession with skincare began while he worked at a Chanel beauty counter as a visual merchandiser. He began using his chemistry degree and took a dive into formula research — dissecting ingredient labels and finally mixing his own solutions for family and friends. When his godmother was diagnosed with cancer in 2015, the research took on a more purposeful role. Because chemotherapy was so damaging to her skin, Milèo was determined to find natural molecules that could soothe irritation.

“Milèo was determined to find natural molecules that could soothe irritation”

What he found was Oud. With its anti-inflammatory and calming properties, this essential oil went on to play a starring role in his skin-care products. Besides an alluring woody scent, Oud works overtime to help restore skin to its glowing and smooth self, and combats dark spots and wrinkles as well.

“Oud works overtime to help restore skin to its glowing and smooth self, and combats dark spots and wrinkles as well”

With ingredients extracted from premium botanical varieties, each of Milèo’s four elixirs are created organically and/or ethically farmed without pesticides. Here’s how it works: rare flowers are picked within the first hours of harvest, then flown to France in glass containers, never touching plastic or non-glass vessels. They are handed off to be expertly distilled by artisans in Grasse, a town on the Riviera. All of the elixirs includes no less than 50 premium ingredients.