Time for a Change

By THÉRÈSE MARGOLIS

Summer is almost over and a new school year is about to begin.

That means that it is time to put those shorts and halter tops on a sabbatical and bring out your more serious, adult wardrobe and makeup.

And even if you are not taking classes or don’t have school-age kids, September is a great time to revamp your image and beauty routines.

Here are some great new products that can help you start the fall with a better, healthier and more beautiful you, and even allow you help Mexican children in need in the process. (What better way to help change the world while updating your style?)

Feed Your Face

Healthy skin is beautiful skin, and Vichy Laboratoires has just relaunched its Minéral 89 pre-serum tonic that gives your skin a daily dose of strength that both nourishes it and prepares it to better absorb and exploit the beauty products you apply after.

Combining the mineral-rich thermal water of Vichy with hyaluronic acid to fortify your face and make it more resistant to visible aging caused by pollution, stress to skin and fatigue, Minéral 89 delivers a boost of hydration for a vibrant and glowing complexion., while  plumping and strengthening the skin’s natural barrier to protect it from pollution.

Vichy thermal water is drawn from the depths of the French volcanoes and is enriched with 15 rare, skin-healthy minerals, including calcium, magnesium, potassium and iron.

This water has been proven to help stimulate skin’s natural defense and reinforce skin’s integrity.

Minéral 89 is the first step in a daily skincare regime which leaves skin plump, protected and ready for the next step.

Vichy Minéral 89’s powerful formula has been tested by dermatologists to ensure optimal efficacy and suitability for sensitive skin.

Hair Dare

Autumn is when leaves turn colors and brighten the forests with rich golds, oranges and browns, and it is also a perfect time for a change of hue in your tresses.

Schwarzkopf Palette has launched a new line of temporary and permanent hair-coloring products that can add chromaticity and dimension to your style (after all, as the Schwarzkopf ad says: “Life is far too short to live it in black and white”).

The Atrévete a ser diferente (Dare to be different) line includes a Schwarzkopf Color en Spray (a one-time, wash-out, sparkled spray tint) in pink, baby blue, lavender and gold that can be applied to all or part of the hair for a night (or day) of shocking dazzle, a more durable Artist Perfect Gloss Color that lasts for up to 15 washes, a longer-wearing Baseline Perfect Gloss, ammonia-free permanent color collection in less jaw-dropping shades, and a strip-your-hair-of-color Perfect Gloss lightener that lets even the darkest brunettes try their hand at being blonds (or whatever color they like).

Wardrobe Overhaul

One of the best ways to update your look is give your wardrobe a redux.

Of course, that is not always easy to do in these difficult, cash-strapped times, but a couple of new items or a choice accessory or two can give your whole ensemble a timely update.

Lorenza Moda y Diseño Mexicano, located at Tamaulipas 161 in Mexico City’s fashionable Colonia Hipódromo Condesa, has a selection of women’s and children’s clothing and fashion items designed by Mexicans.

These pieces are all uniquely Mexican in nature and all ultra-affordable, which means you can dress with national pride and not break the bank.

Lorenza has just added the Lorena Saravia’s new Cult line to its portfolio of more than 50 designers.

This third collection of Cult is more feminine and sensual than Saravia’s previous two, with more lace and frills and less denim, focusing on an easy-to-wear, day-to-night style.

Be the Change

Now you can make a difference in the lives of thousands of Mexican children simply by buying the great beauty products you use regularly anyway.

As of September, Garnier – the French beauty and skincare brand that has already showed its international social conscience back in 2011 by partnering with TerraCycle to promote upcycling of containers and the introduction of biodegradable products – and the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) have extended a global alliance to help more than 22,000 indigenous Mexican girls, boys and adolescents have access to inclusive, high-quality education.

The global alliance between Garnier and UNICEF began in 2017 and is aimed as offering protection, education and psychological and emotional support to more than 100,000 migrant children in crisis situations around the world.

This year, within the framework of renewing that alliance, Garnier and UNICEF have expanded their efforts in Mexico to a program aimed specifically at offering education opportunities to underprivileged and marginalized children through a “1 Producto comprado = Educación para un niño durante un día” (“1 Product purchased = Education for one child for a day”) campaign.

According to UNICEF figures, in Mexico, one in every 10 children between the ages of 6 and 11 who speaks only an indigenous language does not attend school, and nearly 10 percent of indigenous preschools do not have teachers who speak the languages of the community.

Consequently, Garnier has agreed to earmark 50 percent of all its proceeds from the sale of seven special editions of its most popular haircare, skincare and hygiene products to helping to remedy this high-risk situation during a three-month period.

The remaining half of the company’s proceeds from the sale of these products will go to help sponsor programs to help children in emergency situations worldwide.

The participating products are Garnier Fructis Liso Coco Shampoo, Garnier Fructis Liso Coco Conditioner, Garnier Bí-O Extra Care deodorant, Garnier Agua Micelar micellar water, Garnier Gel Micelar micellar gel, Garnier Pure Active Carbón 3-in-1 deep-skin cleanser and Garnier Gel Carbón de Skin Active carbon skin activator.

All of these special Garnier UNICEF products will be available in self-service stores across Mexico between Sept. 1 and Nov. 30.

“In Garnier, we know that 4 million boys, girls and adolescents are not incorporated into the Mexican education system, and more than 600,000 are in risk of remaining outside that system,” explained Garnier Mexico director Silvia Macedo during a media event on Wednesday, Aug. 15, to announce the program.

“As a socially responsible company, we are aware how important it is to contribute positively in the countries in which we operate.”

This year, Garnier is expected to donate nearly $2.15 million to UNICEF as a result of the alliance.