Virginie Claire natural cosmetics beauty store is celebrating 20 years in business
By Maurice Garvey
FRENCH cosmetics connoisseur Virginie Vuillaume is celebrating 20 years in business this year – no mean feat for a self-employed woman who values the health of her clients above her bottom line.
Virginie (46) established Virginie Claire natural cosmetics, skin care and makeup on Terenure Road North in 1996, and attributes the success of the popular petit beauty centre to the important life skills taught to her by her parents.
The Firhouse resident was influenced to provide 100 per cent natural products due to the healthy eating habits of mère et père.
Growing up as a child in the South-East of France, Virginie’s parents would only eat fresh food, bypassing the supermarket in favour of a trip to the market to buy fresh meat and veg off the local farmer.
“It’s all about knowledge (of products),” said Virginie.
“My parents only eat natural – they cook everything. Years ago, my father was ill and doctors told my mother he wouldn’t live to 60. My mother cooked him back to health with good food and he will celebrate his 80th birthday in April.”
“I’m much more aware of what is chemically made. When I was growing up, kids didn’t get sick like they do nowadays. It’s not one thing, but a small poisoning of the body through foods and chemicals.”
This moral code over what one puts in their body motivated Virginie to ensure V Claire only use 100 per cent natural products.
The company are the sole distributor of PHYT’S organic skincare and Couleur Caramel natural make-up, and have received glowing recommendations from clients.
Virginie continued: “It makes me feel good to help other people and to not pollute their body. With some of the better known products, most of the money goes into marketing – a generic quality. People want a miracle and it’s like buying a dream. What is a miracle, is when you are comfortable with what you put in your body. “
The success of V Claire is down to “belief in what you do”, according to Virginie.
She continued: “When you go into self-employment, it is difficult to contemplate failure. It is both liberating and frightening. If I fail, I let people down and that drives you.”
Visit www.vclaire.ie for further details.
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