It’s a beautiful sunny morning at Château de Vullierens as the first flowers of spring start to bloom. When we arrived, little spots of colour lined the fields of the historical grounds at the private château located near the shores of Lac Léman in Switzerland. The reason why FirstClasse is here today is to discover the star ingredient of the Swiss Perfection skincare brand, the iris flower which is grown amidst the crisp air and fresh views of the chàteau.
Not only are the gardens an attraction for nature lovers who have come from far and wide to marvel at the breathtaking scenery, but the garden grounds also serve as the sole source of the Iris Germanica flowers used by the world-renowned skincare brand. As both are based near the shores of Lake Geneva, Swiss Perfection receives the freshest supply of iris flowers, straight from the garden.
The cream of the crop – the iris
It was actually an American woman who planted the seeds of the very garden we’re in today. The mother of the chateau’s present-day owner, the late Doreen Bovet was a nature lover with an affinity for irises. In the early 1950s, Bovet called on the expertise of Schreiner, a Swiss US-based iris expert, to plant five new varieties of irises on the property. Five years later, Bovet opened her gardens to the public. Today, over six decades since, we stand here to admire the stunning collection of over 400 irises.
With its frilly petals and colourful variations, the iris flower has captivated humankind for thousands of years who revered the flower for its beauty and mythical associations to the divine. But for the team behind Swiss Perfection, it is the root of the Iris Germanica plant that captivated the research team when they discovered a unique cell that delivers potent anti-ageing properties.
This scientific breakthrough was first observed when a member of the Swiss Perfection research team noticed the large numbers of irises that would spring out after the harsh winter months. This discovery led to the launch of the youth-boosting Swiss Perfection Cellular Active IRISA collection.
As one of the top cellular skincare brands in the world, Swiss Perfection (which will also be celebrating its 25th anniversary this year), is also the first brand to apply vegetal cellular extraction technology to skincare. This pioneering innovation in the skincare industry could only have sprung from the centre of world-class cellular treatments, right in the heart of Montreux in Switzerland, where those who are in the know (and with deep pockets) have been jetting off on a quest for age-defying treatments.
This takes us to the next stop on our journey, the swoon-worthy Clinique La Prairie in Montreux to try out one of their highly-esteemed facials using a curated selection of Swiss Perfection products.
The quest for youth starts here
Just about an hour’s drive from Geneva Airport, the award-winning wellness retreat is a not-so-well-kept secret of the rich and famous. For decades, Hollywood royalty (and real-life royalty) have walked through its doors in search of longevity and youth. Marilyn Monroe, Cary Grant, Noël Coward, Winston Churchill and Pope Pius XII were just some of the names we spotted in their hall of fame.
In 1998, Clinique La Prairie introduced Swiss Perfection facials and treatments as part of its offering. Before my very own facial, we were treated to a meal at the Clinique’s renowned SEEDS restaurant.
Set amidst the manicured lawns of the property, SEEDS is helmed by Chef David Alessandria. The dishes here focus on an anti-inflammatory diet, which they believe is the key nutrition to improve overall health and increase longevity.
It was a spectacular meal that focused on the most delightfully fresh locally-sourced ingredients. We were also served “extra hydrogen” water, which was to be taken before our meal to combat inflammation (thankfully, they also allowed coffee with our meal).
After lunch, I was whisked away to one of the Clinique’s luxurious bright and airy treatment rooms. My facialist for today, Kasia Walkowiak, Swiss Perfection’s International Trainer, says the skincare brand delivers phenomenal results. “It combines powerful active ingredients with the unique signature compound, the Cellular Active IRISA, bringing with it a wide spectrum of anti-ageing properties,” she says.
“For me, it’s extremely important to deliver a facial that shows the results. And there is nothing better in the world than seeing all the beauty therapists that I’ve trained from all around the world, become so surprised with the instant results,” Walkowiak adds.
As my face gets slathered and pampered with the brand’s Cellular Active IRISA skincare, the first thing I noticed about the range is its light and fresh scent. The results truly are on-the-spot (Walkowiak recommends the RS-28 Cellular Intensive Treatment if you desire an immediate red carpet glow), and despite having just got off a long-haul flight a few hours before, I felt my skin rejuvenated and my senses recalibrated.
It’s no surprise why this place has earned almost legendary status for those in search of that elusive youthful essence. But if there’s anywhere you can go in search of it, no one else does it better than the Swiss and their approach to beauty and health, which is always to be one with nature, backed with a good dose of scientific progress.
For Swiss Perfection, they’ve found the perfect balance.
Discover more about Swiss Perfection’s Cellular Active IRISA collection, here.