They are not regulars at beauty salons. Often, it’s the first time they’ve been able to have an hour just for themselves.
The door of the L’Oréal bus opens and smiles appear on the faces of Vanessa, Aïcha, Zahira and the others. They have just participated in a workshop on the theme of facial care, led by a socio-esthetician, Morane Tricard.
“I’m happy. It’s the first time I’ve had the opportunity to take care of my face. Between the children, one of whom is disabled, and the paperwork problems, I don’t have time for myself . Not to mention the cost,” emphasizes Zahira. “I have dry and sensitive skin so it was really good,” adds Aïcha. Like them, thirty-two women per day will benefit from it until today, thanks to the L’Oréal Foundation.
Through associations
“The women registered in the workshops come through associations, social centers, neighborhood centers… They are in a situation of economic precariousness, isolation, are victims of violence…”, explains Lana Breuzé, responsible for mission for Banlieues Santé, operational partner.
“A facial treatment may seem trivial but it does them a lot of good,” assures Morane Tricard, the socio-esthetician from Limoges
. “It’s a first step to taking care of yourself, regaining self-esteem and the confidence that goes with it,” continues Lana Breuzé.
For an hour, Morane Tricard accompanied these women to teach them how to carry out each step: cleansing the skin, deep exfoliation, applying a moisturizing mask, applying a day cream.
The goal: to redo at home
“I always start by simply explaining that the actions must be carried out gently, that they must take their time. The goal is for them to learn things and be able to do them again at home. elsewhere, among the advice, I also explain to them how to make the products themselves because cosmetics are expensive,” indicates the socio-beautician, who adapts to the audience in front of her.
“There is obviously no commercial objective. L’Oréal provides products for treatment but advice on how to do it yourself is welcome,” says Lana Breuzé.
Some women who come in have trouble looking at themselves in the mirror and after an hour they finally get there. It’s a small victory for Morane Tricard which reminds him of another anecdote. “I remember a woman to whom I applied varnish. She told me that it was “restorative”, because her husband forbade her to use varnish. For her, it was revenge even though it was was just a varnish.” Certainly, but in the end, much more than a simple varnish or an innocuous facial treatment… The organization?
The Banlieue Santé association is the operational partner of the L’Oréal Foundation’s traveling beauty salon. She is the one who is in touch with the local associations who have “fleshed out” the women who participate in the workshops. “This is the first time that the bus passes through New Aquitaine. We will travel through around ten towns. After Bellac, Wednesday November 6, Limoges, Thursday 7, Friday 8 and Tuesday November 12, the bus will head to Brive -la-Gaillarde We rely on local associations, here on the ARSL, SAMSAH-Prism, Hestia, Habitat et Humanisme and Adoma”, explains Lana Breuzé, project manager for Banlieues Santé.
The Foundation offers, as much as possible, local socio-estheticians to intervene aboard the traveling salon
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Pauline Avenel-Lam is the director of the Inclusive Beauty program at the L’Oréal Foundation.
Pauline Avenel-Lam.
What is the genesis of this traveling beauty salon?
The L’Oréal Foundation has been committed since 2007 to enabling women in fragile situations (illness, insecurity, violence, etc.) to benefit from socio-aesthetic care. Concretely, we financially support around a hundred associations in the region to enable them to implement this care. In 2019, we wanted to complete this system with a mobile approach with this famous traveling fair whose idea is to really get as close as possible to women wherever they are in the territory: in priority neighborhoods or rural areas. isolated. The objective is to allow them to take care of themselves for an hour, to enjoy a bubble a little outside of time, outside of everyday problems. Initially, in 2019, we tested the concept, with a month of touring in Île-de-France and Hauts-de-France. Then, unfortunately, there was the Covid crisis which prevented us from doing it in 2020 and 2021. The traveling show returned to the road in 2022 for a month of touring, then, in 2023, we increased to three. And this year, the tour started in mid-April and will end at the end of November. We were able to go to new regions including Nouvelle-Aquitaine.
Is the Foundation involved with women in other ways?
We have three areas of commitment: the first is “women and science”, the idea of which is to allow as many of them as possible to take their full place in science. Actions are carried out towards the youngest, high school girls… Up to the most accomplished with a prize that we award each year in partnership with UNESCO to create “models” and show that these women scientists at the highest level contribute to solving the major challenges of tomorrow. We have another axis around the climate issue, because women and girls are the first victims of global warming. In all regions of the world which are directly affected, girls are dropping out of school more quickly, going miles every day to fetch water… The “Women and Climates” program aims to support women who will think about projects to combat global warming and put them forward, help them in the development of their project and then make them visible. And finally, we have this third pillar which is called “Inclusive Beauty”. It includes the traveling salon, assistance to associations but there is also another component: training in beauty and hairdressing professions. We organize them in around thirty countries in partnership with NGOs to enable women who are very far from employment, in great difficulty, to be able to access this training and gain access to employment.Stéphanie Barrat
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