To determine what texture we're touching, our brains conduct what neuroscientist Sliman Bensmaia describes as a neural symphony, with dozens of different attributes slipperiness, temperature, density, on and on-sent from 20,000 nerve fibers in the skin. Compare this to how we identify a color, interpreting just three attributes: hue, saturation, brightness. For a beauty aficionado, the teeniest tweak to just one of these color dimensions will create an entirely new shade (which explains why I have 231 same yet different red lipsticks). But when it comes to skincare, humans have predominantly preferred one specific textural neural symphony for almost 2,000 years: that of a soft, thick, comforting cream.
Cold cream, specifically, is history's vanity OG, a multitasking moisturizer, cleanser, and balm that our ancestors' ancestors slathered on with zeal. "It's the Big Momma of skincare," says dermatologist Ava Shamban. "If you look at the most ancient versions, such as from Egypt, cold creams were made to nourish the skin. Around AD 170, Greek physician-philosopher Galen codified the recipe a simple blend of beeswax, olive oil, and rosewater that you churned and churned until, as with mayonnaise or meringue, you created a sum much fluffier than its parts. "Cold cream was originally very nutrient-dense, Shamban says. "But then it became mass-produced in the 19th century with petroleum jelly and mineral oil, ingredients that don't provide any nourishment. So in the States these types of cold creams became viewed strictly as cleansers."
Denne historien er fra March 2023-utgaven av Town & Country US.
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Denne historien er fra March 2023-utgaven av Town & Country US.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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Jersey, JE ΤΙΜΕ
Nearly 50 years ago a museum opened in Paris.
THE HUNGER GAMES
Two former bons amis grew up in the same expensive suburb and cut their teeth together in the Paris nightclub scene. Then they launched competing restaurant empires, and the gloves came off. Now one of them is facing a suspended prison sentence and a huge fine. Welcome to the city's most delicious grudge match.
HIDDEN in Plain Sight
T&C was invited into the private archives and secret workshops of Paris, to glimpse the treasures that have made this city famous for its style and craftsmanship. It's a reputation worth fighting for.
GUARDIAN of Objects
Laura Kugel is the go-to art dealer for the world's most discerning clients, but her family's Paris wonderland is open to all. Come inside, won't you?
Ecole! Elysée! SCANDALE!
The path to the French White House requires a political education at one of the country's elite universities. As controversy swirls around Sciences Po-class treason, #MeToo à la française, creeping le wokisme-will its grip on power finally slip?
Are There Still Mysteries in Paris?
Surely not, in the world's most visited city! And yet: Why is the Louvre called the Louvre? Why do the upper stories of its 17th-century buildings tilt in? Why do even familiar streets feel so enticing, unknown? One thing is clear: So many of us return because the City of Light is really one of mesmerizing shadows.
High SEAS
How seductive is a cruise on an ultraluxury ship (yes, that's a category) like the new Regent Seven Seas Grandeur? So much so that a 132-day sailing sold out in three hours. It was time to investigate.
The Cruise Cure
One definition of bliss at sea is padding down a ship's hallway from your suite to the spa in a robe and slippers. Here's what awaits.
Only a Day to Spare?
These hotel spas-mini-me's of destination, health retreats punch way above their weight. So, if you're in the neighborhood...
So, Where Do You Ride in Paris?
A fancy equestrian's guide to the best of Gallic galloping.