Let me tell you a story that can inspire us all, ladies!

Who Is the Woman Christine Valmy? What Is Her Story?

Essay by Cristina Curatolo

This is the story of a woman presiding over some of the worlds most professional and beautiful skin care salons that are carrying her name. The history of skin care in the U.S.A. is Christine Valmy's story.

Christine Valmy was born in Bucharest, Romania. There she earned a law degree from the University of Bucharest and a cosmetology degree from the Medical School in Bucharest.
She left Romania and immigrated to the United States in 1961, arriving as so countless other immigrants: penniless and unable to speak the language. She had with her a daughter and her parents.

As soon as she arrived here she realized that the function of cosmetics in the United States was to cover up skin imperfections, an archaic approach when compared with the standards of Europe. Valmy devised her own now legendary techniques, the "Valmy" method, with a philosophy "to reveal not to conceal" the natural beauty of a healthy, well-functioning skin. Her method achieves an aching purpose of slowing down the biological aging process by scientifically restoring the skin's natural functions “from the inside to the outside.”

Twenty years later, Christine Valmy represents the ideal of the American dream, when an immigrant without financial resources or linguistic knowledge in a new country can reach the pinnacle of her profession by presiding over a company that operates the leading chain of specialized skin care salons in the world.

Christine Valmy is the creator of a beauty empire that has product distribution in numerous countries around the world and 15 affiliate schools. In 1965, she opened the first Esthetics school in the United States and became the first president of the Comité International D’Esthétique et de Cosmétologie (CIDESCO), USA branch.

She was renowned by the 91st US congress in 1973 for “her contributions to education in America […and for] creating a new, exciting avenue of careers for the young people of America.” She fought for more than 25 years to make Esthetics a licensed profession and was influential in helping New York become the first state to have a specific individual license for Esthetics.

Christine Valmy is an authority in skin care formulations. She has published several books and has received many national and international awards. She has an unquestionable status as the international authority in her field and is known as the “Mother of Esthetics in the United States”.

Ms. Christine Valmy is the receiver of the medal CIDESCO (Comité International D’Esthétique et de Cosmétologie) Médaille du Mérite awarded for her Professional Standards and Status, and the highest honor of the Eighth French Congress of Esthetics. She served as president of CIDESCO USA from 1967 to 1986 and organized the CIDESCO World Congresses held in New York in 1972 and 1980.

The history of scientific skin care belongs to the world. Its beginnings are based on the perseverance of a penniless immigrant who overcame seemingly insurmountable odds because of her beliefs... it is the continuing saga of a quiet, unassuming woman of charm and intelligence who reached the pinnacle of her profession... yet continues to be personally involved in the improvement of the industry she founded.


Note

CIDESCO was founded in 1946 to:
• Promote Esthetics internationally;
• Unite members both nationally and internationally;
• Create recognized training centers that follow CIDESCO training programs, leading to CIDESCO examinations and diplomas;
• Promote the free exchange of professional knowledge, new developments and information through international congresses.
CIDESCO has national “sections” in 33 countries, and is headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland. In 1966, Christine Valmy founded the American Aesthetician Association, which became CIDESCO Section USA the following year.



Resources

Biography
http://www.christinevalmy.com/user.php?frm=page&id=7

Christine Valmy - a legend in Aesthetics
http://www.aestheticsassociation.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=85&Itemid=84