Win “Mont Echo for a Year”!

Every season presents new challenges for our skin. From winter dryness to summer sun, we are constantly looking for ways to protect and nourish our skin in every climate and environment. While drinking plenty of water is always appropos, your skin regime needs to adapt to the challenges of your climate.

Mont Echo is celebrating beautiful skin in every season by offering you a chance to win a whole year of our 100% natural and Canadian skin & hair care products – a 960$ value!

There are FOUR ways to enter:

1. FACEBOOK – Visit the contest announcement on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/montecho) and include a comment.
2. EMAIL – Forward your name, email address and phone number to concours@mont-echo.com
3. INSTORE – Complete a ballot at a participating retail location.
4. ONLINE – Complete an online purchase during the contest period.

 

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WIN MONT-ECHO FOR A YEAR Contest Rules

Issued January 15, 2015

 

Contest Period
The contest begins on January 16, 2015 at 12:01 a.m. (Eastern Standard Time) and ends on March 14, 2015 at 11:59 p.m.

 

Eligibility
This contest is opened to everyone 18 years or older, with the exception of employees, agents or representatives of Mont-Echo Naturels, Inc , as well as their family members and/or people living in the same household.

 

How to Enter
No purchase necessary. LIMIT One entry per person for the duration of this contest.

 

There are FOUR ways to enter:

1. FACEBOOK – Visit the contest announcement on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/montecho) and include a comment.
2. EMAIL – Forward your name, email address and phone number to concours@mont-echo.com
3. INSTORE – Complete a ballot at a participating retail location.
4. ONLINE – Complete an online purchase during the contest period.

 

Note We are not responsible for technical failures of any kind, including but not limited to the malfunctioning of any computer, cable, server, network, hardware, software, or web site.

 

Prizes and approximate value:

• There will be one prize consisting of one free Age-Defense cream: sea buckthorn facial moisturizer and one free seabuckthorn cleansing cream: nutri-luminous, or the equivalent retail value, per month for the twelve months of 2015.
• The prize will be fulfilled as twelve (12) promo coupons, one issued each month throughout 2015, with a value of $70 per month for online purchase. Free delivery is also included for each monthly delivery. The coupons are valid only at our online store mont-echo.com/shop.
• There is one (1) prize available with a total approximate value of $960.
• Prizes must be accepted as is, with no replacements or modifications. Prizes cannot be redeemed for cash.

 

Prize Draw
A random draw will be executed on March 17, 2015, in Montreal, Quebec at approximately 12 p.m., from all eligible entries. The odds of winning will depend on the total number of eligible entries received during the contest period. The winner will be announced via our Newsletter, on our Website and Facebook page. The winner will be required to answer the following skill-testing question to claim the prize 10 x 2 + 6 – 10 = ____

 

Other Legal Disclaimers
For Quebec residents, disputes regarding the organization or conduct of a promotional contest may be submitted to the Régie des alcools, des courses et des jeux for a ruling. Disputes over the awarding of a prize may also be submitted to the Régie, but only for the purposes of helping the parties reach a settlement.

 

This contest is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with, Facebook.

Winter Skin Care Tips !

Winter is officially here… your skin is undoubtedly letting you know! Here are our latest tips to help keep your skin looking beautiful despite the elements.

Our cream is like a coat for you skin
When the mercury falls, we change our wardrobe… wool socks, mittens and tuques anyone? Our skin also needs TLC, so be prepared to add come extra layers of protection to your regime. With the heating in our homes, cars, and work places our skin easily becomes more dehydrated. To combat this, a richer cream is key to help create a barrier and avoid our skin from losing its natural moisture.
Our Age-Defense Cream is perfect for this time of the year! When participating in winter outdoor activities, be sure to protect your face with our Crème Divine. And, for your hands and body we recommend our amazing Skin Therapy Cream: Ultra Nourishing Hand and Body Moisturizer. This dynamic duo will protect you from the cold and wind while their scent will remind you of beautiful summer days.

Did you know you can wear your mask all night ?!
Why is it important to apply your mask more often during the winter? A mask will deeply nourish the skin with its abundance of active ingredients. During the winter our skin is extra dry and crying for these extra nutrients. Our newest Cream Mask is ideal to get this job done. And, YES! you can leave the mask on all night to get an intensive treatment. During the night, the mask will amplify the skins natural repairing and nourishing processes. In the morning, your skin will feel plumped, nourished, moisturized, and even those fine lines will feel smoother… you will feel like you spent the night at the spa!
To get the maximum effect of an overnight mask , it is important to prepare your skin… start with our Cleansing Cream: Nutri-Luminous, followed with either our 100% natural Toning Mist or Eau Divine, then delicately massage your face with a drop of our Age-Defense Serum… now you are ready for the layer of Cream Mask. After 5 minutes, sponge off any excess mask with a tissue, do not rinse and leave the mask for the night.
In the morning, complete your cleanse… remove the mask using our Toning Mist or Eau Divine before applying the final layers of Age- Defense Eye Contour Cream and Age-Defense Cream.

If your skin is extremely dry…
We suggest you check-out our latest additions in our collection, Nature Divine! You will be pleasantly surprised by the quality and richness of the ingredients found in these products. This amazing new line contains more Sea Buckthorn than ever, up to 4 times more.
The Crème Divine is rich and abundant with nutrients that will keep your skin glowing even on the coldest of cold days. Eau Divine our amplified toner, will prepare your skin to absorb the multitude of active ingredients in Crème Divine.
Elixir Divine, also know as the golden oil, can be applied anywhere on your face or body. If you are heading south this winter Elixir Divine will be your best friend. Each night, after a day in the sun, blanket your body with our elixir… it will calm your sun-drenched skin, deeply hydrate and leave your sun-kissed skin glowing. Upon your return to the land of ice and snow home continue your daily applications to your skin to adjust to the drastic temperature change. Your skin will be soft, hydrated and radiate with its healthy looking glow.

These tips will help keep you hydrated outside, it is also important to drinks lots of water to keep help with overall hydration. Also, even when it is cold outside be sure to apply sunscreen. Wishing you a fun winter and splendid skin all year-round!

Click here here to shop on line!

Click here to find a store near you that sells Mont-Echo.

Notes from our Bio-Estheticians: Summer Skin Care

This summer you probably would like your skin to be looking young and healthy ! With warm weather fast approaching, we’re prepared to offer you some advice from our bio-estheticians.

 

The arrival of summer! (Early June)

About 2 weeks before exposing your skin to the sun it is important to do some preparatory treatments. First, you should exfoliate your skin 2 to 3 times per week using our blend of Cleansing Cream and Seabuckthorn Facial Mask[1]. They allow you to rid your skin of dead cells and reveal healthy, glowing fresh skin. This step will ensure a uniform and healthy tan when you are out and about in the sun. For people who might have some spots, our Age-Defence Serum is the product for you. It has been clinically proven that to decrease the number of dark spots and hyperpigmentation up to 78% after 56 days of use (as part of the clinical study protocol).

 

The middle of the summer (July-August)

This is the period during which your skin will be most exposed to sunlight. It is therefore very important to moisturize. Start with the Toning Mist – your skin will soak up the moisture and the mist will soothe skin after long days in the sun. For a more calming effect you can even leave it in the refrigerator, it will be cool and help to calm redness. Use the Toning Mist in the morning to cleanse your face of impurities using cotton swabs (swap over the T-zone (chin-nose-front) to disinfect the area). Follow with the Age-Defense moisturizer which best suits your skin type (normal, dry, oily-sensitive).

Tip for the summer: our Age-Defence Gel for Oily-Senstitive skin is a fresh gel which is ideal as a moisturizer for normal skin during the summer season. It will leave your skin hydrated and silky thanks to the combination of sea buckthorn oils and jojoba.

One of the most important steps for any summer skin care routine is the application of sunscreen. Whether a full screen (which blocks all rays) or a solar filter (which allows some rays to pass through and enables the skin to tan) it is important to follow dosage and apply the cream every 90 to 120 minutes and when you exit the water. Another tip for beautiful skin: Our Sea Buckthorn Tea is makes a super iced tea, refreshing and rich in anti-oxidants that will help fight free radicals.

 

Late summer (September)

About 2 weeks after significant sun exposure, you will be able to start exfoliating. This will allow your skin to get rid of dead cells and clear the outer cell layer which is formed to protect your skin in the summer. As at the beginning of the summer, you should exfoliate your skin 2-3 times a week using our mix of Cleansing Cream and Mask. It is also advisable to make a nutritious mask[2] by mixing your moisturizer and the mask. Age-Defence Serum will hydrate and nourish your skin which will be much needed in the approach of autumn. During the coldest days, our Age-Defence Cream for dry and mature skin will be your ideal companion.

Use our advice to achieve healthy and beauitful skin this summer. You can also complement your home care with professional treatments from our certified bio-estheticians (visit « Where to Buy » on www.mont-echo.com to find the nearest esthetician’s office). The bio-estheticians have access to concetrated oils that provide extraordinary results. Click here to find retail outlets and bio-estheticians in your area.

 

[1] To exfoliate: Mix the equivalent of a tablespoon of Facial Mask, the equivalent of half a tablespoon of Cleansing Cream, and 5-8 sprays Toning Mist. Apply the scrub by rubbing in small circles for about a minute and let it dry. When dry (3 to 5 minutes), remove it by rubbing off in small circles until face is clean and rinse your skin with cool water. For the most sensitive skin, do not rub the scrub – just rinse with fresh water.

[2] For the mask: mix the equivalent of a tablespoon of Facial Mask, the equivalent of a tablespoon of Age-Defence Cream for your skin type, and 5-8 sprays Toning Mist. Apply on the skin, face and neck, avoiding the eye area for 10 to 15 minutes. Rinse with cool water until completely clean. Spray Toning Mist and apply your Age-Defence Cream.

Celebrate Natural Beauty this month! Meet our finalists and enjoy special offers online!

Mont Echo Naturels has launched our “Love Natural Beauty” campaign, which celebrates the true meaning of beauty throughout the month in honour of Valentine’s Day. The campaign features the faces of Mont Echo Natural Beauty Contest finalists selected from actual Mont Echo customers across southern Quebec with minimal makeup and no artificial styling or airbrushing.

The women will appear alongside their personal definitions of natural beauty, which are unique and powerful.

“Mont Echo is a company built on the belief that we don’t need to risk our skins for beauty,” states Creative Director Tamara Ensio. “This group of women spans an age range of over 30 years. Their backgrounds and careers are diverse; they are all at different stages of life. These are real women, real customers. We want to take the opportunity this Valentine’s Day to encourage women to embrace natural beauty and not the artificial, photoshopped version that is so prevalent in our society.”

Along with the banners and ads celebrating Mont Echo’s faces of natural beauty, the company will be making their popular Skin Care Kits available online in February and unveling new packaging for the Sea Buckthorn Cream Cleanser. Facebook fans will have a chance to win one of the Kits, and online shoppers can look forward to several specials on hair and skin care.

Mont Echo’s hair and skin care products are 100% natural and clinically-proven effective. All of their products are made in Quebec and feature 100% Canadian-grown Sea Buckthorn, one of nature’s most powerful anti-aging ingredients.

Visit http://www.mont-echo.com or http://www.facebook.com/montecho to view the campaign.

Reverse time with younger-looking hair… naturally!

The latest and greatest trend in hair care is Anti-Aging. Yup, that’s right. The same ingredients that help keep your skin looking young can and are being used in shampoos and conditioners to reverse the damage that aging inflicts on your luxurious locks.

In a lot of ways, your hair suffers much more than your skin as you age. Harsh environmental factors, chemical colouring and styling tools inflict extensive damage, hastening the onset of dry, brittle and worn out strands. Harpers Bazaar recently cited a study that claimed thick, shiny hair makes women appear younger, while dull and lifeless hair adds years to your look.

Frankly this news doesn’t seem like news to us. As natural beauty proponents, we have always known that taking care of your body also includes your hair. Sea Buckthorn does, after all, mean “Shining Horse,” a reference to the radiant hair of the horses that ate it. Sea Buckthorn is one of nature’s greatest anti-aging products, and all types of hair benefit from the omegas, vitamins and minerals present in its oils.

Unfortunately, healthy NATURAL hair care is even harder to come by than healthy, natural skin care. Why? Well, there are a number of reasons. Natural ingredients just do not replicate the foaming and cleaning sensations of chemical ingredients. If your product creates a huge head of suds in seconds, the odds are pretty good there are a lot of chemicals in there.

A recent interview with well-known organic formulator Dr. Barbara Olioso highlighted these challenges in developing natural hair care:

I am facing two main challenges—a human one and a technical one. The human challenge is the client and consumer expectations for an instant sensorial gratification, which are unrealistic for a natural product. This is hardly a surprise given the way synthetics are marketed posing as naturals. For example, argan oil is often promoted as the miracle worker, but the silicones that produce the glossy sheen on hair in these products are often not mentioned.

The technical challenge I came across was to find natural conditioning actives that could compete with the mainstream actives. Ultimately, the product had to sell to an audience with these unrealistic expectations, so I had to use a raw material that was not completely natural but gave good conditioning on the hair and had good biodegradability.

At Mont Echo, it took us several years to put together the right ingredients for an all-natural hair care line that we felt was effective and safe. We tried to balance consumer expectations with our high standards for efficacy and natural ingredients. We hope you are as pleased with the results as we are!

And here are a couple of special tips right from us for getting the most out of your natural hair care products:

1)   Always shampoo twice. The old rinse and repeat mantra has never been so important. Without the strong chemicals found in standard shampoos, most hair types benefit from shampooing twice. Since the formulations are so much more gentle, it won’t dry your hair to use more product!

2)   Leave your conditioner in as long as you can. Let it really sink into your hair and scalp before rinsing. The length of time should be dictated by your hair type as well, with thinner or finer hair generally requiring less time to drink up the conditioning ingredients than thicker hair.

3)   Treatment serums like our Hair Serum are oil-based, so experiment with them to find the right amount of product and treatment time required. Those with thinner and finer hair will find that less is more, and a good rinse after treatment is essential. Those with drier hair will find that their hair appreciates a heavier dose and a longer treatment time. Some even find that they can leave a small amount on all day with no rinse for a shine boost.

So don’t be afraid to try natural anti-aging shampoos and conditioners! Your hair will thank you for it, and you’ll feel even better about looking 10 years younger.

A good skin care routine is vital to maintain beautiful skin all year round!

Quebec’s climate is one of the most difficult in which to maintain healthy and well-hydrated skin. Through harsh winters with brutal cold and electric heating and through hot and humid summers, we must work hard to preserve and maintain our skin so that it retains its suppleness and radiance.

The secret? Daily hydration –preferably twice a day – as well as a routine which includes a weekly exfoliation to remove dead skin and allow better absorption of products, and a facial cleansing in the evening to remove the collected dirt and makeup residue . Our recommended exfoliant, which is a mixture of our cream cleanser and powder mask, may be used as a scrub and provides instant radiance while cleaning the skin thoroughly. Used regularly, it helps fade the appearance of dark spots and leaves the skin fresh and healthy.

For delicate skin, our mist is excellent cleanser which can be used morning and evening. Its hydrosols of Frankincense and Immortelle rejuvenate aging skin and soothe sensitive skin. The Sea Buckthorn hydrosol excellent for improving the appearance of skin lesions and pimples and reducing the appearance of pores.

Sea Buckthorn oil has proven its ability to alleviate radiation burns, dermatitis, eczema and sunburn. Our serum is composed of both sea buckthorn fruit and seed oils, rosehip and rosemary antioxidants. Its composition is excellent for dry and aging skin, and skin damaged by UV rays. In addition, this certified organic serum is extremely healing.

Mont Echo’s anti-aging products offer unmatched quality at very affordable prices.

Try one our facial sample kits today to see what they can do for your skin type!

Testing our hair care line on “Skindeep”

We have just launched our new line of hair care. As we do not test on animals, we sent to products to our entire team at Mont Echo and their immediate families (parents, children, spouses, cousins, etc.) to try. Everyone was delighted with the results!

• Men really like the shampoo and serum (occasionally), especially for dry and itchy scalps.
• Mothers loved the shampoo and conditioner for children. While not tear-free formulas, both are gentle and work wonders on tangles.
• All the women loved both the shampoo and conditioner, and many noted in particular the detangling and smoothing effects of the conditioner.
• Serum use depended on the type of hair and hair health. For dry and brittle hair or hair damaged by chemicals or colours, users reported that it really nourishes and revitalizes. If you have fine hair, we find that you should leave in for less time and be sure to rinse well. Those with dry and course hair found that they did not need to rinse at all. After two or three treatments, the difference in hair smoothness and appearance was remarkable.

Testing for Safety

Skin Deep is a website that allows you to test cosmetics and their ingredients to know the potential dangers of use. I decided to do the test with our shampoo, our conditioner and our serum – and of course they all rated excellent! This is a great site to research your current and prospective care products’ ingredients. This is not a test for natural but rather a test of reported potential harmfulness. Natural ingredients can, of course, be dangerous and it is well worth considering this when shopping for products for you and your family.

The site: http://www.ewg.org/skindeep

This site rates on two factors: toxicity of ingredients (rated from 0 to 10, with 10 being toxic) and existing knowledge and research on each ingredient (color-coded)

Data: None
Data: Limited
Data: Fair
Data: Good
Data: Robust

All but 3 of our ingredients have a score of 0, which is the best and least dangerous. One received a score of 2 and two others received a score of 1. All scores are incredibly low on the scale and indicate no danger. All were green, with reliable data for confirmed their non-toxicity. This is an amazing achievement!

The only ingredient that is not rated on the site is “sodium lauryl glucose carboxylate”, which is a mild cleansing and foaming agent derived from coconut and corn. I wanted to be sure our customers get complete information, so here is an objective rating of the ingredient from another consumer guide called, “the Good Guide”:

Sodium lauryl glucose carboxylate raises no health concerns because:

• It is not on any of GoodGuide’s lists of toxic chemicals which cause suspected or recognized health effects
• It has not been detected in human tissue or urine
• It is not a high production volume chemical that lacks safety data

So go ahead and indulge yourself with Mont Echo’s hair care and get healthier hair without risking your scalp!

We’re excited for great new things in 2013!

Mont Echo has recently moved into a new 5000 sq ft facility near our farms in the Eastern Townships of Québec.  While the trees continue to sleep, we’ve already begun to prepare for the fruit that they will produce.  This fruit, grown in the shadow of Mont Echo, will need to be transformed so we can collect and utilize these gifts from the trees.  Our multi-vessel Supercritical CO2 extraction system, the largest in Québec for the extraction of natural products, is now safely stored in its new home, and I am very excited to once again fill it with the seeds and fruit that give us the 2 very distinct and very concentrated oils that give Mont Echo products their clinically proven efficacy (click to view clinical study!).  With the ever increasing focus on source and traceability, Mont Echo continues to stand alone in North America by offering products made from 100% Canadian Grown Sea Buckthorn.  I cannot wait to see what 2013 has in store for our farms and our products.  Already, 2013 has seen the launch of our new haircare line (learn more!), and as our plants continue to sleep through our long Canadian winter, we are continually working to develop new products, always mindful of how it all ties together from plant to product.

Brad Johnson 
President & CEO of Mont Echo Naturels, Inc.

Tips for Using the Facial Mask!

Do you know how to use Mont Echo’s Sea Buckthorn Facial Mask?

The mask is part of the protocol of clinical study that yielded spectacular results last year. Composed of s100% natural ingredients, the mask acts as both an effective scrub and a skin-smoothing mask. Used regularly, it naturally brightens the complexion and gently removes spots. Its vitamins nourish and provide unparalleled antioxidant protection. It soothes and softens irritated skin, and moisturizes and soothes sensitive skin.

To use as an exfoliating scrub, combine the mask in equal portions with cleansing cream and apply to the face for ten minutes. The mixture absorbs oil and begins to dry and crumble. Roll the mixture off your skin with your fingers. Dead skin cells are removed from the surface of the skin and your bright new skin is revealed! This scrub can be used 2 times a week followed by a tonic spray mist.

To use as a mask, mix the powder 1:1 with Age-Defence Cream, 1 spritz of Toning Mist and a add few drops of Age-Defence Serum for dry or mature skin. Apply to the face in a thick layer and leave for 20 minutes. Roll off and rinse with warm water. Follow with application of mist, serum and moisturizer as needed. For a a truly refreshing experience, refrigerate your Mist prior to final application

Satisfaction Guaranteed!

 

CHFA Quebec a Major Success for Mont Echo!

The CHFA (Canadian Health Food Association) tradeshow, held at Place Bonaventure February 1^st and 2^nd  of 2013, was a resounding success. The expo was only open to professionals in the health food and health products industries.

We presented our line of Age-Defence beauty products and our new line of hair care. We heard so many positive comments and so much enthusiasm from our visitors, it was very exciting!

We expected fewer attendants than the same show which was held in Toronto in September 2012, but were thrilled to find that there were actually far more visitors at our booth.

Different pharmacy chains have visited as well as the larger natural food chains and stores and, much to our surprise, a chain of supermarkets. There is a real demand for beauty products made ​​in Quebec with a proven efficacy AND 100% natural ingredients. Mont Echo, being “100% Naturally Effective,” is exactly what consumers want today!
Congratulations to the entire team of Mont Echo.