Christine Valmy

Christine Valmy
Born Cristina Xantopol
October 25, 1926(1926-10-25)
Bucharest, Romania
Nationality Romanian
Occupation Entrepreneur, Consultant, Esthetician
Known for Skin Care, Esthetics

Christine Valmy is a Romanian-born American esthetician, known as a pioneer in the fields of Skin Care and Esthetics in the United States.[1] Valmy founded the first esthetics school in the United States in 1966, and is widely credited as one of the most influential figures in modern esthetics.[2][3]

Contents

Early life

Christine Valmy was born Cristina Xantopol in Bucharest in 1926. She graduated the Law School of the University of Bucharest in 1946. During this period, she took a course in dermatology and skin care, which will later form the foundation of her career as an esthetician. In 1948, she opens her first salon in Bucharest, offering skin treatments based on traditional botanical remedies. To avoid the Communist pressures imposed by the Soviet Union, along with her mother and young daughter Marina,she emigrated to Greece in 1959. After working as the representative of a cosmetics company for Greece and Israel, Valmy and her family emigrated in the United States in 1960 penniless and unable to speak the language.[4]

Career in the United States

In New York, Cristina Xantopol changes her name to Christine Valmy, inspired by the victory of the French against the Austrians during the French Revolution. After working in various places as a esthetician, she opened her own salon, but found teaching more rewarding. She persevered with her own techniques, now collectively known as the ‘’Valmy method’’, with a philosophy to ‘’reveal not to conceal’’ the natural beauty of a healthy, well-functioning skin.

In June 1966, Christine Valmy opened her first skin care school in New York. “Whereas through her years she has brought respectability and professionalism not only to the skin care and esthetics specialties but to cosmetology at large” said the National Cosmetologists Association.

Her first step was to create an American association of skin care specialists (estheticians), an association that gained the respect of the international governing body of skin care professionals, CIDESCO.

In 1975, after graduating with a Master Degree from Boston University, Marina Valmy combined her knowledge of Chinese and Ayurvedic herbs, medicinal plants, Oriental treatments and Chemistry to create a laboratory where she could create all-natural products. The company’s lab is in Pine Brook, NJ, where they develop, manufacture & warehouse their products.

In 1985, Christine Valmy was appointed by President Ronald Regan to serve on the United States National Council on Vocational Education, in recognition of her contribution in the education field, to assist in developing the country’s policies of vocational education—a capacity in which she served until 1991. “She is the originator of the skincare industry in this country, a fact that led the 92nd Congress of the United States to award her a citation fostering skin care as a profession in America…”

In 1992, Marina Valmy became Director of Christine Valmy International School in New York. The school currently resides at 261 Fifth Avenue, 24th Floor. She is also the Executive Vice President of Christine Valmy Inc.

Books published, Awards and Civic activities

Christine Valmy is the author of three books on skin care and esthetics.

•In April 1968, Christine Valmy was awarded the a special merit honor by the French Congress of Esthetics held in Versailles, FRANCE for promoting the esthetics profession in the United States.

•She also was given an award as the outstanding Republican Ethnic Woman of the Year in 1981. In 1976, President Gerald Ford nominated Christine Valmy as the Business Person of the Year for the State of New Jersey, where her second school and laboratories are located.

•Christine Valmy is today member of many boards of different groups. She is a trustee of the Famous People and People International, an organization founded by President Eisenhower to promote friendship and understanding in the world. She takes part in the functions of the American Beauty Association (ABA).

•Currently, she is also chairperson of a politically active group of former Romanian immigrants, Concerned Romanian Immigrants for a Strong America

References

  1. ^ "Christine Valmy- A Legend in Aesthetics". Aesthetics International Association. May 1986. http://www.aestheticsassociation.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=85&Itemid=84. Retrieved July 15, 2011. 
  2. ^ American Medical Association (1975). Today's health (American Medical Association) 53 (4). http://books.google.com/books?id=vLgsAAAAMAAJ&q=christine+valmy&dq=christine+valmy&hl=en&ei=33AmToWYJ8z3sga-pf3SCQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=10&ved=0CEsQ6AEwCTgK. Retrieved July 20, 2011. 
  3. ^ Saxena (2009). Marketing Management 4E. Tata McGraw-Hill Education. p. 21. ISBN 9780070144910. 
  4. ^ Alexandra Rotarescu (February 4, 2010). "CHRISTINE VALMY: Eu sunt mama cosmeticii in America!". Tango. http://www.revistatango.ro/christine_valmy_eu_sunt_mama_cosmeticii_in_america-1028-p1.html. Retrieved July 15, 2011. 
  5. ^ Valmy, Christine (1979). Esthetics: The Keystone Guide to Skin Care. Keystone Publications. pp. 215. ISBN 9780912126364. http://books.google.ro/books?id=iHnQAAAACAAJ&dq=inauthor:%22Christine+Valmy%22&hl=en&ei=4n4mTtuIO87dsgaD8eStCQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=2&ved=0CCkQ6AEwAQ. Retrieved July 20, 2011. 
  6. ^ Valmy, Christine (1988). Christine Valmys Skin Care and Make Up Book. Random House Value Publishing. pp. 182. ISBN 9780517543351. http://books.google.ro/books?id=_JEuZnotscUC&q=inauthor:%22Christine+Valmy%22&dq=inauthor:%22Christine+Valmy%22&hl=en&ei=4n4mTtuIO87dsgaD8eStCQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CCUQ6AEwAA. Retrieved July 20, 2011.