The Power Of Bees

La Reine Capricieuse, founded by Alexandre Styker, is a luxury skincare brand that embodies the essence of natural beauty through its exclusive use of pure, high-quality ingredients sourced from the stunning Vosges Natural Park in France. Inspired by the restorative power of nature, the brand focuses on effective, eco-conscious formulations that cater to the skin's needs without compromising quality.

Alexandre Styker's artistic journey began at the Conservatoire d’Art Dramatique in Luxembourg, leading him to significant roles in esteemed theaters such as the Théâtre National de Strasbourg and Théâtre Hébertot, where he took on his first role in "De la naissance du jeu et du langage," directed by Annette Tufferd. His impressive theatrical repertoire features notable performances such as Poil de Carotte and Clitandre in Molière's "Dandin." He has collaborated with esteemed directors, including Patrice Chéreau, Filippo Timi, Philippe Calvario in "Roberto Zucco" and Tennessee Williams’ "Doux oiseaux de jeunesse" with Claudia Cardinale.  His talents also extend to opera, where he performed in "Angels in America," sharing the stage with celebrated artists like Julia Migenes Johnson. Styker's artistic journey has influenced his approach to La Reine Capricieuse, where he intertwines creativity and natural beauty to produce luxurious skincare products.

His theatrical experience enriches his vision for La Reine Capricieuse, blending artistry with a profound appreciation for the environment. By reviving his family's apiary, he harnessed the extraordinary qualities of local black bees and the pristine spring water from his estate, creating a treasure trove of natural resources.

The brand’s signature product line, featuring its "Ultra-Care Beauté," provides treatments that help the skin recover from everyday stressors such as pollution and harsh cosmetics. La Reine Capricieuse stands out not only for its luxurious offerings but also for its commitment to sustainability, using recyclable packaging and emphasizing responsible sourcing. In this way, Alexandre Styker redefines luxury skincare, proving that beauty can be both potent and pure while promoting a harmonious relationship with nature.

After his debut at Pitti Fragranze, one of the leading skincare and fragrances flairs of the world, we at L’Officiel sat down with Alexandre to discover more about the brand and its future developments.

L’Officiel Arabia: What originally inspired you to revive the apiary on your family estate, and how did that lead to the creation of La Reine Capricieuse?

Alexandre Styker: As is often the case in life, it is encounters that push you to take action—it’s like a love story. I met a neighbor by chance who is passionate about bees, and I invited him to my home. He immediately told me that it would be a paradise for bees, and we started to rehabilitate the old apiaries built in 1951, reintroducing a small local black bee that is extremely well-adapted to the climate of the Vosges Natural Park in France. It has three unique characteristics: it is smaller, more aggressive, and less productive. However, it produces a rare honey of exceptional quality. I didn't initially think of making cosmetics. It was during a dinner that I met a doctor in phytobiology who informed me about the incredible power of honey for the skin. He analyzed our honey, and we discovered its remarkable vitamin B3 and trace element content. He then came to identify the plants growing on the estate and took a sample of the water from the spring that flows naturally there. He deduced that we had a treasure trove with which to create extremely pure natural cosmetics. Thus, the adventure could begin.

La Reine Capricieuse is known for its emphasis on pure, natural ingredients. Can you walk us through the process of how you select and source these ingredients, particularly the rare honey and wild plants?

We care for our hives year-round. We’ve opted for sedentary beekeeping, meaning we never move the hives. Once installed, they remain there for the rest of their lives. As a result, the bees are less stressed, which significantly impacts the quality of the honey. We select plants that grow in the Vosges Natural Park biotope, and all the organic hydrolats we use, for example, are distilled with spring water. We respect nature's slow cycles. Our approach is 100% natural, 100% transparent, and 100% responsible. I know intimately the raw materials that form the heart of our cosmetics.

You collaborated with phytobiologists and green biotechnology experts to develop your formulas. What were some of the biggest challenges in combining traditional natural ingredients with cutting-edge biotechnology?

Curiously, the most complicated part of this story wasn't getting our natural active ingredients to coexist with the biotechnological ones, as their synergy was extremely compatible. The most challenging aspect was protecting all these active ingredients naturally, without using petrochemical preservatives or alcohol, which dries out the skin. The tests were extremely lengthy, and we were often discouraged, but we succeeded! This was thanks to the presence of probiotics, anise, and starch extracts. That’s why today we can claim to have products of pure, effective, 100% natural origin.

Your products are produced in limited quantities due to the slow cycles of nature. How do you balance maintaining exclusivity while meeting consumer demand for luxury skincare?

We respect the slow cycle of plants and bees, which is why we have developed a small range. We believe that a limited range of effective and natural cosmetics is sufficient. I don't entirely reject petrochemicals, as they can sometimes be very useful. However, in my opinion, when you’re dealing with your skin on a daily or even bi-daily basis, using a natural product is essential. Moreover, the fact that we produce in small quantities makes our production rare and precious, which is what our customers are looking for.

Sustainability is a core value for La Reine Capricieuse. How do you ensure that your production processes, packaging, and overall business practices remain environmentally friendly?

When you're in constant contact with bees and nature throughout the year, your only concern is to preserve this fragile environment. At La Reine Capricieuse, we’ve opted for glass and aluminum packaging, materials that can be recycled indefinitely. We have also established a system whereby our customers can return their empty bottles to us for recycling. It’s all part of a virtuous circle that reflects our core values.

Looking ahead, what are your future plans for La Reine Capricieuse? Do you see any new innovations or products on the horizon?

We’ve just launched our Pro-Age Cellular Eye Contouring with royal jelly and narcissus plant cells, which illuminates and provides exceptional nutrients to this delicate area of the face. At the end of the year, we’ll be launching our Pro-Age Cellular Botanical Serum with concentrated propolis, along with rose, iris, and calendula cells. It’s truly a concentrate of youth; this serum is powerful, and propolis acts as an almost magical active ingredient for the skin. With these three products, we’ll be able to cater to all skin types, from the youngest to the most mature. In the future, I’d also like to develop a fluid formula for our rich cellular cream, but as I mentioned earlier, our active ingredients are precious and rare, and we must be very careful not to overproduce them, as the quality of our ingredients is our top priority.

For more information please visit: www.lareinecapriceuse.com ; @lareinecapriceuse