Boutique Sorcière

(© Saskia Vanderstichele)

“Witchcraft!” That was a beauty journalist’s first reaction after trying Marion Delbôve’s new facial cream, back in 1965. The Brussels cosmetic brand Delbôve lived its heydays between 1970 and 1990, but is back for more. With a new owner and a new boutique in Elsene/Ixelles. A bit of history first. Back in the 1950s, Roger Delbôve was one of Brussels’s most famous hairdressers with salons all over the country. His wife Marion ran a beauty salon but wasn’t satisfied with the available range of products. She decided to create her own facial cream, one that would suit all skin types and treat the different functions of the skin. With the help of a biochemist and phytotherapist, it took her 1,5 years to fine-tune the formula. The famous reaction of the journalist of magazine Pourquoi Pas ? gave the cream its name. Not long after Crème Sorcière was released, Eau Sorcière followed. These products are the core of Delbôve Cosmetics: used together as a cleanser or separately as moisturiser. Over the years, the range expanded to 22 products. Everything was made at a lab in Vorst/Forest and sold from Marion’s beauty parlour in Ukkel/Uccle. But as she was about to retire, the success story of Delbôve seemed to come to an end. Luckily, that didn’t happen. In 2011, loyal customer Gina d’Ansembourg and mother-in-law Sybille de Spoelberch took over the business. Two years later, the entire range of Delbôve became available again, sold at the new Boutique Sorcière in Elsene/Ixelles: a stunning shop, designed by Brussels art director Christophe Remy (and rewarded with a Commerce Design Award last September). Products are priced between 32 and 89 euro and come with a clever “doctor’s note” on how to use them. The shop organises regular Sorcière parties too, where everything can be thoroughly tested.

BOUTIQUE SORCIERE ●●●●
Abdijstraat 67 rue de l’Abbaye, Elsene/Ixelles, 02-648.04.49, www.delbove-cosmetics.com, di/ma/Tu, do/je/Th > za/sa/Sa 10.30 > 12.30 & 13 > 18.00