Sophyto’s experts are here to help you - every week day between 11am-3pm (EST & GMT). Before you fire away with your questions, we thought you might want to know a bit more about them and how they came to be here.

First up, we have Francoise Rapp, a bioesthetician, aromatherapist, perfumer and French/English bilinguist…

1. What is your role at Sophyto and how does your background help you fulfil it?

I actually have several different roles at Sophyto. As the bio-aromatiques and skin health expert, I design bio-aromatique blends, which promote perfect wellness and enhance the potency of each Sophyto skincare product. As European skin health expert, I support our customers via our UK website. I am also the brand ambassador for France and work at sustaining the Sophyto philosophy through its expanding distribution.

I have more than 20 years’ experience in the fragrance, beauty and spa industries. In 1984, I graduated at the Carita School of Esthetics in Paris, going on to work with top names in the industry, including Annick Goutal, developing a wide range of exclusive aromatiques and cosmetics for their exquisite face and body treatments. But it was while living in California for more than 10 years before this that I gained a reputation as an alchemist and cutting-edge aromatherapist and perfumer, creating genuine elixirs and sustainable perfumes. During that time I built my expertise as a creative designer and aromatherapy educator.

Back in Paris I published a best-selling aromatherapy book L’Aromathérapie et ses bienfaits and was invited to be a key speaker at the International Congress of Esthetics - Les Nouvelles Esthétiques.

Being part of the Sophyto team has allowed me to express the richness of my expertise: from product development, to educating our customers and guiding them on their path to perfect skin balance and wellness.

2. How and why did you navigate towards a natural and organic lifestyle?

My parents brought me up to eat healthy and consciously - but it was also a cultural influence. In France, we readily enjoy many different varieties of foods: we indulge in gourmet, unhealthy treats and country products, but we have a healthy life style in general. We eat many fresh vegetables and fruits and small portions. Our diet is low in sugar, salt and fat. Growing up, I became more conscious of the impact of chemicals and read up on water issues and pesticides etc and then in California I adopted a truly organic lifestyle.

I qualified as a bio-esthetician in San Diego and developed personalised organic facials, using clay, essential oils, hydrosols and fresh ingredients. The effects on my clientele were very impressive. I felt totally in alignment with my philosophy about bridging beauty, health and wellness; it all made sense. When I came back to Paris and worked for Annick Goutal, I was in charge of designing protocols for the company’s face/body treatments as well as training the team of professionals. I adapted my vision to its luxury business and Annick Goutal spas flourished all around the world to great reviews. Becoming pregnant with my daughter three years ago triggered an even greater awareness of living organically, especially as I developed a strong sensitivity to pollution and chemicals.

3. Where is home for you? What is the environment like there and how does this affect your skin?

I live in Nantes, France, close to the Atlantic Ocean. Nantes is a city, and as with any city, there is pollution from the traffic and industrial surroundings. The continental climate and pollution make my skin dryer and more reactive. It is easily aggravated by the cold, heat and wind, which is quite strong here. If I don’t use the right products, my skin becomes very tight, inflamed with redness on my cheeks and it wrinkles faster.

4. What skin/hair types do you have and what challenges do they create?

My skin is normal/dry and reactive, with some thin wrinkles on the eye contour and between the eyebrows. Owing to these skin conditions and the fact that it is very fair, I have the challenge of protecting my skin from the sun, the cold and the wind. It reacts badly and becomes blotchy when I don’t use the right products. I use beauty products that are highly pure and organic, enriched with valuable nutrients. I can really feel it when my skin has not received sufficient nourishing, hydrating, and rejuvenating nutrients.

The water here is hard so I need to anoint my body thoroughly with a rich and hydrating body lotion or dry oil every morning after showering. My hair dark brown hair is thin and normal, but I use a nourishing hair mask with organic shea butter once a week because it dries out easily.

5. What is your beauty regime? How rigidly do you stick to this?

In France we are trained to take care of our skin from a very young age! We watch our mothers and then quickly adopt our own routine. In the morning, I use Sophyto Purify & Energize Super Bioactive, Polyphenol Skin Drops, Mega Omegas Day Face Cream and Chanel makeup. At night, I use Sophyto Ultra Mild Silken Cleanser, Super Bioactive Purify & Energize, Multivitamin Skin Drops and an aromatherapy facial oil blend I create according to my skin’s needs. I love to breathe it in and massage it thoroughly. This is my ritual for a great relaxing evening and restful sleep. It just sweeps all the tension away.

5. What are your 5 must-have beauty/health products?

Apart from Sophyto you mean?! A set of essential oils: Rose, Lavender, Sweet Orange, Ylang Ylang, Rosemary, Sage; Green Magma Barley Juice Powder; Heure Exquisite by Annick Goutal; Weleda Rose Body; Santa Maria Novella Rose Water; Dr Bach Rescue Remedy.

6. What are your top 3 tips for maintaining great skin?

1. Invest in good nutritious food for you and your skin.
2. Do weekly home face treatments, including exfoliation, a nourishing mask, and a face massage with an aromatherapy blend specially made according to your skin’s needs.
3. Avoid toxic chemicals - that includes cigarettes, alcohol, and product ingredients, such as parabens.

7. What are your favorite foods? Is it easy for you to eat well or do you have a weakness for unhealthy treats?!

Like all French people, I love food! From multicultural cooking to healthy vegetarian and traditional French cuisine… I love it all. I generally eat healthy foods: fresh steamed vegetables, salads and soups, grains, fresh fish and fruits from local and organic producers. I eat meat once a week from the local organic butcher shop. I do enjoy gourmet and unhealthy treats sometimes such as stews and pastries (strawberry ones are my absolute favourite) and I have a real weakness for bread - the typical French baguette with grains!

8. Do you take any supplements? If so what and why?

I take minerals recommended by my homeopathic doctor at each seasonal change to keep my body in balance. I rarely take any medications and use mostly natural medicine; my doctor is an MD with a specialty in homeopathy and acupuncture.

9. What do you enjoy doing in your spare time to relax?

I love aromatic baths and I usually blend some essential oils determined by how I feel at the time. Being outdoors and walking a lot on the beach or in the countryside helps me to release any tension. I love arts in general and often go to see independent movies, visit art galleries, or roam in libraries.

10. What are your top 5 tips for avoiding/dealing with stress in order to keep your skin and body healthy?

1. Essential oils. I always keep them on hand to inhale, blend and use as an express, indulgent savior.
2. Restful sleep.
3. Fresh air - I practice simple Pranayama exercises and this is a wonderful tool to release tension, ground myself, clear negativity and revitalize my body and skin.
4. Qi Qong exercises help me to stay centered and grounded.
5. Walking allows me to release any tension.

11. If you could change one thing about the world, what would it be?

I would give everyone a proper education and make it not only accessible but considered valuable to gain knowledge of our surroundings, conditions, arts etc. Education and knowledge help us shift our world consciousness. By being aware we change others as well as ourselves.

Talk to Francoise every week day from 11am-3pm GMT at www.sophytoorganics.co.uk/live_chat.

After getting some fantastic feedback on the live chat functionality we introduced on Sophytoorganics.com for all our US fans a few weeks ago, we are now delighted to be able to offer the same thing to everyone in the UK and Europe on Sophytoorganics.co.uk as well… as of now!

Peeps in Europe can now speak live to a very talented skin care expert every week day between 11am-3pm GMT.

You really can ask her anything and everything about your skin and its particular needs so please do take full advantage of her expertise. After all, where else could you get such a service - FOR FREE??

The skin care expert in question is the lovely Françoise Rapp. Françoise, who speaks English and French, is considered a pioneer in the field of holistic aromatherapy and natural perfumery. An exceptional fragrance designer with more than 20 years’ experience in the fragrance, beauty and spa business, she has worked with top names in the industry, including Annick Goutal in Paris, developing a wide array of exclusive aromatics and cosmetics for their exquisite face and body treatments. During the 10 years Françoise spent  in the USA, she gained a reputation as an alchemist, a cutting-edge aromatherapist and perfumer creating genuine elixirs and sustainable perfumes.

Françoise has published a best-selling aromatherapy book,  L’Aromathérapie et ses bienfaits and was featured as a key speaker at the International Congress of Esthetics, Les Nouvelles Esthétiques, in Paris. A regular feature on the speaking circuit for natural perfumery, Françoise has recently joined Sophyto’s green innovation team, working on formulating some very exciting new products… more info on that to follow soon!

So, don’t forget 11am-3pm GMT and EST you can now talk to someone who really cares about skin health and has the knowledge to help you get yours into tip-top condition.