The Judith Ritchie Wellness Interview

How has the world of beauty revealed itself to you?

I was 20 years old. I was finishing my studies in journalism and I was assisting the beauty editor of a major fashion magazine in Quebec. I opened her boxes and I sorted the beauty products. I familiarized myself with the brands, the players in the industry. The web wove quickly and three years later I was named Beauty Editor.

You are from Quebec, you worked for many years in Paris as Head of the Beauty Section for L'OFFICIEL Paris and you have traveled all over the world in search of the most beautiful spas and retreats. How has this cultural melting pot influenced your vision of beauty?

In Quebec, I spent 9 years covering beauty from a North American perspective. I attended a host of events in New York, Toronto, Montreal. I visited spas in Arizona, Los Angeles, Miami… It was the American dream of beauty! Then, the position of Head of the Beauty Section at L'OFFICIEL Paris opened the doors to beauty all over the world. That of Parisiennes, of course, but also that of Morocco, the Middle East, Asia... My role was no longer just to write for women in Quebec or Paris, I wrote for women all over the world, knowing that my papers were translated in international editions. This role of influence, I took it very seriously. Because in Paris, "we don't follow trends, we create them!" », taught me the director of the magazine. “You become the prescriber, an absolute guarantee of certification…” I was aware that my subjects had a real impact on international beauty trends, and therefore on women's perception of their own beauty. By choosing wellness subjects, which was very pioneering at the time, I was already beginning my journey towards a deeper quest for beauty.

You are very attached to the principle of "holistic beauty", you even speak of "vibration lifting" of the soul. Explain to us…

Through the various retreats that I have experienced, encounters with beauty gurus, places imbued with a particular energy that elevate you by their simple naturalness, I have experienced a host of inner upheavals that have transformed my own vision of beauty. I saw a radiance in my eyes, a rediscovered purity. I have seen my skin transform through the practice of yoga. I realized that it is the emotional that governs gravity! Working on the subtle energies of our body, on our blockages, our stress, our fears releases our full potential of light and inner beauty. By vibrational lifting of the soul, I mean that our vibratory rate, our energy of light, diffuses on our skin a timeless radiance. We can rejuvenate at any age if everything starts from within. We are not separate from the source! The dermis is matter, but matter is energy… and vibration.

What are the beauty rituals in the world that inspire you the most?

I must admit that Morocco was my most beautiful discovery in terms of rituals. I am in love with Morocco and a fan of hammams. I love the aromas of orange blossom, rose and argan oil is part of my daily beauty routine.

You know Morocco very well, having come there several times on vacation or on assignment. Which wellness addresses, spa or hotels would you recommend?

Who wouldn't want to indulge once again in the most sacred purification ritual of Moroccan tradition, the hammam at the Royal Mansour spa . In the heart of closed alcoves and moucharabiehs, in the immaculate white atrium. Peace of mind, privacy, absolute luxury. A temple of beauty! I would also mention Dar El Sadaka , an exceptional villa where contemporary art and well-being flirt with the codes of luxury. In each of the seven suites and rooms of the villa are revealed beautifully incongruous architectural creations and sculptures of giant animals. These creations are signed by the owner of the place, the visual artist Jean-François Fourtou, a lover of yoga and meditation.

What beauty protocol do you follow on a daily basis?

Hydration, hydration, hydration! In Quebec, the seasons are very marked and the skin dehydrates quickly. I'm a fan of moisturizing masks and face creams in which I add a few drops of argan oil. I also exfoliate my face twice a week. And I take an Epsom salt bath with a few drops of moisturizing oils every night to promote deep sleep.

What are your favorite hair products?

My hair naturally waves so I let it air dry and add a few drops of oil to smooth out the frizz.

You are at the initiative of the holistic beauty site joliesoul.com. What are you talking about there?

From spirituality, treatment protocols but always in a perspective of global beauty, I list the best addresses in the world in the spa category, psychology of the soul, esotericism, stone energies, I invite you to read me on www.joliesoul. com .

A sport to maintain your figure?

Yoga and walking in the forest. Skiing and snowshoeing in winter.

A new well-being technique?

Right now, I'm trying assiduity. It works, but you always have to start over (laughs)!

Are dietary supplements part of your daily life?

No, but I take rosemary and turmeric infusions to help my liver and gallbladder.

Instagram accounts where you get new beauty inspiration?

Landscape photographers. In Morocco I am Saad Alami . Otherwise there is Réhann , for the pure beauty of the soul through his portraits. I prefer the accounts of people I like, that I really know. People who don't live for looks and don't post a lot.

The muses that inspire you?

My grandmother, 95 years old. For her elegance, clarity of mind, intelligence, strength and resilience.

When traveling in Canada, what do you shop for in the beauty department?

Head to Strom Nordic Spa for relaxation in boreal nature. The brand has four spas & boutiques in magnificent locations, including one on the banks of the St. Lawrence River in Quebec City.

The best beauty tip you've learned so far?

Spend as much time as possible in nature.

The motto that guides you in life?

"I told you so!", cordially, your intuition.

www.instagram.com/judithritchie

Photo credit @StéphaneLosq

Article Mag marocMorocco Interview by Éléonore A. Bénit, journalist and influencer