The All-in-One Illusion: How skin was reduced to a surface to clean
A few decades ago, a simple, brutal, and ruthlessly efficient idea emerged: one product to do it all. For the body, the hair, the face... and perhaps everything else too. It wasn’t born from a wellness philosophy.
It was a military solution.
From communal showers, not self-care rituals
The all-in-one product was born in mass environments: barracks, hospitals, military camps.
Places where skin was treated as a surface, not a living organ.
The goal wasn’t to nourish, respect, or soothe.
The goal was: wash fast, often, and cheap.
This logic then spilled into civilian life. And with it, a culture of “good enough”:
“One bottle is fine. It’s just soap.”
Then came marketing and the myth grew
Slogans took over.
The numbers inflated: 3-in-1, 5-in-1, eventually 8-in-1...
And the bottles? Bigger, bolder, brighter made to stand out on a shelf, not to care for your skin.
Inside these bottles:
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Harsh foaming agents,
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Overpowering synthetic fragrances,
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Uniform, lifeless textures,
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And one priority: reduce cost to the minimum.
These were not skincare formulas.
They were industrial shortcuts, dressed up in slogans.
Meanwhile… your skin absorbs, feels, reacts, evolves
We spend without hesitation on coffee, cocktails, shirts, brunch.
But when it comes to the very thing that carries us, the direct interface between us and the world,
we settle for a generic, all-purpose gel.
And yet, skin is:
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A complex immune organ,
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A hormonal, thermal, and sensory system,
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In constant dialogue with our emotions, seasons, stress, and age.
And what do we wash it with?
A product originally designed for soldiers under pressure.
Vingt-Neuf: A care formula, not a compromise
At Vingt-Neuf, we made a choice:
To break with this industrial heritage.
Our Glow Shower Gel is not just a cleanser.
It’s a refined emulsion, crafted to celebrate the skin, not to oversimplify it.
A moment of care, an intimate gesture, a texture designed for pleasure, effectiveness, and respect.
Inside:
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Glutathione: a rare antioxidant that brightens and strengthens the skin.
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Niacinamide, Kojic Acid, Tranexamic Acid: to even out tone and reduce marks.
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Aloe Vera, Vegetable Glycerin, Goji, Echinacea, Allantoin: to hydrate, soothe, and support the skin barrier.
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Olive Oil Esters and gentle cleansing agents: to cleanse without stripping.
Yes, we use some traditional surfactants but in a balanced formula, where every ingredient is measured, countered, and intentional.
Your skin is not a surface. It’s a language.
And it deserves more than a perfumed shortcut inherited from military logistics.
Feel the difference.
Give your skin the care it deserves at vingtneuf.ca
Do you remember the last time your skin was truly touched with care?
A product can cleanse. A ritual can awaken.
