THE JOURNAL
Mr Alireza Niroomand of Sant Ambroeus in New York walks us through his three-step La Mer skin repair circuit.
Mr Alireza Niroomand has a confession to make: he doesn’t work out as often as used to. “But actually, I feel like I am running all day anyway,” says the renowned New York maître d’. “My day-to-day life keeps me fit.”
As well as running upscale Italian restaurant Sant Ambroeus in SoHo, Mr Niroomand dashes around the other three Sant Ambroeus restaurants in the city in his capacity as the group’s creative director. When he is at home, he is forever chasing after his three children. “And part of my workout is dealing with my crazy Italian wife,” he adds with a wry smile. “I can say that because she is standing in front of me!”
But of course the 39-year-old works up a proper sweat whenever he can. Afterwards his priority is cooling down again, not easy during a typically muggy Manhattan summer. To do this, he follows a three-step grooming circuit.
“After an intense workout, the first product I use is La Mer’s The Cleansing Gel, which feels very refreshing without drying out my skin,” he says. The gel is specially formulated to draw out dirt, pollutants and excess sebum without irritation. “Then I apply The Treatment Lotion, which feels a bit like a post-exercise recovery shake for my face.” This best-selling product is likened to “liquid energy” for the skin, with an intense concentration of La Mer’s patented Miracle Broth to jumpstart the natural renewal process. It is also deeply hydrating and moisturising – which is vital following a cardiovascular workout. “To finish, I apply The Moisturizing Gel Cream, which cools and calms my face – it’s very refreshing.” The gel minimises any redness and quickly restores the skin’s natural balance.
As someone who is people-facing all day – and has to host a lot of VIPs – it’s important for Mr Niroomand that he stays in shape. And, as he freely admits, his wardrobe full of custom-fit tailoring definitely keeps him honest.
I get my style from my father; he was a very sharp dresser. He used to always wear red socks. Now it’s my signature
“I really love to dress – my closet is way bigger than my wife’s closet,” says Mr Niroomand, a Persian-Parisian who was born in Tehran but left at the age of five when his family fled the Iran-Iraq War. He grew up in Paris, but has lived in New York for the past 15 years, where he is well-known for his colourful sense of style. “I get it from my father; he was a very sharp dresser. He used to always wear red socks,” says Mr Niroomand. “Now it’s my signature – coloured socks. And I have a lot of shirts, shoes and ties in my closet. Accessories are what we can have fun with.”