Salut de la French Beauty Secrets!

Last year, I wrote an article sharing my research about beauty secrets from Ireland, one of the places of my heritage. This, in turn, sparked further interest in my sharing beauty traditions and trends from other countries around the world, and I can think of no better country than France to continue our international beauty tour. I may not have any French in my heritage, but (as you could probably tell from the name of this blog), my soul is that of a true francophile. And of course, France is known for being the heart of all things beauty, and fashion currently and throughout history alike. So here are some beauty tips straight from the land of all things tres chic.

Drink Lots of Water.... And Add Some Directly Into Your Skincare Routine: Though gourmands and chefs may lead you to believe otherwise, water (not wine) is by far the most popular beverage in France, and French women swear by ample hydration as being key to not only having healthy and beautiful skin but skin that also ages well. Given this, it is surprising to learn that French women traditionally don't often use water to wash their faces and instead often favor oil cleansers and cold-cream style cleansers to tissue off makeup and break down daily dirt and grime. This does not mean that a French skincare routine is completely devoid of water-- far from it. France is the birthplace of the mineral water sprays, rich with skin toning elements such as copper and magnesium. Spritzing the skin with mineral-rich water is not only refreshing but is thought to help even and prevent discolorations and help the skin look its best at every age.

When it Comes To Hairstyling, the Simpler, the Better: Hairstyling tools and especially blow dryers are not nearly as common in France as they are in America. In fact, many Frenchies do not even brush their hair before letting it air dry. For many people, this is an effortless way to bring out the natural texture and create waves in the hair for an unfussy but chic look, and the lack of heat styling also helps to preserve hair elasticity and moisture, especially in France where the water can be somewhat hard and may cause the hair to become dry and brittle.

Stick with What Works For Makeup and Skincare: The "French look" in terms of makeup is definitely one of less is more. While a pop of a bright red lip seems quintessentially French and certainly can be, it is far more likely to see people just wearing a clean face with minimal base, a full and fluffy brow, and a coat of black or brown mascara with little if any eyeshadow or liner or any color on the cheek.

Whatever look they choose, however, French people tend to make it their signature and not switch up their techniques or products that much. This is also true of skincare routine where it is not common at all to switch out products, even as the seasons change or as a person ages, or even if the starts to show signs of pimples or wrinkles. It is thought that keeping the routine both simple and regular will eventually coax the skin back into balance and that that balance will ,make the skin less likely to incur more troubles in the future. This about what works for one's skin type and unique coloring, body type, and so on is a rite of passage for most French young people as the come into adulthood and often helps them create a signature look and style that they can rely on to be theirs for life.

Perfume is the Unspoken Signature: Nothing is more iconic in the realm of French beauty than the fine art of perfumery, and as with the journey of finding one's signature makeup look and best skincare routine, French people pride themselves on finding a perfume (or perfume blend) that becomes uniquely their own. But as integral as scent can be to a person's aesthetic, French people rarely every douse themselves in perfume-- only the smallest dabs behind each here and maybe on the wrists. Perfume is used to be more of a whisper of allure rather than a slaying elixir.

Beauty is a Holistic Endeavor: While well-done makeup, sensible skincare, and a beautiful perfume are trademarks of the French approach to beauty, it would be remiss to not mention that perhaps the key piece of of their philosophy is simply just remembering to enjoy life and live well. In all the research I did preparing this article, time and time again I came across tips from French women citing things like light exercise as simple as walking outside, taking brisk cold showers, and eating healthily but remembering to indulge occasionally in a sweet treat or perhaps some wine as their most important of beauty secrets. This is a wonderful reminder that they key to beauty is wellness-- complete wellness-- because feeling well on the inside translates to the best beauty of our beauty on the outside.

I hope you enjoyed our little trip to the beauty realm of France. For further French beauty reading and research, check out the book The French Beauty Solution written by Mathilde Thomas, co-founder of the famed skincare brand Caudalie, and also check out the Youtube Channel Justine LeComte. Justine is a independent French fashion designer, who makes videos both on French fashion, beauty, and culture as well as inside look at all aspects of the fashion industry worldwide.