Have you ever noticed how effortlessly beautiful French girls are? Gorgeous hair, perfect skin, beautiful figures… and the best look of all: killer confidence. How do they do it? I had to find out. French girls are beautiful in a way that is both effortless and mysterious. How do they always manage to look so healthy and happy – and make it look like it was no work at all? We had to find out, so we dug around for answers. Here are 8 secrets for achieving that “Parisian” look.
1. French girls are careful in the sun
French girls know that sunbathing is dangerous. They love their Vitamin D, but they certainly don’t get it by basking in the rays. Forget about that overly bronzed look though, for French girls a natural sun-kissed glow is always their first choice. Think gradual tan moisturiser rather than a full-on fake effect. Subtle is the key to everything when it comes to French girl chic.
2. French girls are not workout-obsessed
British women often feel pressure to look a certain way, thanks in large part, to the entertainment industry. French girls do not care for indoor workouts. “A French woman would not do it if it were boring,” she says. “That’s why you don’t see many of them in the gym — because they think it is like torture. We are not born for this kind of exercise routine.”
3. French girls love water
In France, water is regarded like royalty: it’s a beverage, a beauty product, a skin enhancer, you name it. Perhaps we should stop taking this resource for granted? France is famous for its many mineral water springs and the benefits of water are often harnessed in beauty products. French women definitely take an inside out approach with this beauty ingredient of choice.
Brands like Vichy and Avène which use mineral water in their formulations, can be found in every French girl’s beauty arsenall. Water is the real source of life for your skin, and when you drink enough (and I mean clear water, no sodas!), your skin will be healthy and glowing from the inside out.
4. French girls love masks
French girls consider masks to represent a moment of indulgence. Apply Avene’s Soothing Repair Mask lightly and rinse with cold water. This mask will take care of impurities ever so gently and leave your face glowing.
5. French girls trust kitchen remedies
French girls love their DIY beauty products. All Parisian women have their own at-home spa rituals, with ingredients that can be found in one’s fridge or cupboards. They’re especially obsessed with olive oil.
6. French girls believe less is more
Flawless skin, unfussed hair, maybe a bold red lip. French girls know how to rock the minimal makeup look. What’s not to love?
“In France, we never push it,” Paris-based Dior makeup artist Violette. “We don’t like to change ourselves. So when putting on makeup, we just want to look fresher, but that’s it. And we like to look the same when we take it all off. You brush your brows, you curl your lashes, you put on a little bit of Lancome Definicils mascara, a little bit of blush, maybe a little bit of concealer.”
Natural beauty is very important for French girls, they don’t want to feel masked by makeup. If you’re going to try and emulate French girl beauty, go for either eyes OR lips, never both. We’re going to remember the “less is more” mantra next time we are pressed for time in the AM!
7. French girls aren’t afraid to go au natural
We’re admittedly product junkies here in the U.K. We obsess over the latest colours and technologies. And dare we admit, we use makeup to play around with our look, to appear different.French girls use makeup sparingly – and smartly – to look like a slightly more polished version of themselves.
8. French girls take skincare seriously
It’s pretty much a non-negotiable that when you don’t wear a lot of makeup, you skin has to look fab. This explains why French women are so meticulous about their skincare regimens.
They are serious about every step in their skincare routine from cleanser to serum to SPF and beyond. Instead of waiting for ageing to begin and then fighting it with powerful, potentially irritating ingredients, they employ a routine that slows and softens the effects of ageing long before they begin.