A Solid Skin Care Routine Is a Must
Fact: French women take skin care seriously. So one of my favorite parts of my trip was visiting a French "pharmacie," stocked with brands like Nuxe, Embryolisse, Avene, Bioderma, and La Roche-Posay. Unlike in America, where we have the tendency to over-cleanse and scrub our faces until they're raw in an effort to get clearer skin, the French take a gentler approach. They tend to prefer cleansing with micellar water and using gentle, fragrance-free moisturizers. I quickly adopted this less-is-more philosophy with the goodies I bought, including the cult favorites Bioderma Sensibio H2O, $14.90, and Embryolisse Lait-Creme Concentre, $16. Of course, I made sure to follow up with SPF (another French girl must-have) every morning. I didn't experience one breakout during my travels, even though I got my period, so I'd say the French have got it right when it comes to skin care.
A Swipe of Red Lipstick Will Instantly Make You Look Chic
In general, French women like to keep their makeup pretty simple. That said, they do love a red lip. So I hit up a Sephora in Paris (the store's home city) and bought a Sephora Collection Rouge Lacquer in Survivor, $13, to fit in with the locals. During the day, the only makeup I wore was a coat of mascara and a tinted lip balm, but at night I broke out my red lipstick and paired it with another French style staple: the striped T-shirt.
You Don't Have to Fuss Too Much on Your Hair
Now that I'm in my 30s, I finally understand the appeal of messy hair — something French women have embraced forever. Who has the time to spend obsessing over their hair? Instead of trying to straighten my wavy hair into submission, I rocked my natural texture and let go of my worries about whether or not my mane looked "perfect." I took a break from blow-drying and let my hair air dry instead, capturing that carefree look synonymous with French beauty. As a bonus: The time I saved on my hair gave me more time to explore the sights! (Here I am in Monaco, showing off my natural waves.)
Image via Gregory Leporati
Red Wine Is Good for Your Glow...
Go into any French restaurant and you'll find a long list of red wines to pair with your meal. Given how affordable wine is in France (seriously, why is it so much more expensive here in the US?), I gulped down vin with lunch and dinner. (Here I am in red lipstick, wearing a red-striped shirt, enjoying a glass of red wine in Paris.)
I suspect my new drinking habit (coupled with the new skin care products I hauled) had something to do with my glowing skin: After all, as a study published in the Journal of Cosmetic and Laser Therapy notes, resveratrol, a compound in red wine, has major antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial benefits.
Image via Gregory Leporati
...and Carbs Are Good for Your Soul
Beyond all of the touristy sites I had to see as a first-timer in France, one of my biggest goals was to eat as much bread (and butter and cheese) as I possibly could. In the United States, carbs are seen as the enemy to health. When it comes to skin specifically, many proponents of low-carb diets claim that the sugars in bread lead to acne and inflammation. But I stuffed my face with croissants and baguettes and didn't notice one pimple during my trip. (P.S. This "roule pistache" pastry might just be the best thing I've ever eaten.)
As Thrillist writer Carrie Dennis points out, "Because food culture is so almighty in France, no one meal or food item is considered an 'indulgence' and thus something to feel guilty about." So maybe the biggest beauty lesson I learned in France is that when you stop stressing out about eating "right," your skin, and your overall well-being, will thank you.
Image via Christina Heiser
