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