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7 Secrets to French Women's Flawless Skin

French women don't get fat, and they age better than the rest of us. Here, the products you need to know about
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Ever since I was a little girl, I've been fascinated by the glamour that seems to come from simply being French. I always went straight for my mom's Chanel lipstick when playing dress up -- sorry, mom. And I never got tired of watching "Sabrina" where one trip to Paris (and a jaw dropping collection of Givenchy gowns) transforms Audrey Hepburn from the less-than-glamorous chauffeur's daughter into a knockout.

My obsession with French beauty may have started with that Chanel lipstick, but it's French skin care that really stole my heart. You see, it turns out the secret to French women's glowing complexions is just as luxurious as I'd hoped it would be. French skin care products that are formulated with thermal spring water, lightly fragranced and elegantly packaged. Even the simplest skin care routine is something tres chic.

Image via @caudalie

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Le Couvent des Minimes
The Product: 3-in-1 Micellar Water
Why We Love It: This 3-in-1 micellar water from Le Couvent uses rose floral water, centifolia rose absolute essence and wild rose hip polyphenols to refresh, soften and tone skin while protecting if from free radicals (pesky atoms that contribute to aging).Though you may have never heard of it, micellar water is BIG in French skin care. Stateside, it's garnered cult status with makeup artists and those in the know. Why all the fuss? It's made up of microscopic oil molecules that cut through foundation, lipstick and mascara, tout de suite, effectively -- but gently -- cleansing and toning skin. It's so good, in fact, that you could skip the rest of your skin care routine sans consequences.

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Biotherm
The Product: Aquasource Night High Density Hydrating Jelly
Why We Love It: Like many French skin care products, this hydrating jelly has a naturally light scent. It's formulated with thermal plankton cellular water, which helps skin retain moisture even in super cold and extremely dry conditions. I put this on before bed when my skin was particularly tight and flaky, and the jelly created a shield that locked in moisture and completely re-hydrated my skin while I slept.

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Orlane
The Product: B21 Extraordinaire
Why We Love It: B21 Extraordinaire's consistency alone sets it apart from its anti-aging competitors -- it's incredibly silky, and has light-reflecting particles to give you an immediate glow. Meanwhile, there's a whole lot of science going on inside the bottle: it contains telo-protectly, an ingredient specifically designed to help slow skin cell deterioration by protecting the ends of your chromosomes, and it detoxes the cells.

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Avène
The Product: Cleanance Gel Soapless Cleanser
Why We Love It: This cleansing gel's main ingredient is water from Avène's own thermal spring, which has been used to treat skin diseases like eczema and psoriasis since 1743. Even if you have the most reactive skin on the planet, this cleanser will be gentle enough for you. While it doesn't contain soap, it still works into a rich lather to clean skin without drying it out.

BY MARISSA DESANTIS | DEC 13, 2013 | SHARES
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