8 Best-Kept French Beauty Secrets From A Parisian

Obsessed with all things French? Here are the best French beauty secrets of all time, straight from a Parisian girl who knows it best. You might all have in mind the French girl-aesthetic: tousled hair, red lip, flawless skin with natural makeup, and simple but always chic Parisian style. And, despite the less-is-more French beauty philosophy, French women always look so cool and collected. However, if the key to the French aesthetic is to look effortless, that doesn’t mean it doesn’t require any effort to achieve.

So what is it about the French woman’s aesthetic that makes her beauty seem so effortless and refined? What is the secret to Parisian beauty? To better understand that certain je ne sais quoi, I’ve compiled a list of the 8 best-kept beauty secrets French women use to keep them looking and feeling beautiful. From the French diet secrets to the French skincare routine and Parisian makeup tips, your ultimate guide to French beauty secrets is below.

8 French Beauty Secrets From An Actual Parisian Girl

1. Adopt The French Diet

One of the best-kept French beauty secrets has to do with the diet. Indeed, the French truly believe that beauty begins with what’s inside. The French diet is all about cooking whole foods from small markets and excluding all kinds of processed foods. The French diet is quite similar to the Mediterranean-type diet with an emphasis on vegetables, fruits, whole grains, olive oil, fish, and some dairy and meat.

French women, in general, eat a pretty balanced diet, and in addition, limit their consumption of sugary foods (cookies, ice creams, cakes, chocolate). Thereby, this diet is providing all the nutrients (vitamins and minerals) that are not only good for the health but also for the skin.

2. Leave Your Hair Alone

After several bleaching and dying daily heat styling, and endless hair product testing, your hair could experience some signs of damage like split ends, breakage, and shorter hair at the roots. Instead of chopping it all into a pixie, the French have some tips to get strong, healthy, and shiny hair.

First, avoid blow-drying your hair especially if you’re washing your hair every day. Simply wash your hair before bed and sleep on damp hair. You’ll get that naturally tousled texture and gorgeous body and shape when you wake up. Another tip is to use a dry shampoo to avoid washing your hair too often or to give volume to thin hair. My favorite dry shampoo is the Klorane Dry Shampoo with Oat Milk, which is super gentle with all hair types!

Finally, stop using any hair product which contains silicone: it’s not a natural ingredient and its side effects are bad for the hair. Instead, you can find plenty of silicone-free shampoos and conditioners. I really love the Klorane’s Oat milk Shampoo or .

3. Keep Your Makeup Simple And Natural

It’s one of the key French beauty secrets if you’ve always wanted to look like a true Parisian girl. French women don’t rely on makeup but instead, they are using makeup just to enhance their natural features. French everyday makeup look isn’t over-sculpted or too transformative and needs to remain natural and minimalist. In France, makeup is really used to emphasize your natural beauty, rather than cover your entire face like a mask.

And, to achieve the perfect French everyday makeup look, the secret is to skip the foundation. Indeed, the coverage of the foundation is way too heavy. Instead, simply use a concealer where necessary (under the eyes, around the nose) or a lightweight tinted moisturizer. The goal of the French makeup is not to cover or to hide, but to highlight certain features.

4. Go Bolder With Red Lip

If you want to go a little bolder, choose to focus on one feature; whether it’s red lipstick or smudgy eyeliner. I think French girls are more about red lips, it’s the signature look of all Parisians. As I grew up in France, I’ve always been used to seeing very chic women wearing red lipstick. It’s probably not something that we wear every day but most of the time for special days and nights out.

When French women go for red lipstick, usually the complexion needs to remain very natural, which allows them to wear very intense and bold red lips. For bright red lipstick color, I recommend the or the .

5. Take Skincare Very Seriously

A stellar skincare routine is one of the most important French beauty secrets. French women take skincare very seriously, not only for great skin today but for great skin in the future. The French will always seek up for qualitative (maybe expensive) beauty products. They use to stick with what they know works instead of changing their skincare beauty routine every week.

French women, usually put all their money into keeping their skin naturally radiant and clear. The French use sunscreens, balms, micellar waters, serums, and even dry oil to help take care of their skin. Basically, if you take care of your skin, your complexion will look amazing even without makeup.

6. Go To The Pharmacy

Another French beauty secret lies in the local pharmacy. In France, pharmacies are much more than drugstores. French pharmacy beauty products are coveted by everyone (from models to backstage experts), make-up artists, or beauty editors alike. Mainly because French pharmacy is the ultimate health and beauty destination where you can find a full range of affordable and effective beauty products.

For most of the French beauty products, formulations are minimalists and hypoallergenic. Whatever your skin concern, you’ll always find the right skincare product tailored to your needs. French women usually go to their local pharmacy to get some advice from their pharmacists. Depending on your skin concern, pharmacists can suggest specific beauty products tailored for their skin type.

7. Pick A Signature Fragrance

As a French woman, I cannot imagine leaving the house without wearing my favorite perfume. For French women, perfume isn’t something you save for special occasions. Instead, spritzing perfume is usually part of the morning beauty routine. In general, French women have 3 up to 10 different perfumes in their cabinets. Each morning, they choose which fragrance they want to wear that day, depending on the mood. The tip is to spray a small amount behind the ears, on the back of your neck, and on the wrists.

8. Treat Yourself

French women know how to treat themselves. And in France, it’s all about taking time for yourself to do things that you know will make you happy. For example, each evening I love to take time to cook a delicious meal, getting a facial, taking a long bath, or reading a book before bedtime. In addition, French women take the time for pampering, whether it’s just a relaxing bath at home, a massage, or a face mask. Once a month, I like to get my nails done or to get a facial in my favorite beauty center. French women, in general, are obsessed with face masks and face massages that help to maintain a healthy glow and relieve facial stress. Don’t forget to treat yourself and that beauty is something that always should give you pleasure!

Which of these French beauty tips and tricks would you be willing to add to your own routine?

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