French girl skincare is growing in popularity year over year. From Catherine Deneuve’s youthful glow to Jeanne Damas’ flawless skin, the French know their skincare! Dozens of top skincare brands have come out of France. No one takes their skincare as seriously as French women!
Luckily you can steal these French skincare tips from Paris. Many of the best skincare products that French women use on the daily can be purchased stateside. Let’s take a look at some of the best French skincare routines and advice. These will help you get that effortless French girl beauty we all want.
No matter the weather or time of year, your skin requires upkeep and TLC. The skin is an organ that begs to be taken care of! Most of us know the basic skincare tips – for example, don’t share products with your friends, drink water, and get plenty of sleep. But what else can you do to keep your skin healthy and glowing for years to come? We decided it was time to gather up some essential French skincare tips to incorporate into your routine.
Are you ready to have beautiful glowing skin like a Parisian? Here are the best French skincare tips that will get you there.
1. Never Skip Sunscreen
UV Ray exposure without protection can be very dangerous to the skin. You want to make sure you find a good daily moisturizer with SPF for your face, and neck, and product for your body as well.
La Roche-Posay Anthelios Light Fluid Facial Sunscreen
$32.99 ($19.41 / Fl Oz) (as of January 17, 2025 19:26 GMT -05:00 - More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)There are many choices, both chemical and mineral out there. Be sure to keep your skin protected from sun spots or worse, skin cancer. Even though Paris is known for its endless cloudy days in the winter, that’s no excuse to skip sunscreen. Harmful UV rays can still penetrate the clouds so protect your skin accordingly!
2. Keep Your Lips Moist
We all need to prevent chapped lips year round. French girls tend to avoid chapsticks and lipsticks that make their lips tingle. A major misconception is that feeling stinging on the lips means that there’s an active ingredient at work, but this is not the case. Find lipsticks or chapsticks that have shea butter, zinc oxide, and castor seed oil, among other ingredients.
NUXE Rêve de Miel Lip Moisturizing Stick
$10.00 ($71.43 / Ounce) (as of January 17, 2025 19:26 GMT -05:00 - More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)Make sure to avoid eucalyptus, menthol, and fragrances, because they are skin irritants. Jeanne Damas has recommended Nuxe’s honey lip balm and I have to say it’s lovely!
3. Use Products for Your Skin Type
As we all know, everyone has different needs for their skin type. Some of us have sensitive skin, dry skin, combination skin, or oily skin. Understanding your skin needs might be the top skincare tip anyone can give you. Don’t buy products that will only make your core problems worse. Definitely don’t overdo it with products because that will keep your skin unhappy or even make it worse.
4. Wash Your Face with Micellar Water
The water in Paris is very hard and it dries out your face very easily. For this reason, it’s far better to wash it with a French micellar water instead. Use a cotton pad to apply the micellar water, and follow up with a spritz of thermal water from Avène.
Garnier Micellar Water, Hydrating Facial Cleanser & Makeup Remover
30% OffOtherwise, choose one of the best French face wash and cleansers for your skin type!
5. Remove Your Makeup Everyday
Not removing your makeup promotes acne, blackheads, puffiness, and skin dryness. Not to mention, you can damage your eyelashes too. Instead of having the beautiful long lashes that you did when you were a child, they start becoming brittle and thinning out.
Removing your makeup is an essential step of the French beauty routine. French girls also use micellar water to remove their makeup – so this is a two-in-one!
6. Use a Night Cream or Serum
You have a day cream with SPF, but do you have a nighttime cream or serum? This is one of the key French skincare tips that Americans tend to overlook. If you don’t have a night cream, now is when you should invest in one!
Some French girls prefer serums because it is lighter on the skin; others like to layer the serum and creams over one another. Both are ideal for hydrating and repairing the skin overnight.
7. Moisturize Your Body
Whether you have oily skin or not, it is important to make sure to keep your skin hydrated, otherwise, it becomes dry, flaky, and at worst cracks. A great French body moisturizer or lotion with SPF is a must during the day, sunshine or not. Start with a good French body cream for extra dry skin.
8. Check Your Skin for Any Abnormalities
Always look out for abnormalities. If a mole grew or darkened, if a spot appeared that had never been there before, or if there’s anything that just doesn’t look or feel right, make sure you contact a dermatologist. French girls take their health very seriously – the French government provides extensive care – so they don’t skip doctor’s visits to make sure all is well.
9. Use a Humidifier
In the winter it gets very dry in Paris, so some French women invest in a humidifier for their apartments as part of their holistic French skincare. A humidifier can add water to the very dry air, which will help with skin cracking and tightness.
10. Exfoliate Regularly
Remember that skincare has to be tailored to your and your skin needs. When you go to exfoliate, consider the ingredients in the products you are using so that you don’t make the situation worse instead of better. You want your skin to look brighter after exfoliating, not red and patchy. French girls don’t over-exfoliate and only do this once or twice a week at most.
11. Have a Morning Routine
French girls have products for both their face and body lined up for their morning routine. Having a morning routine makes it easier to continuously care for your skin from head to toe. It creates a habit that will be hard to miss after a couple of days. The French girl’s morning routine typically involves cleansing and moisturizing!
12. Don’t Skimp Out on a Nightly Routine
Just as a morning routine is important, so is a night skincare routine. You want to make sure you keep your skin moisturized overnight and restore from pollutants and sunray exposure during the day. Living in Paris, my skin gets exposed to nasty pollution all day long. A good nighttime routine is paramount!
13. Get a Good Night’s Rest
A good night’s sleep goes hand in hand with the body repairing itself inside and out. French girls make sure to get at least 7.5 hours of sleep every night to ensure they are refreshed the next morning. Many Parisian apartments feature a bedroom facing the courtyard of the building which allows for a sound night’s rest!
14. Don’t Forget About Your Neck
Treat your neck as an extension of your face. It is typically not covered up the way the rest of your body is. This Sisley neck cream firms, refines and remodels the delicate skin of the neck.
15. Schedule a Self-Care Day
Parisians love to have a spa day where they go to a real spa and have professionals care for their skin all day or give themselves a spa day at home in the bath. Taking a full day to take care of yourself weekly or biweekly is beneficial to your health and will reflect on your complexion.
16. Avoid Irritants
Some of us have sensitive skin or have allergies to food and drink. It is key to know what irritates your skin and be sure to avoid it. When following these French skincare tips, be aware of the ingredients in the products you choose to apply to your body and complexion. What works for one French girl might not work for another! That is ok. Use what works for you.
17. Eat Organic Fruits and Veggies
Your skin will show if you’re eating well or not. Eating fruits and veggies such as papaya, blueberries, spinach, and avocado will keep your complexion from being dull and are anti-aging. French girls try to eat organic fruits and vegetables whenever possible!
18. Get a Good Workout In
French girls do a lot more walking than us Americans. When you work out you increase blood flow, which helps nutrients get to the skin cells. It also decreases stress, which in effect helps the whole body’s wellbeing.
19. Try a Cleansing Bar
French soap bars are better at rubbing away dirt and oils from the skin than body wash. They have fewer ingredients because they contain less water and therefore don’t need stabilizers. Just make sure the soap bars don’t have sodium lauryl sulfate, because it is an irritant to the skin and eyes.
20. Use Blotting Papers
Paper blotters help remove oil from the face. The less oily your face is throughout the day, the less the pollutants layer over your skin. Clarins blotting papers do the trick.
21. Drink Water, Water, Water!
Without water, a lot of the other work you’re putting in might be in vain. French girls know that water is our life source, and when you don’t drink enough of it, you are basically asking for it to be dry and flaky. The water you drink will reach your other organs first before it gets to your skin. So not only is this a skincare tip but an overall health tip, get the recommended amount of water in your system daily!
Not all skincare tips are made equal. As we’ve mentioned, everyone needs something different to keep their skin happy. If you want to take a little inspiration from the French, you’ll find exactly what you need for your daily, weekly, and monthly skincare routines. I hope these French skincare tips were interesting to you!
1 comment
I really fell in love. They are so beautiful