Beautiful Skin — the Frenchwoman’s Way

Forget clothes or jewelry. As bestselling author Mireille Guiliano reveals, good skin is always a woman’s best accessory

When I moved to America a few decades ago, I set out to have a facial — a clean-up ritual common to French women. I headed to Fifth Avenue; the only salon I found was staffed by Europeans and frequented by uber-wealthy ladies. Things are a little different today. So, when a widely reported survey cited that 33 percent of French girls between 15 and 19 are already using anti-aging or anti-wrinkle creams, I didn’t raise an eyebrow. Well, of course. Any moisturizer counts as an anti-aging cream, and every good little French girl has seen her mother’s before-bed facial rituals.

Good skin does not mean flawless. Despite what airbrushed magazine centerfolds seem to suggest, no one has unblemished skin. Great skin is healthy skin; skin that radiates from the inside out. It is part of that indescribable “it” factor that French women are instilled with – the “what” in the je ne sais quoi allure. Flip through this slideshow to learn how to get that “good skin” glow.

• Hydration is THE key to good skin, which is a living, breathing organ that constantly needs water – it’s also the secret to healthy hair. Hydration comes from within, and no amount of cream or magic potion in a bottle can replace the benefits of good old H2O. Drink one glass of water first thing in the morning and one before going to bed and at least six to eight more throughout the day (preferably outside meals) and additional ones if you exercise or travel. Believe me, you can learn to handle six glasses a day … it builds muscle control, too.

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• Good circulation makes one’s skin glow. Don’t be afraid of using cold water in the shower to get your circulation going. It’s certainly part of my routine. Start by opening your pores with hot water (avoid the face – you’ll see why in the next tip), then use a blast of cold water to close your pores. It works because it “shocks” the nervous system and sends a wake-up call to the brain, bringing blood and color to the skin.

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• Don’t use hot water on your face. Hot water dilates blood vessels, which over time will stretch and loosen your skin. Hot water also dries skin out. Use lukewarm to cold water to wash your face and neck. My morning ritual? I put an ice cube in a small piece of cloth (to avoid breaking capillaries) and gently stroke my face, especially around the eyes. I do this right after I’ve had my day’s first glass of water, almost immediately after I wake up.

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• Learn to navigate the health benefits and risks of the sun. Moderation is the key to everything, and that includes sunlight. Shade, sunscreen and beauty emollients with SPF are a must. You've heard that before but do you practice it? The benefits of the sun are best outside the 11 AM to 3 PM window in the summer, and wear those sunglasses, bien sûr! Spend time outdoors as part of your weekly routine.

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• Who says you need to pay for fancy facials and expensive OTC masques? My mother – who had a beautiful peach skin – had two masques that I still use to make my skin glow: strawberry – mash a few strawberries and mix together with ½ teaspoon of honey and ½ teaspoon of Vaseline moisturizer (okay, my mom in France did not use Vaseline but a European antecedent). Apply to your whole face. After 15 minutes, rinse off. And cucumber – mix a few cucumber slices with two tablespoons of yogurt and apply to your face and eyes. Cover with a wet cloth; after 15 minutes, rinse off. Also, once or twice a week gently use a slice of lemon and apply over face. After a couple of minutes rinse with cold water.

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• You’ve heard it before but it bears repeating: Never go to bed without washing your face – never! Not only do you allow dirt, makeup and oils to sink into your skin all night, but they also transfer to your pillow, which builds up a residue and transfers it back to your face the next night! It’s a big no!

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• Be gentle on your face. Especially around the eyes and neck, where the skin is thin. You don’t want to loosen already delicate skin. After washing, lightly pat dry with a tissue or two. Do not wipe vigorously or scrub roughly. I also suggest using an oil-based eye-makeup remover; the makeup literally slides off the skin, which eliminates the need to rub it off with force. Mother’s nightly beauty cream was a drop or two of olive oil (or argan oil) smoothed gently over face and neck. Works magic for the skin and the wallet.

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• Don’t smoke. I don’t care what perception you have about French women and cigarettes. Many incorrect generalizations exist about us – but trust me, we don’t all smoke. And those who do – French or not – see the effects: premature aging, wrinkling and sallow skin.

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• Create a ritual.In America, most skincare seems to be aimed at older women looking to recapture youthful skin, once wrinkles appear. In France, skincare is a ritual that begins at a very young age, passed down, as I noted earlier, to us by our mothers. It’s less about tackling wrinkles and more about caring for the skin. (Some of you might recall a scene about this in a recent episode of "Mad Men," when an advertising executive, conducting market research, asked a group of women to describe their skincare routine. Most did not have one – except for a girl whose French mother had taught her a skincare ritual: Standing each night in front of the sink until she got the perfect temperature – not too hot, not too cold – she’d slowly and delicately wash her face and pat it dry. She used nothing on her face except water.)

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• Finally, do what the French do best: Keep it simple. It’s my motto for almost everything – food, fashion and skincare, too. You don’t need a zillion creams, potions or procedures. I’ve used the same moisturizer since I was a girl. Find one cleanser and one moisturizer (with SPF) that you like, and stick with it. No need to slather your skin with too many creams or expensive cleansers. One is more than enough just make sure you are using what is right for YOU.

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Editor’s Note: Mireille Guiliano is the bestselling author of French Women Don’t Get Fat. Her latest book is The French Women Don’t Get Fat Cookbook. Visit her at mireilleguiliano.com.