My 9 All-Time Holy Grail French Beauty Products
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Bastille Day is Saturday, July 14, and to celebrate France’s national day, we’re dedicating the week to the very best French things. You may be familiar with stories we’ve done onFrench pharmacy productsandcookbooks, but we’re going even deeper this week, from the best books on Paris and French baking to the greatest French pantry essentials and lesser-known French beauty products. Welcome toMade in France Week.
Paris is the birthplace of many a style icon:Françoise Hardy,Coco Chanel, and, more recently,Marion Cotillard, whose photograph I bring for reference every time I get myhaircut. But Paris isn’t considered a beauty capital just because it produced stunning women. It’s because French beautyproductsare made with extremely high-quality ingredients, and because French people are particularly obsessed with skin care. Many of my most belovedproductsare French: the cult skin-care line Biologique was the firstskin-carebrand I fell for (and it changed my skin more dramatically than anything I’ve ever used), and Chanel’s peacock green creameye shadowshowed me that experimenting with colors doesn’t have to be scary. The idea of the Frenchpharmacyand everything itcontainsis so alluring for a reason: the Frenchproductsthat I integrate into my day-to-day routine are truly some of my all-timeholy grails. Below, nine of my absolute favorites.
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This mask looks like Teriyaki sauce (if I’m being nice) and smells like yeast, but within a few uses you’ll notice a change in the texture and radiancy of your skin. Themaskis packed with witch hazel and (yes, hence the scent) yeast, and combatsblemishes, blackheads, and excess oiliness. When I’m suffering from badbreakouts, I actually like using this as aspottreatment (I sometimes even sleep with it on, which requires putting a towel over my pillow). It’s doesn’t dry you out, like a traditional clay mask, but it doesn’t moisturize either, so it’s important that you slap on some moisturizer after.
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ThisSPF50 doubles as an antioxidant sunscreen. The vitamins C and E work together to promote collagen, and brighten your complexion. This is one of the fewsunscreensthat makes me feel like I’m both protecting and brightening mycomplexion. And it’s never ever clogged my pores.
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I first found out about this cream during an interview with Beyoncé’s makeup artist Sir John, where he revealed this it is one of his favorite ways to prepare the Queen’s skin before he puts on her makeup. With ingredients like shea butter, beeswax, aloe vera, and soy proteins, this fast-absorbingmoisturizerwill nourish andhydratethe skin without making it look greasy or slippery.
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Although many beauty editorials would like you to believe that French girls don’tconcealtheir under eyes (they’re too easy-breezy), this French-made Vichy concealer stick is one of the most buildable skin products I own. I use it to conceal pesky zits or when I want a little extra coverage on myunder eyes.
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This lotiony mask won’t exactly purify or combat any active blemishes, but it’s perfect for prepping your skin formakeup. Leave it on clean skin for 15 minutes and wipe away the excess with a warm washcloth; your skin will feel extra soft and supple. When I use this, myfoundationglides on like a dream. I’m really sorry about the price on this.
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As mentioned above, I really love this teal creameye shadowfrom Chanel in Verderame. Although it seems like it would be super difficult to wear, the creaminess of the product makes it very easy to blend. Sometimes I use it along my lash line as a subtle accent liner, and other times, when I’m feeling moreglam, I use it all over my lid.
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