Channeling Our Top 5 French Beauty Icons
Whitney Smith
There’s just something so charmingly aspirational about that je ne sais quoi of French lifestyle. How is it that Parisian women manage to look both completely put together and impossibly effortless at the same time? In truth, we know that the secret is balance. French girls really put their appearance at the top of the list, but they also know not to fuss over it, essentially mastering the art of simplicity. Constantly working to puzzle together the French women’s secrets, today we are rounding up 5 of our favorite, most iconic French beauties, and sharing some of our tips on how to be a little more laissez-faire when it comes to your beauty routine, bisous!
No.1 obviously, Brigitte Bardot
When we look at her perfect structure and angelic face, we see her carefree attitude shining through. En Francais, this translates to managing stress! Stress and anxiety increase the hormone cortisol, which causes inflammation that ultimately breaks down collagen and increases puffiness for a fatigued complexion. Look on the brighter side and let it radiate from within!
No.2, Anna Karina
Actually not born in France but born in Denmark, the budding actress escaped her dysfunctional family at age 18 by hitchhiking to Paris. Anna was a natural born beauty and had an untamed mysteriousness. Her wild spirit is the ultimate guide to simplicity, confidence, and mastering the art of je ne sais quoi. What we take from her, is to let go! Don’t’ be so serious, relax your facial muscles & smile, stay playful, don’t beat yourself up over the things you cannot change! Embrace who you are and stay true to yourself. Afterall, une femme est une femme!
No.3, Emmanuelle Beart
The epitome of a bare-skinned beauty. In French, less is more, and the vain-esque confidence French women radiate upon us, is due to their lack of foundation, a la makeup minimalism. See our last Story for more details, but generally, French women opt to leave their skin bare. They prefer a light powder over a mask of foundation and like to emphasize the drama of their most valued asset whether that be a bold lip or a seductive eye. Keep your routine simple and don't over do it.
No.4, Francoise Dorleac
... and the bedroom eyes on this femme fatale! Achieving bedroom eyes doesn’t mean you should look tired, wear your makeup like you wear your lingerie, with delicacy and ease. Very underestimated advice here, but so important….get enough sleep! Besides leading to dark circles, not getting enough sleep will age your skin. When you are asleep your body and the skin cells are regenerating. Not getting enough sleep cuts this critical repair time short.
No.5, Laetitia Casta
Probably prettier without make-up than with, Laetitia has the ultimate ethereal glow, sans makeup! She always seems to have the perfect sun-kissed complexion while looking like she hasn’t aged a single day. To attempt her look, Wear sunscreen! Sun exposure is the #1 cause of aging skin. Not only does exposure to the suns UV rays increase your risk of skin cancer, they damage the elastin fibers that keep the skin firm, and are responsible for age & dark spots on sun-exposed areas. Most of the changes seen in aging skin are caused by a lifetime of sun damage.
If you want a quick fix without all the effort, we suggest the following ROWSIE VAIN products to get you on the righteous path…. XO!