French Tip Nail Designs Biography

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Tousled hair, a statement red lip, and a certain nonchalance: Could we possibly be talking about anyone other than the archetypal hot Parisienne? There's no question that French women have a certain sense of style, whether they're 18 or 80. (After all, there's no French saying for "mom jeans.") And, when we look at modern-day French style icons — Garance Doré making flats look Fashion-Week chic, Léa Seydoux cropping her hair — it's hard to not want to know what they're doing to look so damn good.

But, while it might seem as though French women were born with glowing complexions and perfectly undone hair, that's just not the case. Beneath the facade of effortless, natural beauty is an arsenal of time-honored traditions, steadfast beauty rituals, and unique attitudes. In an attempt to push beyond the mystique, we talked to some of our favorite French ladies and discovered what it takes to give an entire nationality of women that certain...well, you know. Keep reading. Want even more R29? Get the latest news, tips, and can't-resist stories delivered straight to your newsfeed, in real time.

At this stage in the game, we’re all highly aware of the sun’s role in causing cancer and accelerated aging. But, the alternative route to a sun-kissed glow — mainly self-tanning products — can leave us looking like Oompa-Loompas. Since the French aren’t fond of beauty rituals that result in an unnatural look, many sidestep orange-y sunless tanning products and pop pre-sun pills instead. These pills, which contain carotenoids, selenium, and vitamin E, are reported to both hydrate the skin and speed up melanocyte production, which can add a healthy little St. Tropez-style glow. Tish Jett, an American living in Paris and author of Forever Chic, says that while the pills are made for people with sun allergies, they are "extremely popular in France." “They have antioxidants and omega [fatty acids] in them," she points out. "The oretically, they do hydrate and have positive side effects,” she says, noting that because they do not contain sun protection, SPF must be used along with the pre-sun supplements. Many French women aren’t wired to be gym rats. And, according to Mireille Guiliano, author of the forthcoming book French Women Don’t Get Facelifts, most French women don’t like to exercise indoors. When it comes to exercise, Guiliano says, “A French woman would not do it if it were boring. That’s why you don’t see many of them in the gym — because they think it is like torture. We are not born for this kind of exercise routine.”

So, if the gym or exercising indoors gets the boredom veto, then how do they keep their hearts healthy? Playful “AquaGym” or water aerobic classes, for one, are wildly popular. “It’s higher-impact and people are having fun, [which is important] because that pleasure factor is always a big consideration,” Guiliano says. Incidentally, underwater cycling classes are just hitting the States.

Another way women take the grind out of fitness is by engaging in “Invisible Exercise,” in which daily routines are spiked with little bouts of activity. Parking in the space farthest from the building entrance or stepping off the train a few stops before reaching your destination (and, of course, electing for the stairs) are ways to partake in invisible exercise.

True, women of every culture use masks to help hydrate, detox, brighten, and balance the skin. But the use of masks has long hit a fever pitch in France. From when they are little girls, French women use homemade masks to nourish hair and skin. “I remember my grandmother creating a mask with egg yolks for my hair and rinsing with vinegar,” says French-born Marie-Laure Fournier, who runs Fournier Communications, a New-York based PR agency that represents global beauty brands. These types of treatments tend to replace styling products in French women’s bathrooms, according to Fournier. Face masks are just as popular. “In France, you grow up knowing to do a mask for your skin at least once or twice a week," she says. "And, if you don’t have enough money to buy something, you can make your own mask." Homemade masks might include lavender if your ancestors were from the South of France, or seaweed if they were from Brittany. “Everyone has their own legends and tricks for homemade masks," Fournier explains. "It depends on which region your parents came from.”

She adds that she’s surprised that the use of masks aren’t as popular in the United States. “The big misconception is that you need to do nothing when you have a mask on,” she says. Fournier notes that it’s easy to wear a mask while having morning coffee — something that even we multitasking Americans can do.