Wanna know the secret to age gracefully and beautifully like those Frenchwomen that you saw waltzing down around Paris? New York Times has came up with this solution for all the non-Parisienne out there:
1. Go by this mantra : ‘Never neglect yourself, not even in the tiniest details’. According to Dr. Michel Soussaline, a Paris plastic surgeon, “Frenchwomen are more elegant, more aware of their femininity. They simply take care of themselves better.” I also found it interesting that French actress Leslie Caron once said that her mother’s favorite saying: “Women’s skin is too fair to go bare.”
2. Not gaining weight ever. Frenchwomen keep her body in check and will do whatever possible to cut all excess. Another secret? Keep your food portions small.
3. Forget about exercising, it seems to Frenchwomen the only acceptable way to burn calories is to walk. Other options include pill, lotion, machine or treatment to do the trick.
4. Got wrinkles, cellulites or saggy bottoms? Go for facials, massages or spa. Frenchwomen also heart their dermatologists. As one Frenchwoman puts it, why take a chance with over-the-counter skin remedies, when doctors can provide treatments that really work. Besides, the visits are largely covered by the French medical system.
5. Natural look is definitely in. Less is best and heavy foundation is a big no-no. A little blush, mascara and lip color are all most Frenchwomen use. They spend a lot on skin care and beauty products, but not always on the most expensive brands.
French actress, Juliette Binoche – nearly 50 but naturally gorgeous!
6. No soap: They use lotions and hydrating creams for the face (and body), often applied with a cosmetics sponge that provides enough abrasiveness to remove dead cells but not hurt delicate skin.
7. The surgeon is in: If Frenchwomen opt for cosmetic surgery, the objective is to look like themselves – not someone 20 years younger.
Frenchwomen definitely don’t do the above type of lip plumping to the extreme!
8. For Frenchwomen, aging seems to be a matter of mind over makeup. If women feel good about themselves, right down to their expensive wardrobe or panties, they look good, too. To quote Françoise Sagan, “There is a certain age when a woman must be beautiful to be loved, and then there comes a time when she must be loved to be beautiful.”
