Daily Beauty Ritual - The French Way
Hello and welcome to the month of the Spring Equinox!
Spring and cleaning often go hand in hand so I thought this was the perfect time to share an alternative perspective on cleansing your skin -- the French perspective.
Clemence von Mueffling is the daughter and granddaughter of beauty editors for French Vogue so the French approach, that beauty is an attitude and a way of taking care of yourself, is deeply rooted in her nature and her nurture.
Clemence tells a story about the summer she went to camp in the United States to improve her English. “I still remember the shocked looks I got from my bunkmates when I rubbed Lierac cream on my thighs. Though these girls were my age, they had not yet begun any kind of beauty ritual.”
“When I moved to New York city I started to understand that French women grasped the connection between beauty and wellness in a way that I wasn't seeing in America.”
“Despite the cleaner air here, one thing that struck me when I moved to America is how unpopular facial cleansing is. I asked many different women in New York about this, and they all told me that one of the problems is that they started paying attention to face-cleansing when they were teenagers with acne and the products they used were medicated and often smelled harsh and felt harsh too. They weren’t thinking about anything other than effectiveness, so there was no joy in the process.”
I trust that by the time you reach the end of this email, you will have shifted your perspective on your skin care routine, specifically around cleansing, because it’s absolutely one of the most important steps you can take to improve and maintain the health and vitality of your skin.
Right off the bat, it’s important to note that one of the most important components of any French women’s beauty routine is just that - it’s a routine. I get it, who wants to spend precious time taking off mascara and thoroughly cleansing when a warm, soft bed is calling your name? Not moi! But I have a cleansing routine, and I will never go to sleep without following it.
So the first big shift is to create a new habit, just like brushing your teeth. Or better yet, transform this habit into a moment for yourself, a moment of pleasure and moment of beauty that you actually look forward to. Think of your cleansing ritual as a bit of calming meditation, as something that will not only feel good and smell good but will leave your skin soft, dewy and glowing. In America we have been taught that personal care is a chore but in France it’s a ritual. This is a change in perspective that I am welcoming into my life and invite you to do so as well.
Double Cleansing is the Way to Go
⚘ Good hygiene does not mean stripping or burning your skin. It means respecting it. So you need to clean your skin thoroughly at night, while respecting the flora of your skin. If you feel “squeaky clean” or have rough or dry patches on your skin your cleansing method is likely too harsh or too aggressive.
⚘ The best practice is to clean your face (and neck) twice. The first step is to get rid of impurities, pollution and makeup. This is best accomplished with an oil cleanser, milk cleanser or micellar water. If your skin is not clean even the best moisturizer or serum in the world won’t work to its full potential.
⚘ Massage your skin for 2-3 minutes. These are a few minutes you can dedicate to yourself, to beauty, to breathing, to going inward, to being heart-centered and full of love. It’s a relaxing time. Treat yourself how your favorite aesthetician treats you. We know you’re worth it. Not only will you be sure to remove any makeup residue or environmental toxins but this will also improve circulation and the flow of oxygen to your cells. Oxygen literally brings life. Your skin will reap the benefits and your ego won’t mind the compliments either.
⚘ The second cleanse is for the topmost layer (the stratum corneum). When you do this, you optimize your skin’s natural protection and regeneration, which primarily takes place at night while you are sleeping. This step removes all dirt and grime that can stick to the top layer of cells potentially leading to clogged pores, inflammation and premature aging. This is where your favorite gel, foaming or milk cleanser can be used depending on your skin type and your personal preference.
⚘ After double cleansing, apply your favorite serums, toner and moisturizer
⚘ A quick, gentle wash in the morning should do the trick to remove any impurities purged from your skin overnight.
⚘ You can use products from the same brand, or mix them according to your taste and sensitivity. There is a reason we carry multiple lines.
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