In her book The French Beauty Solution, beauty brand Caudalie’s co-founder Mathilde Thomas writes that good skincare starts with a good diet.

“The typical French diet follows the guidelines of the Mediterranean-type diet: fresh vegetables and fruit, whole grains, nuts, legumes, olive oil, and fish, with some dairy, little meat, and even less processed food. ” Judging by their clear complexions, it seems like the adage “you are what you eat” may be true after all.

Image: Instagram @mathildethomas

If you haven’t noticed, 10 layers of foundation and heavy contouring aren’t exactly a thing for French women. In contrast, they place emphasis on nourishing the skin with the right skincare and wear little to no foundation or makeup so that their real skin can shine through. For troubled areas, you can emulate journalist and style influencer Sabina Socol and use only two makeup products every day to cover and neutralise. Simply dot some concealer on red spots and the darkest areas of your face (for Sabina, it’s under the eyes and the corners of her nose) – and even out the application with a concealer brush. Next, Sabina recommends that you set those areas with a powder foundation like the M.A.C Studio Fix Powder Plus Foundation to tone down shine and keep the concealer in place to prevent it from creasing.

Image: Instagram @sabinasocol

Take a leaf out of influencer Jeanne Damas’ book and keep it natural and effortless, even on days when you want some colour on your face. No crazy colours here, just a few slicks of classy red from her favourite lip palette from her label Rouje in shade Chaleur on her lips, cheeks and also eyelids.

Image: Instagram @jeannedamas

If your makeup tends to look a little dull, try this tip from Violette: Apply a tiny drop of Estee Lauder’s iconic Advanced Night Repair serum over your makeup before you go out to add a natural, youthful-looking glow to your complexion. When she’s not heading out, Violette enjoys taking the time to massage the same serum onto clean skin right before she applies her night cream.

Image: Instagram @violette_fr

There’s nothing more nourishing for your soul than good old mother nature. Singapore’s heat might be unbearable, but try an evening stroll or rest your eyes looking out at the trees on a sheltered outdoor rooftop. A dash of breeze and a touch of sunlight, will give you the sun kissed glow and sultry smirk that all Parisian women sport in the summertime.

Image: Instagram @jeannedamas

Relaxed elegance is how we’d describe the French women’s styling of hair and let’s be honest, who doesn’t want to look effortlessly sophisticated all the time? But no, they do not “wake up like this” and achieving that said relaxed elegance does require some work. Sabina gets her wavy mane without blow-drying and uses only a sculpting cream on freshly washed hair before tying it up into a bun followed by a surf spray to hold the waves.

Très chic!

Image: Instagram @sabinasocol

Part of looking effortlessly fresh is ensuring that the stress doesn’t sneak it’s way onto your face. Relaxation is key and it doesn’t have to be sleeping or time doing absolutely nothing. Instead, try one of your old hobbies you stopped making time for. Reading perhaps? From an actual book and not your Kindle this time. 

Image: Instagram @linmick