Aibu to want to know the French skincare secrets

[MarsBarMary]

Been on holiday from France, we went all over really Marsielle, Lyon, Paris and Lille, stoping at many small towns on the way.

I have very dry skin that tends to look a bit grey and dull without makeup. I was surprised when people watching all over France how good in general people's skin was. Obviously some people still had spoty/dull/dry skin but it was much less then in the uk. I was wondering what the people's secrets are. I mean French pharmacies tend to have amazing skin ranges anyway but most of it can be found in uk stores.

Is it diet/lifestyle being less stressful due to a shorter working week. I really want to know.

The french secret to everything is rucola . Keep it all moving through rapidly.

The French women I know all have the normal variation of skin seen in UK women. They are French women living in the UK.

I therefore suspect it's more to do with weather/climate/pollutants/etc? And I guess diet to an extent.

Yes but good diet can only go so far in terms of skincare.

We don't all have fabulous skin (I wish!) but if you saw a difference perhaps it is because we may spend more of our non-work time outside over the year (at least where I live), we don't necessarily exercise but we tend to walk a lot every day, most of us eat a lot of crudités and protein but not so much processed stuff and certainly not things like biscuits or sweets or crisps - they are only for children's parties, we don't wear so much make-up as a rule, but we do look after our skin (my small town has about 6 or 7 beauty institutes and as many dermatologists), we drink a lot of water and not much alcohol, of course many of us don't have nice skin for all sorts of reasons (smoking or living in a dirty city or bad luck).
I see a lot of teenagers and it is unusual for them to be spotty, I think this is because almost none of them wear foundation, but there may of course be no connexion. Also we are not puritan, looking after your skin is not seen as a luxury, there is a lot of choice for all budgets and skin types.

It's the holiday effect. People tend to look more attractive abroad, when they actually aren't. I personally think French women have the same quality skin as women in the UK which is remarkable considering how much harsher our weather is, and I've not noticed them dress better either. (I work between London and Paris so I'm an authority here lol).

MadamFrog - most of the French women I know in France are spotty!

I've also noticed people in Sussex have better skin then where I live in Southampton. So perhaps it's do with living in urban areas. I certainly think that the French seem to put in more effort into appearance and health.

RunningLulu: Many of the people I saw when I was last in England (about a month ago) were rather overweight and in the case of the women/girls, wearing a lot of very obvious make-up but I don't think anyone can generalise and say that is the case for all.

True MadamFrog. None of the French people I know look better than the British people I know (or vice versa). Being overweight or wearing makeup doesn't always give you bad skin. I know many colleagues who are both & look fabulous. I personally think most of it has to do with genetics and luck & don't see differences.

I entirely agree 😊actually re weight probably your skin looks better if you are not too thin over a certain age, not so lined. And I think maybe you have less sun damage in Britain.

I don't know if there's any great secret as such. Cultural stereotyping would suggest that it's simply more of a priority for the French.

I do remember being in the queue in Boots behind a very well-groomed and slim French woman once.
I did have a good gawp at her basket out of interest, and there was quite an array of expensive stuff in there. No once-over with a blob of Imperial Leather for her.

And it showed. She looked great.

Perhaps it's that there is a stronger cultural tradition of going to spas and dermatologists compared to the UK? I don't think my DM has ever had a facial in her life. Having lived in the States for over a decade now and in Asia prior to that I am quite struck with how much more women focus on their grooming in general compared to my experience of growing up in the UK where women seem to have a lower key beauty regime. I remember in University I had a male student friend from California who wouldn't date British women because we "don't take care of ourselves!" in his opinion (yes he was a dick but he was a really good cook...) That was fifteen years ago mind you.

I remember in University I had a male student friend from California who wouldn't date British women because we "don't take care of ourselves!" in his opinion

that was probably code for "don't shave downstairs" but I suspect most women do these days

I think Brit women are behind the running when it comes to beauty treatments/maintenance etc.

I have regular pedicures, waxing, eyelash tinting and occasional facials. But, I'm the exception among my friends.

Who can be arsed with all that?

Hopefully no one bred with california bloke.

My knowledge is pretty ropey but south France and Spain was invaded by the Moors from n Africa so will have different skin from us pasty Brits, invaded by the Norse etc.
I read a book on forensic science and the body of a woman was described as from the Med region as she had bigger teeth than the ave Brit.
Warmer climate might also make you more likely to eat salad etc and make

"Warmer climate might also make you more likely to eat salad etc"

There is truth in that. I moved from Southern California to The Pacific Northwest and since we're experiencing winters again up here I definitely notice that I put on some "winter weight" every year which never happened to me in sunny warm SoCal :( Unfortunately the winter weight doesn't automatically disappear when it gets warm either grr.

Coming from a different background myself (i.e. not British but European) I have also noticed that the brits are not as obsessed with women's looks as other European countries. Women aren't quite as bothered about make-up etc over here. They're more practical (over-generalization, I know). I say this as a positive. It is one of my favourite things about this country.

Better diet, more water. Simples.

Better diet, more water. Simples.

Sorry for the x post.