The Simply Surprising Reasons French Women Have Enviably Glowing Skin

When Bertrand Thomas and his wife, Mathilde, launched Caudalie in 1995 with just three items on the roster, it was the first company to use the anti-aging benefits of grape-seed polyphenols in skin care. Since then, the vinotheraphy-based brand has launched a full range of products, using practically all parts of the grape, from skin to stalk. In fact, its radiance-boosting Beauty Elixir ($16 to $46), which contains grape fruit extract, is so popular, even Victoria Beckham has been tweeting about it.

But what is it about French women that makes them seem so pleasantly content and perfectly complected? In the New York Times best-seller, French Women Don't Get Fat, author Mireille Guiliano describes a lifestyle that is full of variety, where deprivation is replaced by savoring things to the fullest. And when it comes to beauty, Thomas explains it's a similar mindset: "Balance is the key word: French women balance food their food and balance their lifestyle." To see just what Thomas means on how French women get it right, keep reading

French women . . .

• • "Have a strategy," says Thomas. But one thing they do not have, is an aggressive approach to skin care, excessive scrubbing included.
  • Wash their faces with soft cleansers, eschewing harsh soaps and detergent-based products.
  • Use toner. "Toner is essential," he advises, and with good reason. Not only do toners clear the face of impurities, but they also help remove makeup and hydrate the skin.
  • Use masks. Thomas recommends slathering on a purifying mask, such as the Vinopure Purifying Mask ($35), twice a week to soothe and rejuvenate skin.
  • Prefer a more natural look, and wear multiple-benefit moisturizers and very little makeup. Sounds très magnifique, oui?

(spotlight image: blog.pharmacymix.com)