Extraordinary Women Blog #5 – Pretend Your Body, Face and Hair is the ultimate of classic cars
What if you treat your body, face and hair like you are the ultimate of classic cars.
Let’s start with your face.
I’m a collector of face creams. If you’re like me, all you have to do is begin to pack for a move from your current domicile and suddenly you’ll discover all sorts of bottles of this and that, which you buried in the back of drawers, purchased because someone told you it was good and you decided you had to have it.
Because I’m at that age where nothing really makes a huge difference, other than maybe holding down the rate of decline, but still, every suggested “Hope in a bottle” becomes a must have. Yet, even though I’ve come to the conclusion that there are no miracle creams, they do make me feel good when I use them. That alone brings a smile to my face!
I have yet to schedule a plastic surgery appointment, maybe only because I’m the eternal optimist….so optimistic in fact that I don’t really see my face when I look in the mirror. I live alone and for all you solo gals out there, you’ll know exactly what I’m talking about when I say that because no one is standing next to me in a mirror, I’m clueless of what my face truly looks like… that is until I see myself in one of those Paris café mirrors! Yikes!!
I used to collect books on the topic of self-care. One of my favorites is by Clémence von Mueffling, who is the third generation of a French family of drop dead beautiful women. Blessed with fabulous genetics, her mother and grandmother were both models who transitioned to beauty editors for French Vogue.
Together they wrote the book Ageless beauty the French Way, which remains on my book shelf today because there are so many excellent tips inside it.
The book is divided up into various age groups. Jeunesse (youth) for ages 20-35 years, Plénitude (abundance) for ages 35-55 years, and Maturité (maturity) ages 55+ years.
I love those age descriptions because there is no reference to “anti-aging.” Something about the word “anti-aging” actually feels like a rejection of who we are (regardless of age). Our life experiences only add to all those gifts and unique traits we each arrived with, so rather than trying to erase those lines of experience wherever they show up, let’s all try to not only embrace them but also love each and every little line and spot. We earned them!
But in addition to the book, I’ve also got some current resources to share with you now that I’m such a YouTube addict.
Here are a few of my favorites:
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Style at a Certain Age with Beth Djalali is excellent.
She was my guest on podcast #83, here is the link if you are interested in learning more about her business.
Beth covers many different lifestyle aspects from clothing ideas to cooking to coping with hot weather. She lives in Georgia so she knows hot summers.
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In the Fro with Victoria is fun.
Victoria is hardly 30 years of age and one of the prettiest and tiniest of women you’ll ever see, but she does great reviews of products. Now she is a major influencer, so she’s very well paid to promote products, but you’ll find her fun and full of ideas regardless of your age. I always get a new idea or item to check out when I watch her videos, whether its skin care or accessories. Victoria introduced me to Dior forever foundation and concealer, which are two of my very favorite make up products.
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Marie-Anne Lecoeur, The French Chic Expert is a hoot.
Some of her videos are on skin care and many on clothing and style but all are a good barometer of a French woman’s style and self-care. Plus, it’s great fun to hear from a French woman.
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As for procedures, in Paris, I go to an institut of beauté, called En Aparte on Rue de Verneuil for my facials. The beautiful Patricia Wells sent me to them, which was a great referral. I love their products and procedures. You’ll see these little institutes in almost every Paris neighborhood, so you know French women who live in the area must make regular appointments or there wouldn’t be so many of them. Basically, the institutes are skin care salons, although some specialize in cellulite removal and the like. Frankly I’ve never seen a Parisian woman who looks like she might have ever had cellulite, but inside the institutes, you’ll find a quiet, calm, usually small clinic of sorts. Nothing at all like most American beauty salons. Usually, I have to ring a bell at the door to be let in, and I’ve learned to never arrive early because they don’t have receptionists.
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In America, I have found to get the best facials, go to plastic surgery clinics no matter what city or state I live in. These clinics always have a non-surgical side and the estheticians who work there know what they are doing. Plus, they are continually monitored by the physicians’ side of the clinic and have the latest in products and procedures, so I know I’ll be in good hands.
But skin care or beauty as we should call it, is still viewed so differently in France than my native country. We’re making progress in America, but it starts with how you treat and value yourself regardless of your age.
“Beauty is an attitude, a way of taking care of yourself.”
Clémence von Mueffling
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Another huge difference I notice because I live in both Paris and Boston, is makeup, or more specifically, the amount of makeup. Parisian women wear much less makeup than American women. In Paris, I never see false eyelashes, tattooed eyebrows, exceptionally large lips or glow in the dark teeth on any women. Even their hair is different. The messy chignon is a French creation meant to look as natural as possible.
The goal of a French woman, whether we are talking about hair, face or clothing is to appear as though you spent very little time on your preparation. Create the illusion that you got out of bed, put on some clothes, dabbed a little lip gloss on and walked out the door with style and confidence. The contradiction is that this natural look takes loads of time and a very disciplined routine!
Ah, discipline and routine. Contrary to the general perception, the French like, no actually love routines and have more cultural and governmental rules than anyone in America could imagine. Skincare is no exception.
“The older you get, the more disciplined you have to be.”
Régine Debrise
I recently described my body as similar to a classic car….it needs constant maintenance, regular little fixes, but it still runs and is actually quite lovely. So ladies, let’s embrace routines….treat your face and body like the most precious thing you have collected over the years….because it is.
Now let’s talk about hair.
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As we age, our hair naturally changes and not always in a good way. My hair now is curlier and courser than when I was young. I am blessed with a lot of hair but still I notice it isn’t quite as thick as it was. Plus, if you’re like me, you color or highlight your hair, and any type of color will dry out our hair.
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The absolute best hair products I have found are from Beauty Pie. www.beautypie.com
I use their Super Healthy shampoo and conditioner and then the Super Healthy Repair Treatment…every single time I wash my hair. I’ve tried more hair care products than one can imagine and for now, these are the best products for me.
Actually, the entire company has wonderful products and very reasonably priced. I actually take their liquid Vitamin C and collagen mix.
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As for the body, I’m in love with Nuxe Huile Prodigieuse Floral dry oil for my body. www.us.nuxe.com It has the most beautiful scent, that I often put a bit on my arms and chest before bed. Another product you can now purchase online in the United States. Pamper yourself!
So, let’s love the face, the body, the hair and the living that we’ve all done and will do!
And like that very precious collector’s car, take good care of yourself.
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