9 Beauty Secrets Of French Women From A French Skin Care Expert

What is it about French women? Whether it's the skin, chic wardrobe, or effortlessly tousled hair of screen icons like Brigitte Bardot and Marion Cotillard the French have something many covet. So really, what is it? Lucky for us non-Frenchies, there's a new book out that can shed some light on this je ne sais quoi.

Arguably the most enjoyable activity on this list, French women enjoy a glass of red wine every day without thinking of it as an indulgence. Rather, it's part of their culture, something they'd never think twice about doing (or not doing).

Delicious, sure, but wine also has remarkable health and anti-aging benefits. Full of the antioxidant resveratrol and polyphenols, red wine is anti-inflammatory, can slow the growth of bacteria that causes acne, fights free radicals and helps with heart health, meaning your circulation (and subsequent glow) is improved.

Unlike their American counterparts, Thomas says French women realize that a skin care routine — no matter how long it takes or how many products are needed—is a necessary part of life. "We know that a little bit of pampering isn't just a luxury," she says. "It is about choosing only the best and understanding that you are entitled to have a beauty routine that makes you look and feel beautiful at the same time."

An orgasm a day keeps the dermatologist away, right? Though she's not backing this claim with any scientific studies, Thomas thinks it's pretty clear that sex gives your skin a healthy glow: it increases blood and oxygen circulation, and boosts collagen production.

When you think of typical French makeup, you probably conjure an image of artfully smudged eyeliner and maybe a light swipe of red lipstick. You know, the famous "done-but-not-done look." That's because the emphasis is more on healthy, great-looking skin that doesn't need a lot of makeup instead of covering up skin issues with layers of product and color.

The French approach to food is fairly simple: Eat well. They take time to enjoy food and sit down to family meals. They eat the best quality they can get, and they don't ruin mealtimes with endless snacking. The way Thomas puts it, "the essence of eating like the French is to eat very well, but in moderation."

And we're not talking décolletage (though making sure to extend skin care down your neck and chest is important, too!). No, what Thomas is getting at here is something she calls the "pleasure principle," the idea that your beauty routine should make you feel good while also making you look good for your own sake.

Do as the French and accept the signs that you've lived and laughed. A wrinkle here or a dimple there? Who cares. "Instead of fighting the inevitability of aging, we're going to embrace it," says Thomas. "We're going to try to have a balanced life, to not just focus on our faces but on all the faces in our lives. We're going to live in the here and now so we can be happy with what we've got and not what we'll never have."