The Real French Beauty Secret

For a culture that has made a few members of the Kardashian family billionaires—and all of them famous—we can’t help but continue to hold a fascination for their aesthetic opposite: French women.

The concept of classic French beauty is problematic for a few reasons. First, historically it’s excluded any woman who isn’t thin and white. But I also find that the innumerable American magazines and blogs that trot out tips for emulating a French woman often miss the point by focusing on the requisite beauty products (Spoiler alert: It’s always, always dry shampoo and red lipstick.)

True, these things are often in a French woman’s arsenal. What I think is more important is what she leaves out of it and why—and that’s the real insight to be gained here.

In the amount of time it would take to get lash extensions, bronze and highlight her face, recover from plastic surgery, etc. etc., French women would prefer to visit a museum, read a book, or get into a heated political debate with friends at a café. For her, to have tousled hair and very little makeup on is a testament to how she actually spends her days. Conversely, to be perfectly done is an announcement to the world that her mind has been woefully neglected.

It’s interesting to note the differences in how French and American women are represented in their respective entertainment industries. Having been conditioned by decades of Hollywood standards, it can be jarring to watch a French film or tv series and see actresses with wrinkles and imperfect teeth. The French actually allow women to age and still be considered sexy, attractive, important. Imagine that.

For many of the creators on Tiktok and Instagram, makeup is their œuvre and the imprint they are leaving on the world. And while I share the French obsession with skincare over everything, I do love a little glam for a night out. What I think is worth considering is whether our pursuit of increasingly impossible standards is holding women back from taking up real space. Recent events have proven that equality is still out of our reach in the US. With the same 24 hours in a day as men, what are we choosing to do with it? Funnily enough, Kim Kardashian, who has left a trail of contoured clones in her wake in the last decade, pared back her routine while she was focused on passing the baby bar. To achieve significant things, it takes more than a pretty face. Please don’t be so consumed with your reflection that you forget to live.

x Kate