Photo ©Sora Shimazaki | Pexels
As the New Year unfolds, bringing an intensified briskness to the air, our skin often bears the first brunt of the season. With environmental aggressors causing a loss of moisture and reduced vitality, winter skin can certainly pose a challenge to look after.
However, the French — with their strong belief in self-care rituals and generational tips — possess a treasure trove of secrets for maintaining radiant skin and vibrant health as the cold weather descends.
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For the French, winter is an opportunity to recommit to an overall healthy lifestyle. French beauty customs therefore offer a holistic approach to winter skin care and well-being, with a focus on gentle care, maximizing hydration and a little pampering to lift the spirits.
Discover how you can embrace these nourishing and revitalizing practices and create your own routine winter skincare routine, for a healthy, radiant complexion, no matter the temperature
1. Cleanse the Slate
La Roche-Posay: Toleraine Hydrating Cleanser
$19.99
The French approach to skincare typically begins with a gentle cleanse, using a product that prioritizes hydration and barrier care — especially during winter when environmental stressors can heighten sensitivity. A standout choice for dry skin is La Roche-Posay’s Toleriane Hydrating Gentle Face Cleanser, a French pharmacy favorite. This milky, non-foaming formula is infused with anti-inflammatory and hydrating ingredients — including thermal spring water, ceramides and niacinamide — removing makeup and impurities while preserving the skin’s natural oils and moisture.
Pro tip: The French approach to skincare is all about slowing down and tuning into your skin’s unique needs. Seasonal shifts matter — swap to a gentle foaming cleanser in warmer months if you’re suddenly running oily, or stick to creamy milks and balms for year-round hydration. Adjusting with the seasons keeps your skin balanced and happy.
2. Revive and Renew
Caudalie: Deep Cleansing Exfoliator
$38
French skincare wisdom emphasizes balance, especially when it comes to exfoliation. In winter, flaky skin and dullness are common concerns, but over-exfoliating can compromise the skin barrier, causing redness and leaving it vulnerable to irritation.
When it comes to exfoliating, the French prefer gentle formulations like Caudalie’s Deep Exfoliating Cleanser, which uses very fine volcanic sand to lift away dead skin cells without overly stripping the skin and causing sensitivity. Even so, this scrub addresses clogged pores and uneven texture while maintaining hydration, thanks to grape water and a touch of mint for a refreshing, spa-like finish. For best results, use a physical exfoliant no more than once week.
3. Essential Hydration
Avène: Soothing Radiance Mask
$32
After exfoliating, or when your skin needs a little extra TLC, French women always turn to a hydrating face mask to restore balance and provide comfort. The Avène Soothing Radiance Mask is a go-to for stressed, dehydrated skin, enriched with safflower oil and red fruit extracts to combat oxidative stress and boost radiance, and thermal spring water to calm and soothe. Perfect as a quick pick-me-up or an overnight treatment, this non-clogging, non-setting mask provides instant relief for seasonal dryness, and is clinically shown to leave the skin feeling replenished and resilient.
Pro tip: This mask is also perfect after-sun burns and long flights.
4. Nourishing Oils
Typology: P31 – Tan-Complexion Serum
$64.90
The French are known for their sun-kissed glow year-round, and in the winter, they rely on face oils to maintain it. Instead of heading to the Riviera, French women turn to naturally tinted face oils for a boost of radiance. In winter, look for those with nourishing ingredients that have a subtle orange hue. We love, the Tan-Complexion Serum from Typology, infused with beta-carotene rich buriti oil. For a subtle glow, massage a few drops onto your face neck and chest in the morning, or apply in the evening to help restore and protect the skin barrier.
5. Multitasking Balms
Doré: Le Baume
$12
With the cold months comes dry skin, and in many French households, the trusted all-in-one balm becomes a staple. Le Doré’s Le Baume embodies the French minimalist approach to skincare with its simple yet effective formula. Made with just seven ingredients, this multi-purpose balm is clinically proven to repair the skin barrier and moisturize distressed skin. With deeply nourishing castor oil, aloe vera and vitamin E, we appreciate its versatility; it addresses everything from chapped lips to dry elbows, hands and heels, making it an essential part of daily life.
6. Milky Face Mists
Violette FR: Boum-Boum Milk
$64
French women often carry a refreshing facial spray in their handbags — a product that reflects the French way of seamlessly integrating self-care into daily life. For uncomfortable winter skin, milky formulas — such as like Violette’s Boum-Boum Milk — are swapped into rotation. A few spritzes throughout the day counteract dryness from artificial heating and cold winds, ensuring hydration remains a priority even during busy winter months. Formulated with fermented birch sap, glacial water and squalane, this innovative spray acts as a toner, serum and moisturizer all in one. It provides lasting hydration, restores the skin’s microbiome, and rejuvenates the skin, making it feel refreshed and supple — perfect for a quick boost of hydration before a café stop or after a brisk walk in the snow.
7. Spa-Like Indulgences
STYLPRO: 4 In 1 Facial Steamer
$39.50
As the French revel in spa culture, facial steaming becomes an essential indulgence for winter skin. This traditional practice can be both rejuvenating and effective in combating the drying effects of the cold. While many might think of a spa as a luxury experience, the French have found ways to integrate these comforts into their everyday lives. For those seeking the benefits of steam without making a trip to a luxury spa, a facial steamer can replicate that zen experience at home. This quiet time spent steaming, often accompanied by favorite essential oils, becomes a cherished ritual — a moment to unwind and reconnect with oneself after a hectic day. It’s a testament to the French value of self-tenderness and the belief that nurturing the body, particularly during colder months, is essential
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