Do you ever feel like you just wish you knew the French girls' secret to always looking sophisticated? They are the epitome of chic but it always feel hard to pin down their magic. Their secret? Simplicity! It's the ultimate element of sophistication, especially when it comes to beauty. You'll never seen a Parisian woman with coifed hair AND full make up. She always leaves something natural and understated. It's what gives the French woman a casual cool look while still remaining put together. Here are my favorite French-style beauty tips.

START FROM WITHIN 

You may be tempted to skip right to the make up and hair, but French style beauty starts from within. Drinking plenty of water, eating your dark greens, and a variety of fresh foods help your skin and hair glow and grow strong. Drinking more water is a the first key step to looking your best though!

SUNSCREEN AND SKINCARE

French women aren't as quick to get botox or fillers as we Americans when it comes to aging. They know the importance of aging gracefully! The best anti-aging method is preventative: sunscreen! Regularly wearing facial sunblock-particularly in the summer and winter-can help protect your skin from irreversible damage. Parisian women also swear by regular facials and exfoliating.* I like to do weekly or biweekly gentle scrubs and a spa or at home facial at least once or twice a month. Also be sure to give your face regular depuffing massages with ice or cool rollers. *Be especially sure to apply sunscreen after these treatments as it leaves your thin skin vulnerable.

AIR DRY

The French girl's signature hairdo is "upgraded air-dried." To prevent frizz be sure to deep condition in your hair beforehand. If the hair shaft has enough moisture it is less likely to be frizzy. Don't towel dry your hair like they show in the movies! I use Aquis Microfiber Hair Towel  for my wavy-curly hair and it reduces the frizz and drying time in half. This isn't just "another product" for you to buy. It really works for me. (Not an ad!) Finish your styling with the best product for your hair type. I like to braid my hair with a hair serum or natural oil at the tips if I have time to get extra smooth waves. 

LIGHT MAKE UP

I've read and seen this one everywhere: French women just don't really wear foundation. That, to me, has seemed like an American trademark. Full make up, manicure, and heat styled hair is how to spot an American girl. Our Parisian counterparts are much more partial to using coverup if they need it-but otherwise wear very light make up with their own signature daily look. Mine own is to typically* skip the foundation and concealer completely (at most I'll do a tinted moisturizer), groom and fill in the parts of my eyebrows that don't grow due to scars, put on mascara, and always wear lipstick. If I only have time for one thing I always choose lipstick as it looks like I put on make up and made a fun choice for myself. Try it out! It can take some getting used to but your skin (and morning routine) will thank you! *Typically refers to my usual day. For photoshoots, big meetings, or special events I do a full face of make up and feel quite glamorous! 

AU NATURAL

The French beauty industry has different regulations than we do in the states and you'll find their products typically are more "au natural" and promote organic beauty. I love using products that I can recognize and easily read the sourcing and ingredients list. Our skin is our largest organ and it seems to make sense to care about what it absorbs into our bodies. I love to stick to clean, minimal products and reduce my getting ready time. For instance: I use facial oil additionally for my frizzy hair, make up remover, night mask, and leg moisturizer if I need to. I love brands like Herbivore that are vegan, cruelty free, and clean. (Not an ad either!) Just like using it.

Here are some great clean, multitasking products you could consider in your daily French style routine: 

• I love Herbivore's Rose Hibiscus Hydrating Face Mist for everyday use but especially while I travel or during the winter to give my skin a quick hydrating spritz. Can also be used as a toner, make up setting spray, and refreshing mist.
• Facial Roller - Improves elasticity of the skin, reduces appearance of puffiness and fine lines, eases facial muscle tension, and helps product absorb better. 
• 2in1 Lip and Cheek Stain - A hydrating cream formula that gives a hint of color to lips and cheeks.
• Glossier Body Wash - Body wash with oil that moisturizes as you shower (no post shower dry off, lotion up, wait to dry before getting dressed situation!). Plus it can bonus as a shaving cream. 
• Coconut Oil - Buy it anywhere these days! It's a dry oil, so it gets absorbed quickly (aka: leaves behind a glow, not shine). Use it for facial or body moisturizer, shaving cream, lip balm, hair mask, hair frizz serum, and make up remover. Honestly, just google, Coconut Oil beauty and you'll have a list so long you'll run out of oil before you do things to do with it. 
• Vitamin E Oil E-Stick - moisturize your lips, use an under eye cream, and prevents scarring from burns and small cuts. 
• Orchid Facial Oil (pictured in this post) contains floral oils makes your skin all dewy and hydrated. Formulated for all skin types in need of hydration and protection against visible signs of aging (Hurray!).

6. Holiday Light Tour
Let your local Clark Griswold wanna-be get the attention he deserves! While some places may charge for you to drive through their light displays: I prefer the simple suburban classic of driving through snazzy neighborhoods and looking at lights. This is how, years ago, we discovered Christmas Tree Lane (or Fulton Street in the off-season) in Palo Alto. For the two weeks leading up to Christmas you can drive or walk through this display to see carolers, vintage lawn displays and lights, lights and more lights. Free: Fulton Street between Embarcadero Ave. and Seale Rd. Palo Alto, CA (Dec. 15-31)

Watermelon just screams summer to me. When I think of the warm sunny days of summer I think of BBQs, beach and pool days, tan lines, and watermelon. SKYY® Vodka – a vodka born in San Francisco – celebrates my favorite all-American classic fruit with the release of SKYY Infusions® Sun-Ripened Watermelon. A refreshing, watermelon-infused vodka made with real fruit, SKYY’s latest sweet addition encapsulates the complex yet classic flavor of watermelon. So with the end of summer approaching I am sharing my two favorite SKYY Infusions Watermelon Vodka Cocktail recipes to celebrate the end of our sunny, long days.

And before you go all, "Hello? What's that Elisabeth? My early 20s called and wants its flavored vodka back???" I admit that, usually, when I think of flavored vodka I want to gag too. BUUUUT HANG ON WITH ME!!! This stuff actually doesn't taste like a girly jolly rancher. Since this is real-fruit infused vodka the flavors are elevated and bright (LIKE ME!) Ahem. So take a look at these recipes and thank me later. YOU INGRATES


WATERMELON SLUSHEE

Ingredients: (Makes two cocktails)
- 2 oz SKYY Infusions Watermelon
- ½ oz Coconut Water
- 2 oz Appleton Estate Rum
- ½ oz Fresh Lemon Juice
- ½ Fresh Lime Juice
- Watermelon Slice (for garnish)

Blend ingredients with ice. Top with watermelon garnish. Enjoy immediately.

WATERMELON GIMLET 

Ingredients: (Makes two cocktails)

"Living for the weekend" is not a long-term strategy. You cannot go through life accepting that 5 out of every 7 days are going to be spent doing some undesirable to you. Take some time to examine how you are living your weekday lifestyle and try some of these tips for get over you Monday Blues: 

I love the holiday season because it’s a time to reflect on all the things we have to be grateful for. However, it’s a crazy time with all the functions, cooking, and shopping we do. Thankfully, there are ways we can manage the emotional stress and hectic aspects of this time of year.  
1. Don't Put It on a Pedestal:
While it's "the most wonderful time of the year," don't forget that it isn't the be all and end all of your life. Evaluate your expectations: are they realistic? You may find you will enjoy the holidays and your friends' and family's company more if you lower your expectations closer to reality and less like a perfect Christmas movie.

2. Determine the Gifting Plan:
If you have a lot of cousins (like me) or a group of friends, decide ahead of time if you will be exchanging gifts or doing a Secret Santa. Set a price limit and deadline for when everyone must have a wishlist sent out. I love using Draw Names for Secret Santa as it lets you post your links to your desired gifts and makes doing everything anonymously simple.

3. Schedule a Friend(s) Baking Day: 
Plan a day with a friend to cook or bake together. It's way more fun when you work together and can take breaks with sips of mulled wine or cider. Bake cookies for parties and trade some with one another and freeze them. This also works if you double up your recipes for other holiday dishes and can trade your extras.

4. Drama Free Zone: 
As much as your brother may have upset you discussing politics last time you saw one another, this isn't the best time to hash things out or, worse, bring up an article that supports your opinion of who you voted for. Don’t turn the holidays into a therapy session or pulpit. Deal with your family drama another time.
YES! Of course you should spend quality time with your family during the holidays. HOWEVER, that doesn't mean EVERY.SINGLE.MINUTE must be spent all together. Set boundaries and let your family know you'd like to go get coffee by yourself or meet up a with a friend for a certain amount of time. It doesn't mean you love them any less. It's just healthier for your to not feel smothered. As a trade off, I find it helpful to suggest other things we can plan to do to specifically make sure we have quality time (e.g: board game night, movie night, shopping together, etc).
6. You're Not Martha...
We all love Martha Stewart and her perfectly styled dinner table with 8 courses for 35 people in her New England cottage with a uniquely decorated Christmas tree in each room of the house... That's fantastic. I love that she can do that and am inspired! But let's face it. We aren't Martha.
Limit your guest list. Buy store bought desserts or ask for people to bring food if you must. The house doesn't have perfectly decorated to make it a memorable holiday. Just do as much as is fun and special for you.

7. Shop Early (and/or Online):
The title covers this mostly, but don't feel like you must wait until the last two weeks to get presents. The crowds and moods are mostly rotten and everything is a hot mess by that point. Also, don't feel you need to wrap every present to perfection if that's not your thing. Use gift bags or pay for wrapping if that is what makes the most sense for you.

8. Don't Forget the Reason for the Season:
It can be so easy to get wrapped up in the rituals and sparkle of the holidays and forget what it really means to you. If your family is religious I encourage you to read and journal about what this holiday means for your spiritually. Prepare your mind for that celebration. If you don't happen to be religious but still looking for a deeper meaning for this time of year besides the commercial aspect I recommend volunteering your time or gifting to those in need. This can be a lonely and painful time of year for many people. Gifting your time or money to those less fortunate is a beautiful way to celebrate this time of year and remember what it really means to love others.

How do you make your holidays less hectic? 

Photos taken by Nicole Ho for The Abstract Life