I’ve always been fascinated by French beauty, the skincare routines of Parisian women and of course the French pharmacies which is just as much a place to shop for skincare products as it is medicine. My first encounter with the Parisian pharmacy was when I was a teenager and had read in one of my many fashion magazines how models and makeup artists bulk buy the Bioderma cleansing water. I can’t count how many litres of clear micellar water in pink plastic bottles I’ve brought back since, but let’s just say it’s a lot. I still use it to remove eye makeup.
Later on I started exploring other pharmacy favourites, one of them being the Caudalíe Beauty Elixir. I’d tried many other face mists, all refreshing and nice, but none of them compare to this. First of all the smell is out of this world – it’s fruity without being too much. Key ingredients include rose, grapes and rosemary. What sets this spray a part from other face mists is that it feels calming and cooling on skin, but at the same time works like a pick me up. I love to bring the travel size with me on a flight, to wake me up upon arrival. It’s also proven very handy during fashion weeks, where I’ll use it to freshen up after a long day, before going out for dinner.
The last time I was in Paris, I decided to stop by the Caudalíe boutique and spa in the Montmartre area. I love how it looks like a store, but in the back they offer spa services.
It was a very hot and humid summer day in Paris, not a day I would normally choose to have a warm facial. But once I stepped inside, I forgot everything about the weather and happily sipped on tea while waiting. The spa area is very small and intimate, but I felt like I was the only one there – such a luxury coming from the busy streets of Paris.
Through the Vinoperfect facial I was introduced to another one of Caudalíe’s bestsellers: the Vinoperfect range with their signature grape water working to perfect uneven skintones while moisturizing, hydrating and soothing the skin.
My past experiences from facials is walking out of there with a deep cleansed, makeup free face full of redness and patches. But this facial was much more calming and left me with hydrated, glowing skin – almost in need of no makeup.
That’s not to say I didn’t reach out for my sunglasses when I walked home through the Montmartre …
Popping in for a facial in the middle of the day felt like such a luxury – definitely something I would do again.
30, Rue des Abbesses, 75018 Paris, Caudalie.com
