{"id":1354,"date":"2010-08-13T05:48:44","date_gmt":"2010-08-13T05:48:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/french\/?p=1354"},"modified":"2017-10-18T13:49:09","modified_gmt":"2017-10-18T11:49:09","slug":"how-to-age-like-the-french","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/french\/how-to-age-like-the-french\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Age Like the French"},"content":{"rendered":"

It\u2019s no secret that French women<\/strong> are esteemed around le monde<\/em> to be among the most alluring and beautiful women around. The New York Times published a list of 10 Ways to Age Like a Frenchwoman <\/strong>in July (on my birthday, en fait!<\/em>), and I\u2019ve been mulling it over ever since. Let\u2019s see what vous pensez <\/em>(you think):<\/p>\n

10 Ways to Age Like a Frenchwoman<\/a><\/p>\n

1. Look out for No. 1: \u201cFrenchwomen are more elegant, more aware of their femininity,\u201d says Dr. Michel Soussaline, a Paris plastic surgeon. \u201cThey simply take care of themselves better.\u201d<\/p>\n

Transparent Take:<\/strong> Nothing we can do about this one. If ma chambre et ma vie<\/em> (my room and my life) were mieux rang\u00e9e <\/em>(neater, better organized), I too would take care of myself, artfully choosing elegant clothes and subtle accessories. As it is, I do everything I can to make it out of la maison <\/em>in two shoes that match and without falling over myself.<\/p>\n

Potential French Points: Wash.<\/strong> Also, did you notice they quote un chirugien esth\u00e9tique<\/em> (a plastic surgeon) for aging advice?<\/p>\n

2. Keep it natural: Heavy makeup emphasizes wrinkles and pores. A little blush, mascara and lip color are all most Frenchwomen use. They spend a lot on skin care and beauty products, but not always on the most expensive brands.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

TT:<\/strong> Fortunately, we know all about makeup<\/a>!<\/p>\n

Potential French Points:<\/strong> 5<\/strong> (le blush, le mascara, le fard \u00e0 paupi\u00e8res, le gloss \u00e0 l\u00e8vres et l\u2019eyeliner).<\/em><\/p>\n

3. No soap: They use lotions and hydrating creams for the face (and body), often applied with a cosmetics sponge that provides enough abrasiveness to remove dead cells but not hurt delicate skin.<\/p>\n

TT: <\/strong>This might be going trop loin<\/em>, but since reading this, I\u2019ve tried to use moisturing body wash au lieu du savon<\/em> (in place of soap)… et j\u2019ai la peau bien douce <\/em>(and my skin is pretty soft). Je crois que \u00e7a marche <\/em>(I think this works).<\/p>\n

Potential French Points:<\/strong> How do you measure soft skin? Disons <\/em>10<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

4. The wonder of water: Frenchwomen swear by cold-water rinses \u2013 after face-cleaning, shampoo or shower. They say it improves circulation, bringing all-important oxygen to the skin cells.<\/p>\n

TT: <\/strong>I\u2019ve heard this is done in Japan as well (est-ce que nos lecteurs japonais peuvent nous aider?<\/em> Can our Japanese readers help with this\u00a0?). Cependant<\/em>, the Google prompt when you type \u00ab\u00a0French people\u00a0\u00bb into the search bar is\u00a0\u00ab\u00a0Why do French people smell\u00a0\u00bb. I smell un rat. Mais \u00e7a me para\u00eet bien logique <\/em>(but this seems logical), donc…<\/em><\/p>\n

Potential French Points\u00a0:<\/strong> 10 <\/strong>(encore la peau douce).<\/em><\/p>\n

5. Diet: Women of a certain age maintain their weight by eating carefully: fresh, never-processed, foods, especially fruits and vegetables, in small portions. If they do put on the kilos, they take them off immediately \u2014 with the aid of pills or other treatments.<\/p>\n

TT: <\/strong>There was a cabbage soup (soupe au chou) <\/em>in the r\u00e9pertoire <\/em>of my French famille d\u2019accueil <\/em>(host family), so I am entirely certain this point is true. An important French vocabulary word: un r\u00e9gime<\/em><\/strong>, a diet. \u00catre en r\u00e9gime <\/em><\/strong>: <\/strong>to be on a diet. You will need these words before you go to France and even more once you\u2019re there.<\/p>\n

Potential French Points: <\/strong>Depends how much you want to lose! But this is such an important point, 5. <\/strong>By the way, we at the French blog love everybody and think you all look magnifique<\/em>, and food should make you feel good, even (especially!) if you are en r\u00e9gime.<\/em><\/p>\n

6. Exercise: Why? Go to a spa instead.<\/p>\n

TT: <\/strong>What can we say? Someday, you should all beg for stories about the piscine municipale <\/em>(public pool) in Paris, whose abonneurs <\/em>(subscribers) clearly had other plans besides exercising. This sentiment appears to be fading, however.<\/p>\n

Potential French Points: <\/strong>Can\u2019t tell you, I\u2019m off to the spa.<\/p>\n

7. The doctor is in: Frenchwomen love their dermatologists. As one friend put it, why take a chance with over-the-counter skin remedies, when doctors can provide treatments that really work. Besides, the visits are largely covered by the French medical system.<\/p>\n

TT: <\/strong>Don\u2019t tell the Republicans, or we\u2019ll never get national health coverage.<\/p>\n

Potential French Points: <\/strong>The time it takes to get a prescription filled. In une pharmacie <\/em>laced with beauty and diet aids like land mines, could be a while.<\/p>\n

8. The surgeon is in: If Frenchwomen opt for cosmetic surgery, the objective is to look like themselves \u2013 not someone 20 years younger.<\/p>\n

TT: <\/strong>Can I skip this one? No helpful opinions on la chirurgie esth\u00e9tique. <\/em>To each his own.<\/p>\n

Potential French Points\u00a0: <\/strong>Not 20, apparently. 10?<\/strong><\/p>\n

9. The look: Paris, like New York, is becoming very informal, but Frenchwomen never try to dress like their daughters. Accessories count: good jewelry, fantastic shoes or boots, and a scarf casually wrapped to conceal those neck wattles. And since Frenchwomen tend to have great legs (with help from varicose vein treatments), they wear more skirts and dresses than their American counterparts.<\/p>\n

TT: <\/strong>LOOOOOOOOOOVE this one! Finally, great advice. Maybe wardrobe adjustments should be covered by the national medical system. Cf.:<\/p>\n

-S\u00e9gol\u00e8ne Royal<\/strong> (femme politique fran\u00e7aise, ancienne conseill\u00e8re du pr\u00e9sident Mitt\u00e9rand)<\/em><\/p>\n

-Christine Lagarde<\/strong> (Ministre de la Finance) et<\/em><\/p>\n

-Rashida Dati<\/strong> (femme politique fran\u00e7aise, ancienne ministre de la Justice)<\/em>, who I\u2019ve met and who is probably the chicest person I\u2019ve ever seen. And she was pregnant at the time.<\/p>\n

Potential French Points: <\/strong>Des millions<\/em>.<\/p>\n

10. Think sexy: As the French writer Fran\u00e7oise Sagan wrote: \u201cA dress makes no sense unless it inspires men to take it off you.\u201d <\/em>Buy some fun, new underwear.<\/p>\n

TT: <\/strong>Couldn\u2019t agree more. Excusez-moi, <\/em>I must go faire du shopping<\/em>.<\/p>\n

Potential French Points: <\/strong>Des milliards <\/em>(billions). Allez-y, hop! Au shopping!<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"\"\"

It\u2019s no secret that French women are esteemed around le monde to be among the most alluring and beautiful women around. The New York Times published a list of 10 Ways to Age Like a Frenchwoman in July (on my birthday, en fait!), and I\u2019ve been mulling it over ever since. Let\u2019s see what vous…<\/p>\n

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