Who needs fashion tips and advice when they already have style …
Sneak peek at the latest news and trends from a Parisian’s perspective.
Musthaves and things to avoid

1st TOPIC Perfect skin

Okay LA is a sunny city, but isn’t it also the city of Angels? And I’m guessing angels are usually white. Rule number one for a Parisian in LA or a wannabe ParisianLA, “do not stay in the sun too much”. The sun here is really strong and sometimes (which I never could understand) it gives allergies you’ve never had before (little bumps on your legs or red dots on the face)

Trust me, if you want to look natural and get this French glow, put sunscreen on your face at least and use these following amazingly wonderful products I’ve been using for ever (and will never stop)  …

– The BB creme: it took me so long to start using it (I can get really stubborn sometimes when people keep talking about something trendy I just do not want to buy it) This creme is a great product for healthy and smooth skins with nothing to hide really. It serves as a concealer, a foundation as well as a great daily cream. It’s way more than 3 in 1 but that’s the only way I can describe it. Buy the big tube and you do not have to put a big amount and paint your face with it. You can even mix it with your other daily cream. For people with bad skins and pimples, this cream is also very useful but you’ll still have to use your creams to fight your problems and foundation to hide them. One more time though, it’s not because you have bad skin that you have to stay in the sun thinking the vitamin D is going to make everything better. I know it helps at first but then it gets worst.

– The one and only NIVEA blue cream (do not know the exact name): This is said to be the product that will allow our enemies to stay away (wrinkles). I’ve been told to use this cream at a very early age (10 maybe). You must apply it on your neck and hands (which are usually the body parts that get the most wrinkled) on your face and entire body if you can. The only little drawback with this product is that it takes a while to get into your skin. It is the best moisturizer but it feels like you put greek yogurt on your body. So maybe try some body parts (knees, feet, elbows, neck) and the entire body obviously only when you’re sleeping alone. It can be rather a turn off to feel like butter in bed. Good night creamy.

– The famous Eight-Hour-Cream by Estée Lauder: very very sticky so this is not a normal cream. You have to apply it on your lips at least once a day and preferably at night (big amount) It has to be in your purse all through winter time (even in LA) If you’re going sailing or somewhere really windy, apply the product. It’s also very useful for little cuts on your hands. The only little probleme with this amazing cosmetic product is the smell (some men really do not like it). Kissing gets difficult because it stays on for a while after applying it. A small little amount mixed with Carmex can be a solution in that case. It is also a great way to apply lipstick easier. You can use a brush and mix the lipstick with the cream. The result is a very nice glow on your lips.

– Body cream is good but BODY OIL rocks: The only issue with the oil I must admit is the stickiness. How can you go to sleep, wear your silk nightgown without staining it? I have the solution I’ve been using for years. I know it’s expensive but it’s worth the money. The Nuxe Huile Prodigieuse is definitely the best, number one oil. It doesn’t really have a smell. I’d recommend buying the unsparkling one. I apply it in my hair (extremities) before going to sleep and on my body especially on my chest, neck and legs. You can also put a little drop on your eyebrows at night so they grow quicker and get healthier.

For the expenses, if you travel a lot or if you know someone who does, I recommend buying the Eight-Hour cream (duty-free) you usually make a great deal.

Perfect nails

I must say that Parisian girls (talking about the true, natural, no makeup Parisian women) have been a little out of the Nail scene. They prefer nothing or maybe transparent nail polish to make the nails look strong. I mean this is the reality. I have a lot of girlfriends in Paris who didn’t even know how to put nail polish, which brand to buy and where to go. I get it! I was the same not so long ago. It’s more of a rebellion again against society and the “other girls”. That’s usually what a Parisian would say. This other girl who looks so superficial (fake hair, fake face, fake boobs, fake nails) OMG! Obviously the Parisian do not say OMG. Wait a minute, they’re starting to say it more and more lately (which if you want my opinion is so dumb) A Parisian would say “quelle horreur”, “cata” (short for catastrophe), “la pauvre” (pity for a superficial who is too dumb to understand that she is trying too much) We, Parisian, all love that! It’s not really gossip, it’s not really mean, it’s nothing really … just reality. You’d say Notre-Dame is amazingly beautiful but Pompidou would be “cata”! Same for people walking in the street. That’s the way it works. We have never been afraid to tell a woman that she has great style and ask her where she got her boots. We prefer not saying anything to the “poor” girl who just has it all wrong. Her friends have to tell her! That’s the Parisian way of thinking, the way we deal with bad style.

Back to the nail situation, I started really doing them when I moved to NYC. At that time, Paris was really behind. We didn’t have so many “chinese” cheap nail salon. I think it may have exploded when SATC became so popular there. Now, having your nails done in Paris is easy. You still have to stay simple to stay Parisian .For any occasion dealing with the fashion or art industries, you can get crazy (different colors on each nail, weird colors, fluorescent …) Nevertheless, for the everyday wear, the nails must be natural even with nail polish on! Never try fake nails! It’s so hideous and ruins your nails. Never have long nails with color (it’s a sign of vulgarity) Stay simple: if it’s summer time (LA style) you can wear reddish, orange/red.