Known for their effortless style and beauty, French women are often cited as the ultimate inspiration when it comes to what we want our wardrobes and makeup to look like. That’s why you’ll keep hearing or seeing the terms ‘French girl style’ and ‘French girl cool’. But while it appears effortless, their natural beauty is grounded in a French skin care regimen that’s all about products that really work for your skin - ones that are good for your overall health as opposed to just ‘anti-ageing’. And that’s exactly what Payot does - and why we love them so much.
Built on the idea of bringing confidence and wellbeing to every woman, Payot has developed a range of products that understand the subtle differences between skin types, and actually cater to different skin care concerns. Their commitment to effective, clinically proven skin care products remains their driving force.
Interested in getting a French beauty routine of your own? Keep reading to learn about Payot and their holistic approach to healthy skin.
Overview:
Payot: A french skin care regimen that will change your skin
Brainchild of Dr Nadia Payot, one of the early female physicians and skin care pioneers in France, Payot was created in 1920 as a way to help every woman feel confident in her own skin. She did this by putting her medical background to use and creating skin care formulations that actually generate real results.
Dr Payot opened her first spa in France in 1937 and quickly became a favourite among aestheticians and their clients. And as the 20th century went on, Payot skin care products began to receive international acclaim, and over time the company has grown their offering by creating products that are tailored to different skin types. While this is the norm now, it was revolutionary for the time.
Today, the Payot team is still based in Paris and their team of scientists continue to study the science of cell renewal and ways to further develop their products. All Payot skincare products are clinically tested to ensure they do what they claim and they contain either natural or biotechnologically formulated ingredients that are hand selected for their effectiveness.
Even after 100 years, Payot is still striving to bring women the best in skincare.
Which products should I try?
So after 100 years in the business, there are some cult products from Payot you absolutely have to try. But we also want you to get the most out of your new French skin care regimen so we thought we’d break it down into the non-negotiable steps and offer some alternatives for oily skin, normal skin and dry skin.
1. Cleanser
Whether you’re a French girl, Australian girl, or even a guy, cleansing is a MUST in your skin care routine. Don’t @ us. Whether you need to double cleanse or when it comes to which cleanser you need to use then that truly depends on your skin type.
Payot recommends at the very least a morning and evening cleanse. The first cleanse of the day will gently clean your skin and get it ready for the day, and the evening one will remove all traces of makeup and dirt that’s built up over the day. One thing to note if you don't want to add two cleansers to your routine is that micellar waters are very common in your standard French skin care routine. They are a great way to gently remove any build up in the morning, without having to worry about rinsing afterwards.
Combination/Oily Skin
AM: Apply Payot Lait Micellaire Demaquillant to a cotton pad and massage it into your face and neck. This is a gentle micellar milk that is enriched with hyaluronic acid and raspberry extracts. It doesn’t strip the skin of essential oils and prevents any dryness. It’s also suitable for all skin types.
PM: Use Payot Lait Micellaire Demaquillant again to remove initial makeup and follow with Payot Gel Demaquillant D'Tox. This foaming gel cleanser will help get rid of any excess sebum and gently cleanse your skin without stripping your skin of any oils that you actually need.
Normal/Dry Skin
AM: Splash your face with water, dry it and then apply a small amount of Payot Creme Micellaire Demaquillante and massage it in. This no-rinse gentle cleansing micellar cream is designed for normal to dry skin to help remove any dirt and impurities. Enriched with hyaluronic acid and mango extracts, expect clean, hydrated and supple skin.
PM: Use two pumps of Payot Huile Fondante Démaq and massage it into dry skin. Like most oils, this milky cleansing oil works best applied directly onto dry skin so massage gently in circular motions then remove with a warm muslin cloth or lukewarm water. Follow this with Payot Creme Micellaire Demaquillante again.
2. Moisturiser
Moisturisers are also non-negotiable in our eyes. While some of you might feel like your skin produces enough oil, there are often special ingredients in treatment moisturisers that will help keep your skin barrier healthy and get that skin glowing. So again, the texture and type will depend on your skin type and your skin concerns. But remember, a good French skin care regimen is about keeping your skin’s health at the forefront, not just focusing on the whole anti-ageing thing. That will come naturally when you’re looking after yourself.
Combination/Oily Skin
AM: After cleansing and your morning treatments, seal it all in with the Payot Hydra 24+ Gel Creme Sorbet, a super light gel moisturiser that addresses combination skin types and oily t-zones. But don’t let that fool you, it’s also got a potent Hydro Defense Complex that hydrates the skin and protects it from external aggressors.
PM: Again after cleansing and treatments, use the Payot My Payot Jour Gelee to seal in all those nutrients and moisture before bed. This gel formula (inspired by marmalade) was designed with combination skin in mind, so it’ll help to control shine and leave you with a soft powder finish. It uses an antioxidant concentrate to help refine the texture of your skin and leave it more radiant.
Normal/Dry Skin
AM: Payot Hydra 24+ Creme Glacee is the highly effective normal/dry skin version of its sorbet counterpart that we mentioned above. It uses the same Hydro Defense Complex to help add and lock in hydration as well as fight external aggressors. However, the formula is a little richer to help plump dehydrated and drier skin types.
PM: Payot Creme No.2 Cachemire was designed with sensitive skin in mind so it’s good for maintenance of the skin barrier and locking in moisture. On top of that, it can also help with any irritation or redness as well.
If you’re looking for a real boost for mature and much drier skin, try the Payot Supreme Jeunesse Nuit. It uses chrono-biologically released active ingredients to work at your skin all night long. With prolonged use, it can help fight signs of ageing (like the appearance of wrinkles) and firm up facial contours and lighten any dark spots, while also restoring radiance.
3. Treatments
We realise that treatment is quite a broad term but a good skin care routine should include serums and treatments that treat specific skin concerns. So think physical and chemical exfoliants to help resurface the skin, acne treatments or acids to help boost radiance. It’s a big part of that effortless glowing skin that people want from a French skin care regimen.
Acne-prone
If we’re going to talk about treatments in a French skin care regimen, and especially when it comes to Payot, you absolutely have to try the Payot Pate Grise. Created in 1947, it is still adored around the world as a spot treatment that really does get rid of those pesky pimples overnight. It uses zinc oxide to soothe the sensitive areas and remove the excess sebum that is causing the problem. And it also includes sweet almond to soothe the area. Simply spot treat the area and cover with a band aid.
Dull Skin
As we’ve said before, there’s nothing quite like vitamin C for skin as a radiance booster. Payot My Payot Concentre Eclat is no different. With high concentrations of vitamin C as well as superfoods like goji and acai berry extracts, this lightweight serum will leave you with brighter skin. Plus it helps fight free radicals and pollutants too.
Dehydrated Skin
Three types of hyaluronic acid, need we say more? Say goodbye to dehydrated skin with Payot’s Blue Techni Liss Concentre. It absorbs really well and will keep your skin hydrated, plus help reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Apply to damp skin then seal it all in with a moisturiser for smoother, plumper and more hydrated skin.
Now that you know all about a good french skin care regimen…
It’s time to add Payot to your cart. While there might be some beauty secrets the French aren't telling us, we'd say that the real power of a French skin care regimen is finding products that work for your specific skin type and simplifying your routine to include only the essential products. Try it out and we promise you that you’ll get that French girl cool in no time.
Shop Payot and all the good skin care on Oz Hair & Beauty with Afterpay and Zippay today.
