As the weather changes, so do the needs of your skin. With new skincare trends popping up what seems like every week, it’s hard to put your finger on what your skin actually needs – so let’s look at the French winter skincare routine. After all, France is home to some of the world’s best beauty products and the country takes its skincare very seriously!
I live in Paris and I’ve discovered countless tips and tricks to caring for my skin, hair, and nails year-round. But let’s focus on winter skincare for a moment.
Most elements of the French girl winter skincare routine are only slightly adjusted to adapt to the harsh winter conditions. Extra hydration and protecting the skin’s natural barrier are still super important. Even though the endless gray Parisian clouds provide a light barrier, SPF is still a must during wintertime in Paris.
Here’s an overview of the best French winter skincare tips!
Winter Morning Skincare
Let’s first talk about how Parisians take care of their skin in the morning during winter. Here is an overview of the French winter morning skincare routine:
Start with a Gentle Cleanse
As tempting as it can be to stay in the routine of that deep, ultra-cleansing face wash twice a day, it’s important to understand how over-washing will strip your skin, leaving it unprotected from the extra-harsh weather elements.
Go ahead and enjoy a nice wipe-down with some reusable cotton rounds and French micellar water, or use an ultra-gentle dermatologist-approved facial cleanser to help break down last night’s products and oils.
The French face wash I use the most during the harsh Parisian winters is Avène Cleanance Cleansing Gel. This lightly foaming facial cleanser will remove excess oil from the skin without drying it out.
Avène Cleanance Cleansing Gel Soap Free Cleanser for Acne Prone, Oily, Face & Body, 6.7 Oz
(as of February 14, 2026 11:54 GMT -05:00 - More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)Even when it’s cloudy, SPF
The effects of consistent sunscreen usage (or lack thereof) become more apparent, and more important, as we age. Just because the sun isn’t shining on your face all day long doesn’t mean that you can avoid sunscreen in a winter skincare routine. Harmful UV rays can still penetrate the clouds.
A moisturizer with SPF should be the last step of your skincare routine before applying makeup.
If you’re not a fan of the smell and whitecast SPF products sometimes leave, try the best-selling, super thin Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer with a low SPF 30, because nothing is worth skipping this step.
Introduce a Thicker Cream to Your Routine
Every few days, you can mix your daily facial moisturizer with an ultra-hydrating cream to double up on moisture and keep your skin from looking worn out after all day bearing the cold face first.
You should always keep on the lookout for French face creams that contain hyaluronic acid or other ceramides to really seal in that moisture. The La Roche-Posay Double Repair Face Moisturizer is perfect for this!
La Roche-Posay Toleriane Double Repair Moisturizer
(as of February 14, 2026 20:09 GMT -05:00 - More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)Lip Care
Our lips have the tendency to get super dry in the winter, so keeping them moist and removing dead dry skin is a must. I recommend this French Girl Rose Lip Polish made with shea butter and castor oil to remove flaking skin from the lips.
Most French lip scrubs are made with sugar because of how easily the formula dissolves in water, so you can always try a DIY at-home recipe for one!
Top it off with this French honey lip balm and repeat when you feel your lips losing that summer softness.
I carry an extra-strength French lip balm with me throughout the day and reapply it when my lips get dry.
Go Lighter on the Makeup
When it comes to French winter makeup, focus on products that can help your skin survive, as it’s the one part of your body that isn’t constantly covered up this season!
Instead of layering on foundation, concealer, and powder, you can opt for this YSL all-in-one glow foundation that’s packed with extra skin foods such as SPF, moisturizer, and anti-aging ingredients. Your skin will thank you for the extra protection.
Winter Evening Skincare
Now let’s take a look at how French girls care for their skin in the evening during winter. Here is a quick guide to the French winter evening skincare routine:
Makeup Removal
It’s imperative to ensure you’re breaking down and wiping away anything and everything making its way into your pores each day. If not, you could face breakouts and blackheads.
Bioderma Sensibio H2O Micellar Water
(as of February 14, 2026 04:58 GMT -05:00 - More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)Micellar water is a key element for makeup removal the French way – specifically the Bioderma Sensibio H20 product. This little pink-capped bottle has been recommended by countless French models, influencers, actresses, and celebrities.
It’s the French solution to getting rid of all your makeup, every time.
Wash up again!
Once the makeup has been completely removed from the skin, French women begin their nightly face wash process with a gentle cleanser like the Caudalie Vinopure Pore Purifying Gel Cleanser and give their pores a gentle 60-second scrub with the fingertips. Having a clean face free of makeup and oil is key to prepping for nighttime skincare.
Caudalie Vinopure Purifying Gel Cleanser
(as of February 14, 2026 19:40 GMT -05:00 - More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)Exfoliate Once a Week
As a general rule of thumb, only use physical exfoliants few and far between, and choose them wisely. Chemical exfoliants such as BHAs and AHAs are going to avoid the redness and irritation that tough beads and brushes cause, and instead, you’re going to keep that supple skin through all the toughest months.
Gommage is the French method of exfoliation, which combines manual and chemical-based exfoliation.
The cult-favorite Biologique Recherche P50 exfoliating toner has been described as a “facial in a bottle” so if you have the budget, go for this one.
The La Roche-Posay Ultra-Fine Face Scrub is a more budget-friendly alternative and works well on sensitive skin.
French girls exfoliate once or twice a week during winter without fail.
If you’re not used to exfoliating, you can do it up to 3 times a week once your skin has adjusted.
Winter Facial Masks
The French girl favorite Caudalie Instant Detox Mask can be applied once or twice a week, preferably while soaking in the bathtub!
Caudalie Instant Detox Mask, Pore Minimizing Face Mask - 75 mL
(as of February 14, 2026 13:53 GMT -05:00 - More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)This clay mask deep cleans while minimizing pores. After the mask dries, you can rinse to find your skin looking refreshed, bright, and firm.
It has ingredients like antioxidant-filled grape extracts, which Caudalie is known for, papaya enzyme, parsley, lavender, and chamomile. It is free of parabens, phthalates, gluten, and sulfates – for that French clean beauty we all want.
Doing a face mask during winter is incredibly important to combat the dry Parisian air the face comes in contact with. Because Parisians face dirt and pollution in the city every day, it’s necessary to do some damage control at least once a week and a mask can do the trick.
Facial Lymphatic Massages
Lymphatic drainage massages are a French girl favorite for curing cellulite, but they can also be used on the face. Lymphatic massages are a method to stimulate the flow of lymph, a fluid that promotes the movement of white blood cells, oxygen, and nutrients through the body.
Lymphatic massages are said to have many benefits, reducing issues such as face and eye puffiness, dryness, acne, skin sensitivity, and dullness.
These massages start with applying facial oil to be sure you’re not tugging on your skin throughout the process and inadvertently causing wrinkles, and repeat 5-10 different small movements in your face and neck area.
The concentration of lymph nodes in your face and neck area should not be ignored. Not only will this step of your routine eliminate toxins and hydrate your skin, but you’ll be feeling relaxed and rejuvenated afterward, and it can be done up to every night!
Winter Night Cream
I have come to adore my night creams, as they leave my skin feeling amazing the next morning. They also have a wonderful smell which I enjoy for several minutes after applying! My favorite is the Nuxe Prodigieuse night cream, which comes in a pink bottle and smells like macadamia oil.
Overnight Face Mask or Peel
French women try to use a smoothing night peel a few times a week to reduce marks and blemishes. An extra luscious overnight treatment for your face will continue to build up the hydration in your skin that will last through the next day, and leave you feeling replenished 24/7.
You’ll find that some of these luxuriously thick products can be doubled either as an overnight moisturizer or even as a mask before finishing up your winter skincare routine. Two in one!
I recommend the Bioderma Sébium Night Peel which can be used on combination/oily skin with blemishes for up to 4 weeks, after which you don’t use the product for one month.
Take Care of Your Body
While you may already be spreading lotion on your neck and decolletage, that’s not quite enough in winter.
La Roche-Posay Lipikar Balm AP+ Intense Repair Body Lotion is perfect for the rest of your ultra-dry winter skin. It provides hydration for up to 2 days through its intense formula of niacinamide, shea butter, and glycerin. It is one of the best French body lotions to repair and soothe your winter skin!
If you’re extra dry, you can use an ultra-thick cream on your hands and feet before bed too, and even cover them with some spa socks and gloves. You’ll wake up forgetting about your frostbitten fingertips and dry nail beds from the day before. It’s easy to forget spots like your cuticles and heels, but these areas take the brunt of dry weather even when covered up.
Body oils are also wonderful for winter hydration.
Don’t Forget Your Hair
The hair on our heads also needs some extra attention during the cold winter months. Now is the time to do some extra hair masks a bit more often than we normally would. The cold air can dry out our hair just like it does to our skin after all!
As much as we all want to pretend it’s still summer, our skin is going to need that extra TLC for a few months. Luckily, most (if not all) of the new steps in your French-inspired winter skincare routine can be tossed in on days when you want some extra hydration, or you just want to treat yourself!
It’s not always easy to tell when your skin is struggling, so stay on top of your routine and check in with your skin as the temperatures begin to rise again. Plus, if you’re dealing with changes in humidity and temperature from traveling or other activities, now you’ve got the toolkit to rejuvenate and battle those conditions!
I hope this post helped shed some light on the French way to care for your skin in winter! Next up, read about the French summer skincare routine.
2 comments
By using a lotion your face can look less puffy by being gently massaged with the treatment oil of your choice several times each week to help flush out toxins, fluids, works as a better moisturizer and allows for intense hydration, guaranteeing nourished skin every day.
Body Gua Sha a is best done after both cleansing the face and applying a moisturizer or facial oil, as the Gua Sha massage not only gives your skin a ‘workout,’ but also helps products’ nutrients absorb better into skin.