THE CLEAN BEAUTY AISLE
10 French-Girl Essentials, from a Beauty-Obsessed Parisian
Step into an Oh My Cream clean beauty boutique (there are currently 30 of them across France, Belgium, and the UK) and you’ll instantly sense the effortless je ne sais quoi that’s made French beauty famous around the world. Juliette Lévy, the mastermind behind it all, is, of course, French. And she was practically a girl when—fresh out of business school at 25—she started the brand, in 2013.
Lévy most definitely looks the part: glowing skin, healthy-looking hair, and chic, minimal makeup. “For sure, French girls like the less-is-more approach,” she says. “We like to focus on amazing clean beauty essentials—skin care more than makeup—that are particularly adapted to our skin type. And then we’re loyal to them, to achieve our best skin. A nice glow, a natural hairstyle, super subtle makeup: It’s actually a lot of work to look effortless.”
But thanks to Lévy, it’s less work than it once was. “People no longer have to choose between transparency and results,” she says. She started Oh My Cream in an effort to get more of both. “I wanted more transparency, better results from the products I was using, more expertise from the consultants in-store—I wanted a more modern experience,” she says.
Clean, Lévy continues, has always been key. “We’ve focused there since the beginning,” she says. “Now in France, clean beauty has become a standard. People no longer buy cosmetics that come from brands who don’t act for the planet, or which are filled with useless or harmful ingredients. For me, being clean is about transparency, keeping your promises, delivering incredible results, while, of course, keeping it safe and not harmful for the environment. And about having a positive list of active ingredients that have proven their worth.”
To that formula, Oh My Cream adds an incredible curation of cutting-edge brands (including goop Beauty—the top seller is Microderm), amazing facials in dreamy treatment rooms, and, Lévy emphasizes, really good advice. “Our experts are truly passionate about beauty and can talk about it for hours—you can trust them with your skin and find your best beauty routine.” Here, 10 of Lévy’s current favorites for the ultimate French-girl look.
1
Oh My Cream Skincare Make-Up Removing Oil
Oh My Cream, 23 €
“This is the first product I created for our own range, and it is now our bestseller. I strongly believe that double cleansing is the most important gesture in a beauty routine—it literally transformed my skin when I started it 10 years ago. I am very lazy, and honestly this cleanser takes just a minute at night. You massage it on dry skin; it removes makeup super easily (even waterproof mascara). Plus, I’m addicted to its amazing citrus smell, and I love the beautiful glass packaging.”
2
Oh My Cream Skincare Exfoliating Powder
Oh My Cream, 35 €
“Exfoliating is my passion. I do it way too much—like every day. That’s why I love this little powder, because it’s gentle enough to use every morning under the shower. It awakens my complexion instantly. Our customers love the feeling of soft and super smooth skin after using it. You just mix some powder with water in the palm of your hands—it’s not grainy—and you massage the foaming texture on damp skin before rinsing. Whenever I stop exfoliating, I see the difference instantly: My skin looks dull, I see more imperfections, and my moisturizer doesn’t penetrate as well. This is the key to glowing skin, for sure.”
3
goop Beauty Cloudberry Exfoliating Jelly Cleanser
goop, $35/$25 with subscription
“I’m also a big fan of this cleanser. When I don’t have time and I want to clean my skin and exfoliate at the same time or when I have important meetings and I want to look fresh, this is what I use. I’ve recommended it to many customers, and they all fell in love.”
4
Augustinus Bader The Rich Cream
goop, $300
“I remember trying this in Greece at my mom’s house. We were together on holiday, super tired, and she told me she had never tried anything like it. The texture is completely unique, the glow and the visible effect on fine lines blew me away, and I recommend it to anyone who is asking me honestly what I think is best in terms of aging well. So, yes, it is a little investment, but you don’t need any serum or anything else, actually, and I don’t know anybody who doesn’t love it.”
5
ILIA Limitless Mascara
goop, $28
“I always recommend this mascara from ILIA (which is, by the way, my favorite makeup brand). Its volumizing power is incredible yet the result is very natural, and it stays on for the whole day.”
6
Dr. Barbara Sturm Face Mask
goop, $150
“A beauty editor once told me, at an event in our Notting Hill store, that this was the best mask she had ever used. This is literally my rescue product when everything goes wrong: It’s like a facial in a jar. It’s a deeply moisturizing, soothing mask that instantly minimizes irritation. It’s perfect to use when traveling, after sun exposure, or whenever your skin needs an instant hydrating boost.”
7
goop Beauty All-in-One Super Nutrient Face Oil
goop, $98/$89 with subscription
“I often use this right after the cloudberry cleanser (this duo is like my little facial at home, just before any occasion). The oil instantly brings comfort and radiance to my skin while feeding it with incredibly effective active ingredients like bakuchiol. Plus, I love massaging my skin with it—the herbaceous scent is truly relaxing.”
8
goop Beauty Ultimate Dry Brush
goop, $25
“I am in love with this Ultimate Dry Brush, which I find so convenient with its large handle. I dry brush every morning before I take my shower, and it’s amazing to wake up circulation, tone my skin, and get some energy before the day starts.”
9
Combeau The Skin Essential
Oh My Cream, 59 €
“I call this the Rolls-Royce of supplements. We get incredible feedback from our customers on it. It’s formulated with patented hyaluronic acid, vitamin C, zinc, and saffron. It has clinically proven benefits for so many different skin concerns—and Vogue even said it’s the most complete formula on the market.”
10
goop Beauty Microderm Instant Glow Body Polish
goop, $48/$43 with subscription
“I never, ever have time to exfoliate my body, except for a few Sundays a year when I turn my bathroom into a spa and take some time to indulge. So I love this two-in-one shower gel, with its whipped cream texture that cleanses and exfoliates. It really makes my skin smoother, with fewer imperfections, especially on my legs (my biggest complex), and the invigorating scent is just addictive.”
