WHAT MONACO LOCALS USE IN THE SUN:
The French often use products that combine tanning benefits with generous skin treatments. It’s a brilliant idea to balance out the effects of the sun. A few poolside snapshots of beauty essentials direct from the locals. Almost all products are available in the U.S. for those of us here.
Clinque Superdefense SPF 25 – This provides defense against the visible signs of stress and aging. The moisturizer serves as a daytime barrier against skin-damaging emotional stress, sun and pollution. The SPF works to neutralize UVA and UVB rays.
TRESemme Liquid Gold Perfecting Hair Treatment – This treatment features a restorative complex and is infused with argan oil, so colored hair is protected from the summer rays. A bleached blonde was using both of these products while lounging in the sun for the afternoon. The TRESemme treatment is not available in the U.S., but a close alternative is TRESemme Nourishing Rituals Cashmere Touch Hydrating Serum.
Nivea Sun Deep Tanning Oil – Formulated with nourishing jojoba oil, the spray supports the skin’s moisture level, leaving it smooth and supple. It prevents skin peeling and allows a tan to last longer. It provides protection against sunburn and premature skin aging, and it’s water-resistant.
Vichy Capital Soleil SPF 30 Luxurious Protective Oil – It’s a luxurious, skin-conditioning body oil with a broad-spectrum UVA/UVB protection. The formula boosts natural White Grapeseed Oil and Vitamin E to nourish and protect, plus it’s preservative-free. A radiantly tanned gentlemen using this said it’s fantastic stuff! The USA packaging looks slightly different, but it’s the same great product.
Lierac Sunific Suncare 2 SPF 15 Iridescent Milk Mist – This mist activates your tan and has anti-aging, firming and anti-radicalizing benefits. It offers hydration to the skin with extracts of Noni, frangipani flower and annatto oil. It’s water-resistant and paraben-free.
Milkshake Sun & More Pleasure Oil – The natural oil in Milkshake Pleasure Oil replenishes moisture and shine to hair as well as acting as a natural nourishing oil when applied to skin. USA packaging looks a bit different.
Avene Eau Thermale Protection Spray Spf 20 – It’s a lightweight sunscreen that shields skin and contains a patented ingredient to ward off free-radical damage that can cause premature aging. Exclusive thermal water soothes and softens, keeping skin healthy and radiant.
BEAUTY FAVORITES FROM THE LOCALS:
Le Metropole Shopping Centre in Monte Carlo is a site to behold. It contains numerous stores, as well as salons and shops with makeup, hair and French beauty products. We stopped into Sephora and the health store to pinpoint current beauty trends and popular brands.
In Sephora, the most popular products to compliment a tan are a bright bold lipstick and a shimmery eyeshadow with stay-powering. A favorite in Monte-Carlo is NARS Semi Matte Lipstick in Schiap.
The eyeshadow that is a best-seller in the store and worth the splurge during the summer, when eyelids tend to be oily, is MAKE UP FOR EVER Aqua Resist Eyeshadow. It’s waterproof and smudge-proof, and it lasts.
MUFE Aqua Resist Eyeshadow in 9 Desert (a gold color), compliments the NARS Schiap lip color well.
TOP SELLERS AT LE METROPOLE PHARMACY:
We asked the health store manager in Le Metropole for a few of the top-selling products that are also available in the U.S. and elsewhere. This is what he shared.
Avene Thermal Spring Water Spray – Used since 1743 at Avene’s Hydrotherapy Center, this mineral-rich water, is effective for eczema and inflammation. It’s also wonderful for setting makeup (just spritz over your face when your makeup is done), but the best use he mentioned is spraying it OVER a serum or moisturizer. He claims it will increase the effectiveness of the product like no one’s business.
NUXE Huile Prodigieuse Multi-Usage Dry Oil – This is for use on the hair and/or body. It leaves skin satiny-soft and hair glossy. It’s preservative-free and made up of 6 precious oils and Vitamin E. Endorsed as his “best oil in the store.”
La Roche Posay Redermic [R] – This is an intensive anti-aging corrective treatment. It’s the highest concentration of pure retinol on the mass market with virtually no irritation. According to their research, it's been proven to reduces upper lip, forehead and crow’s feet wrinkles in 8 weeks. Sounds promising and no prescription needed.
