This month we’re embracing conversations around love of all kinds. And when it comes to loving ourselves, there’s nothing more powerful than embracing our own unique beauty. Instead of getting caught in the “new year, new you” cycle of trying to completely makeover ourselves, what if we focused on cultivating our inner beauty and radiating confidence? In other words, the French approach, and no one epitomizes it better than my friend Garance Doré. From her effortless style to her humor and grace, Garance is an icon of beauty in every sense of the word.
I interviewed Garance over on my Substack newsletter, and it was such an impactful piece, I wanted to share with all of you here, as well. In this conversation, we talk about French versus American beauty culture, how to “age beautifully,” and why simplicity and confidence are always in style.
P.S. Garance shared her French beauty essentials in this month’s issue of Camille Styles EDIT and they’re so good!
Hi Garance! Let’s start with a question I’m sure you get asked all the time—what sets French beauty apart from an American approach?
It’s funny, because I was just having coffee in Paris with a friend who’s very Parisian. She’s 5’4″, wore no makeup, had her hair down naturally, and was in a fabulous coat. To me, that’s French beauty—this effortless confidence and attitude. It’s not about perfection. A little shadow under the eyes or a wrinkle isn’t seen as a flaw; it’s just life. The focus isn’t on tiny details but on the overall vibe and how someone carries themselves. That confidence makes everything else secondary.
It really does come down to inner confidence. I’ve noticed that when I’m not feeling great about myself, I tend to overcompensate with more makeup or trying too hard with my outfit, and it never works.
Exactly. Confidence shows, and it’s magnetic. We want to feel it, and be around it. So anything that projects that, whether it’s a gorgeous red lip or no makeup at all, the content has to say “I’m confident. I feel good about who I am. I am proud of myself. I’m proud of my age and my flaws.”
It’s such a different perspective than in the U.S., where beauty often feels like a conversation about what’s trending.
Exactly, and I’ve always been drawn to simplicity. French pharmacies are full of incredible products that don’t cost a fortune, and French women tend to carefully choose certain products and stick with them for years. It’s all about consistency. Which is my whole philosophy behind my brand Doré. Sometimes our skin thanks us for putting less on it. There’s this rush for new ingredients, and I think that layering on too many things can exhaust the skin.
I’ve always been a French pharmacy lover, and I was raised knowing that you don’t need to spend a ton of money to have very, very good products. But then in the early 2010s, I think beauty started changing, and we started learning about the toxic ingredients in so much of our skincare. And unfortunately, that included a lot of the products that I loved in the French pharmacy.
I’m not a person who likes to be super granular and read a long list of ingredients, so with Doré, I wanted to create something simple and clean. Our customers see our logo and know that it’s a product they can trust.
Speaking of feeling beautiful, what does aging beautifully mean to you?
Life is a work in progress. And I think our our sense of style, our allure, our beauty, it’s also the same way. So I think that aging beautifully is knowing that I will never look the same way in my 20s, my 30s, my 40s. I’m turning 50 next year, and I’m wondering—who is that person? What does she look like? It’s about being curious more than judgmental, you know? And it’s also about asking what I want to project to the world.
It’s true that people look at you differently as you age. But that doesn’t mean that they don’t look at me, it just means it’s different. So what do I want to radiate, and what do I want to bring in people’s life? And I think that’s when you start working more on your aura and your vibe, and considering the kind of energy you bring into a room.
That’s so beautifully said. You’re one of the best examples in my own life of someone who embodies this kind of eternally youthful spirit. Your style evolves, but your aura stays the same, and you have the same sense of vibrancy and curiosity. Are there any other personal qualities that you think we should consider cultivating as we seek to age beautifully?
Thank you for that. I’m very positive, and I’m always very interested in the world and in other people. When you have a thirst for new things, you never really feel old inside of yourself.
I’m living in Paris right now in Saint-Germain-des-Prés. It’s a very old kind of neighborhood, and there is this kind of mindfulness about others that I’m enjoying so much. It’s a neighborhood with a lot of older people, and so there is this old school vibe. You hear, “Hello madam,” and there’s a kindness and politeness that is so lovely.
When we talk about beauty, sure it’s great to have perfect skin and plump lips and all that. But what do we bring when we walk into a room? I think it’s more about a smile and really looking at people. It’s wonderful to feel seen, but you also have to see people. When you find the beauty in others, I think then it helps people find the beauty in you.
That’s such a refreshing perspective. I’ve noticed that the days when I’m connecting with other people, even strangers when I’m out and about, I have so much more vitality myself. And then when I’m feeling a little bit more insular or just not extending myself, I end up feeling drained.
We’re social animals. The biggest marker of longevity is not the supplements you take, it’s not even the food you eat. It’s not the exercise, it’s your community. And this sense of connecting with others plays out in so many ways as we go about our days.
The way we open up to people, if we’re present with others, if we stand up straight and smile—all these little social cues radiate beauty more than anything else. People rarely talk about those things when they talk about beauty. But really, we want to be beautiful so that people see us and love us. And there are so many ways to do that that aren’t like, a perfect brow. As you get older, your vibe and your energy are going to be even more important because everything on the outside will change.
Building your self worth on your external appearance is a very shaky foundation. Okay, one last question before we wrap up: What’s the best beauty advice you’ve ever received?
Never deny yourself the pleasure of feeling beautiful. Whether it’s exercising, putting on makeup, or dressing up for yourself, those simple acts make you feel good and show up fully. Beauty is about joy, not obligation. And it’s something we can share with others—it’s a gift to ourselves and the world.
I love that. It’s such a great reminder to find pleasure in taking care of ourselves. Thank you so much, Garance, for sharing your wisdom and inspiration.
Subscribe to Garance’s must-read Substack here!