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You are here: Home / Skincare / Beauty tips from a French royal: The Marie Antoinette face mask (perfect skin, here I come!)

Beauty tips from a French royal: The Marie Antoinette face mask (perfect skin, here I come!)

Speaking of French women and their beauty quotient, it doesn’t get more intriguing than Marie Antoinette, who lived and died by her utter glam-ness. So, while visiting Versailles, it was simply impossible for me not to poke around the gleaming archives and uncover this 18th century royal’s beauty secrets.

And it turns out that Marie Antoinette’s face mask is still so popular that French women use it on a regular basis. Experts tell me that’s because science now underlines what the French court knew 200 years ago — each of these ingredients is a potent element in keeping skin clear and glowing.

Kirsten Dunst as Marie Antoinette in Sofia Coppola’s movie

How to make the Marie Antoinette face mask

Let’s begin?

Ingredients

2 teaspoons cognac (or vodka, in a pinch)

1/3 cup dry milk powder

1 egg white

juice of 1 lemon

How to mix the Marie Antoinette signature face mask

1. If you have a blender, pour in all the ingredients and process into a smooth paste. Else, mix well by stirring with a fork or wire whisk in a glass bowl.

2. Keep a little of this paste aside and apply the rest on your face; and allow it to dry (approximately 15 minutes).

3. Use the remaining paste to remove the mask by rubbing in small circles with fingertips.

4. Finally, rinse your face thoroughly with warm water and pat dry. End with your favourite moisturiser.

Deconstructing the Marie Antoinette face mask — according to modern science

Cognac, like wine, is distilled from grapes. However, its lengthier distillation process compared with wine creates a much higher concentration of anti-aging polyphenols that stimulate circulation, tighten pores and brighten the complexion.

According to the National Institute of Health, eggs are packed with proteins to repair skin tissue and keep everything wrinkle-free; potassium to help optimise the moisture within skin cells; magnesium to slow down premature ageing; and lysozyme, an enzyme that busts acne-causing bacteria by digesting their cell walls.

Lemons are a potent source of citric acid, which is a natural exfoliant that removes the top layer of dead skin cells, while simultaneously lightening past spots and hyper-pigmentation. They are also powerful anti-bacterials, to help detoxify the skin and prevent acne.

Then there is milk, whose lactic acid literally dissolves the glue that holds dead skin cells together and cleanses skin down to its deepest layers. There are several studies supporting this fact, including the National Library of Medicine.

About the author
anubha

Anubha Charan is a powerhouse in the luxury beauty industry, with over 15 years of expertise shaping the global beauty narrative. As the former Beauty Director at Marie Claire, she worked with the magazine's French headquarters to craft cutting-edge beauty content for international audiences.

Anubha's bylines have appeared in some of the world’s most prestigious publications, including Vogue, Cosmopolitan, Travel + Leisure, WebMD, and Architectural Digest. She is also the co-author of Paris Bath & Beauty, a Simon & Schuster book on French beauty rituals.

Comments

  1. Rita says

    October 15, 2017 at 03:18

    I realize this may give a large portion. Can this be stored in the ridge, maybe? If so, for how long as it contains raw egg white? Thank you.

    Reply
  2. Linda says

    May 19, 2018 at 22:55

    How often should you use this?

    Reply
  3. Tom Pelphrey says

    December 22, 2020 at 18:39

    Such a beauty full post, I love this post thanks for sharing this wonderful post.

    Reply
  4. Warner Smith says

    October 21, 2021 at 17:36

    Amazing post. I loved reading it!

    Reply
  5. Pulkit Nagar says

    November 1, 2021 at 16:40

    Such a beauty ful post.. Thanks For Sharing this article..

    Reply
  6. Savzz says

    August 12, 2023 at 04:42

    Great, thanks.

    Reply

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About me

Anubha Charan is a luxury beauty expert who works with leading lifestyle publications, including Marie Claire, Vogue, and WebMD. Read More…

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I am Anubha... a former Beauty Director at Marie Claire and current global wanderer. I have a soft spot for beauty products that are super-effective, sustainable AND create a luxurious self care experience.

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