By Christelle, France, Local Contributor

Christelle lives in Corsica, which is in the south of France, an island in the Mediterranean Sea, though she was born in Paris. She lived in Paris for eighteen years before settling in the south of France. Christelle studied public law for three years and grauated in European Affairs two years ago; her daytime job is in public administration.

She loves to travel and has visited most of the European countries (she loves visiting Budapest and Roma). In her free time, she loves to ballroom dance, go out with friends, and enjoy the beautiful weather of her locale.

Two French Must-Haves

Nuxe Huile Prodigieuse ($26.00) is a multi-purpose dry oil. Nuxe is a French brand created in 1989 by Aliza Jabès, a young businesswoman with a passion for aromatherapy and phytotherapy. She grew up with the strong belief that plants are a fantastic res source for skin care.  Created in 1991, Nuxe Huile Prodigieuse was designed as a comprehensive product for active women. It contains six precious oils (Borage, St. John’s Wort, Sweet Almond, Camellia, Hazelnut and Macadamia) and Vitamin E to nourish, repair and protect not only your face but also your body and hair. It has no preservatives. Nuxe uses no mineral oils or animal substances. 98.1% of the ingredients are natural.

As a multi-purpose oil, it can be used on the face and body, even on combination skin types. It leaves your skin soft as silk!  It improves the global aspect of stretch marks. It enhances your tan. It also does wonders on your hair: it is repaired and deeply nourished. You can use it as a hair mask for few minutes before you wash it. It is great for nails, too!  Once applied, does not feel greasy or sticky.  The fragrance is very nice; really sensual: it smells like flowers, but real flowers, nothing synthetic: rose, orange blossom and lily of the valley.

It is the perfect product to take on weekends or short trips when you do not want to bring your whole bathroom with you. A little goes a long way so the bottle will last a long time. You will only need a few drops to get shiny hair and get rid of your crocodile skin. Make sure you get the spray version, so you will not waste any product! The glass bottle looks classy, although some might think a plastic bottle would be more practical. Tip: wrap it in rubber bands, that way it won’t fall off of your hand. You can also find Nuxe Huile Prodigieuse Or; this one is infused with golden glitter, which is great for the coming holidays or to enhance your summer tan!

Agnès b. is a French cosmetic brand launched in the 80s by the French designer Agnès Troublé. She created Monobulle, a range of beautiful, vibrant eyeshadows. Agnès B Monobulle Taupe (€9.90) is a pinkish grey-taupe. It is very shimmery and has an excellent color payoff. Used wet, it almost has a metallic finish. It is the perfect shade for a soft smokyeye. You can build the color for a nice and easy smoky look. The taupe color flatters any eye color. Monobulle are incredibly soft and have a satin smooth finish.  Apply it with fingers or eye brush. I love the packaging: you can identify the color immediately in your stash, thanks to the clear lid. I get a seven hours wear without base and ten hours wear with eye base.  Try pairing it with red lips for an immediate twist!