 Plus, my lip care holy trinity.  |  | | Bonjour! Last week, I went on a special trip to Paris. It began with all of the usual suspects—leisurely strolling in Le Marais, trawling through the flea markets, wine-soaked late dinners—and ended with a facial with the view (more on that below!) and a fragrance exhibition at the Louvre. The retrospective featured an array of fragrances from L’Oréal Groupe (think: Prada Paradoxe, Lancôme La Vie Est Belle, or Valentino Born in Roma); it was fascinating to trace the history of so many iconic scents, and learn about the meticulous process through which they’re made. Let’s just say I left Paris as inspired as ever—and with my personal fragrance wardrobe increased twofold! | | — Lauren Valenti, InStyle Beauty Director | | | | | | EMPTY OF THE WEEK | | Cloudberry Bright Essence Toner | | Over the past three months, I’ve relished using Glow Recipe’s Cloudberry Bright Essence as my first step after cleansing, morning and night. It works to boost absorption of what follows and leave skin clearer and brighter—both instantly and over time—first, with its namesake superfruit, cloudberry (which contains three times the vitamin C of an orange and is rich in omega-3 fatty acids), and then with other antioxidant-rich ingredients, like CoQ10, rice water, and amino acids. It’s a sensorial delight with its light, citrusy scent and watery texture that sinks right in. | | | | |  | | PHOTO: Getty Images | | Q+A with Lauren | | Q: What do you use to prevent dry, flaky lips? | A: In the winter, my lips are a barometer for my general wellness: If they’re chapped and flaky, it means that I’m not drinking enough water and am slacking on my skincare (among other forms of self-care). When I’m on my game, though, I’m not just chugging out of a Hydra Flask, but also subscribing to the lip care holy trinity: balm, exfoliator, and mask. Lately, I’ve been carrying around Summer Friday’s Lip Butter Balm and sleeping with Laneige’s Lip Sleeping Mask daily. And then, every couple of days, I buff and polish with an exfoliating treatment, like Fresh’s Sugar Lip Polish Exfoliator. When I stick to this, my lips are smooth, plump, and noticeably more voluminous.
Read More on InStyle.com | | 8 Ways to Keep Your Lips Moisturized and Pillowy Soft Year-Round → | | The 10 Best Lip Balms for Lasting Hydration → | | | |  | | PHOTO: Lauren Valenti | | | MUST-TRY TREATMENT | | Lancôme Contour Facial | | While I was in Paris, I visited Lancôme’s Flagship store on the Champs-Élysées for a treatment at its in-house spa. I got an hour-long Contour Redefinition facial, which combined the French brand’s hero skin-care products (e.g. the Rose Sugar Exfoliating Scrub) with radio frequency, ultrasound, and face massage to lift, sculpt, tone, and undo travel puffiness (and a few to many glasses of wine!). What’s more: Inside the treatment room, a life-like, floor-to-ceiling LED screen projected a video of the Eiffel Tower, shifting from sunny daytime to moonlit evening. A lovely detail to make the pampering even more Parisienne. | | | | | For more, follow Lauren on InStyle, Instagram, and TikTok. | | | | | | | We independently evaluate all recommended products and services. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. | | | | | | | | |  |
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