3 Provence Ingredients To Use In Your Beauty Routine

In Provence, we are blessed with very high quality raw ingredients that are grown and made locally, which explains why the food tastes so fresh here. But did you know that many of these Provençal food staples can be used in your skincare and haircare routine?

I find myself more and more tired of not knowing exactly what goes into the cosmetic products I buy. More often than not, it seems that the price of beauty products has more to do with their packaging than the ingredients they are made of.

So if you’re interested in a more minimalist approach to self-care like myself, or simply want to try something new, check out my top 3 Provence kitchen essentials that also deserve a spot on your bathroom’s shelf. All these ingredients are grown and made in the South of France and have cleansing, anti-inflammatory and age reducing properties, just to name a few.

Olive Oil

It’s hardly a secret that olive oil has many virtues for your skin and hair, on top of being delicious and healthy in your diet. Olive oil is the base of Provençal cuisine, which differentiates it - for the best, in my opinion - from the more classic French butter-based style of cooking. For millenniums, olive oil has also been used to heal and adorn the body in so many different Mediterranean cultures. It’s packed with antioxidants, fatty acids and vitamins, and has been proven to fight aging signs, prevent infections, reduce swelling, and help the scarring process of your skin.

Olive oil can simply be used as a face or body moisturizer, as it is non-comedogenic, meaning it doesn’t clog pores. If your skin doesn’t respond well to oil in general but you want to give olive oil a try, drizzle some on a cotton pad when you are out of makeup remover, it works like a charm! It’s also great as a pre-shampoo mask to repair damaged hair and bring more shine to your locks. A little goes a long way!

Honey

Another treasure that you can find in any Provence kitchen that has been used as both a delicious treat and a medicine since Ancient Egypt. Many cosmetic products claim to be honey-infused, but if you actually look at the ingredients, there can be as little as 1% of honey or simply none, with aroma or fragrance that imitates its scent instead. So why not use the real deal? On top of benefits that are similar to olive oil, honey is an amazing anti-inflammatory, cleanser and helps fight acne. It can also work as a gentle exfoliator and it makes your skin glow. My favorite honey to eat and use in my beauty routine is Lavender honey, because of its thick, creamy texture. It’s not only divine on a toast, it’s great to use as a light face scrubs with a few drops of olive oil or neutral oil such as sweet almond or argan oil. If you are reluctant to use honey on your skin, just remember that it’s been documented in the most ancient medicinal books as a remedy to heal wounds and fight against bacterial infections. To this day, midwives in France recommend new moms who are breastfeeding to apply honey on their nipples to avoid the infamous and extremely painful cracks. As someone who breastfed my first baby for 14 months, I can confirm this actually works!

Rose Water

Last but not least, rose water is a gentle ingredient that is very simple to add to your skincare routine and works well on sensitive skin. In France, rose water is typically used in pastries and drinks (both hot and cold). While it’s not an every day ingredient, most home chefs have a bottle in their pantry to elevate desserts, fruit salads or cocktails, especially in Provence where roses are grown and distilled.

On top of benefits similar to olive oil and honey, rose water can be used to reduce redness and puffiness, something I personally need on a daily basis! I use rose water as a face mist each morning after washing my face and before moisturizing, just like a toner, and it’s probably my favorite step in my minimalist beauty routine. The scent alone puts me in the best mood!

You can also keep dried rose petals or buds to make your own rose water as you go for skincare use, but also to drink as herbal tea - tons of benefits for the skin too - or use to garnish your food.

Which one of these ingredients are you most likely to introduce as a new beauty essential? Or maybe they are already part of your routine, if so, I’d love to hear your take in the comment section!