Chanel Le Crayon Kohl and Inimitable Mascara

The Roitfelds are the crème de la crème of the parisiennes soignées—they always look sophisticated yet natural, groomed but not falsely so. The word soignée provides a clue, it is from the Old French soigner meaning "to take care of". As Julia has stated in interviews, her best advice is to begin caring for yourself at a young age.

One way to create that coveted soignée look is to go lightly on the makeup and keep it balanced. Reputedly neither Julia nor Carine wears foundation, just moisturizer (and juice) provides the glow. They do, however, combine the smoky eye with just about anything, making their gorgeous eyes the focal point. If you want to follow Julia's lead, she uses Chanel Le Crayon Khôl in black to line her eyes and then follows this with Chanel Inimitable Mascara also in black (and never waterproof).

I have used the Chanel eye pencil for several years and I would never consider using a different product. It provides exactly enough coverage so that you end up with a nice dark line and virtually no smudges. As an added bonus, it comes with its own sharpener. I switched to the Chanel mascara that she uses this past December and I am so happy with it. Though it is not waterproof, it only smears if I cry which mercifully is infrequent. It does a fantastic job of defining every lash without making it look artificial. I've looked for a good mascara forever, most recently being disappointed with Diorshow, and this is another product I recommend without reservation. When it comes to eye makeup, Julia and I agree: make it Chanel.

Image of Julia Restoin-Roitfeld's eye courtesy of Harper's Bazaar UK

Apple, Carrot, and Ginger Juice

What is the secret to Julia Restoin-Roitfeld's gorgeous skin? She claims that it is not a secret beauty potion but rather a delicious glass of fresh apple, carrot, and ginger juice every day. Since Martina Navratilova also attributes her youthful vigor to daily juicing, I decided to give it a try myself. If just this one habit could improve my skin and my tennis, I figured I have nothing to lose. I bought the Breville Compact Juice Fountain last December and I have used it virtually every day since. It is quick and easy to use, the juice is pulpless and invigorating, and my skin has better tone and color. I wish I could say there's been a drastic improvement in my tennis, but some things take time. If you'd like to try it yourself, combine one apple, one carrot, and one piece of ginger (approximately 1" square and 1/8" thick) in your machine, juice, and enjoy. Repeat daily and be prepared to reap the rewards of healthy nutrition.

Czarina

Julia Restoin-Roitfeld allowed all of us a glimpse at her life recently when Todd Selby captured her apartment on film. Of particular note is Julia's unique collection of jewelry. The ring shown above is from the Czarina line, created by her pals Gaia Repossi and Eugenie Niarchos. Repossi hails from the House of Repossi, a family with a long history of jewelry making and official jewelers to Monaco's royals. Niarchos also comes from a historically fashionable family, her great-grandmother was Gloria Guinness and Daphne Guinness is her aunt. The two joined forces to create the stunning Czarina line, a filigree collection that is inspired by Russian iconography and produced in four different golds.

Photograph of Julia Restoin-Roitfeld's Czarina ring © 2009 Todd Selby. All Rights Reserved.
Julia Restoin-Roitfeld photograph © 2008 i-D Magazine. All Rights Reserved.

Le Mépris

One of Julia Restoin-Roitfeld's favorite films is Le Mépris (Contempt), by Jean-Luc Godard. This film is also a favorite of mine and if you have not yet seen it, I urge you to do so at your earliest opportunity. Le Mépris works on so many levels that it is impossible to adequately describe, you must view it for yourself. We first feel Godard's contempt for the current filmmaking techniques through his lack of respect for the Jack Palance character and all that he represents. We also feel the power of the burgeoning contempt of the main character, Brigitte Bardot, towards her husband, played by Michel Piccoli. Her loathing of him develops convincingly against the counterpoint of the soothing teal blue waters of the Mediterranean and the memorable beauty of the island of Capri. Finally, there is the theme of money versus creativity as represented by the conflict between Piccoli (screenwriter) and Palance (producer); money triumphs as usual, a state of affairs which an artist will naturally despise. As Criterion states, Le Mépris is a brilliant study of marital breakdown, artistic compromise, and the cinematic process.

Original film poster source: filmsdefrance.com

John Frieda Luminous Color Glaze

Julia prefers to either have her color done at Romain Color in Paris (you must visit the site just to hear the sound of pixie dust sprinkling as you enter) or do it herself with John Frieda's Brilliant Brunette Luminous Color Glaze. I typically use ColorSilk but I am definitely going to try this. Think my hair will turn out looking like Julia's? I will let you know the results. And at approximately $9.95 per bottle it's hella cheaper than flight to Paris plus salon, bien sûr.