Lili has been the beauty editor of such prestigious publications as French Vogue and more recently a writer at French Grazia to name a few… She also writes the blog Ma Recreation.com I picked Lili’s brains for some inside beauty tips and styling secrets.

Q: You have been a beauty writer at a number of top French magazines, gotten to meet many amazing people in the industry and have tested numerous lotions and potions.  What are your top beauty tips/secrets you have learnt that you can pass on?

A: The more I learn about beauty and skincare, the more doubts and questions I have about the right strategy to take care of one’s skin. I don’t believe that a product (except for injections) can take your wrinkles away and beauty editors age as the other women do in spite of the numerous pricy products we get to test for free.  But, I do believe in moisturising and in a meticulous ritual of cleansing your skin every night.  I use the Joelle Ciocco products to clean my face, Lait Onctueux Capital and lotion Lactee.  Every time I’m too lazy to do it or try another product, my skin doesn’t look that good. I also put pure minerals on my skin such as copper, selenium and magnesium or zinc when it’s too oily (which is rare now that I’m over 35).  Sometimes I go for antioxidant serums to slow down ageing but I’m not very faithful to them.  And, I don’t wear a SPF sunscreen everyday.  But I rarely put my face in the sun.  If I go to a sunny place, I use Anthelios SPF 50 for me and my daughter, it’s the only filter that I really trust and doesn’t cause any allergy to my skin.

Q: Everyone tries to emulate that effortless “French” style. What is it about French women that makes their look stand out from the rest?

A:You should visit our metro in the early morning!  All that fantasy about our fabulous style would vanish in a second.  Of course, if you compare a typical NY girl and a Parisian one, both working in fashion, they would never put the same energy in getting ready in the morning.  I think that Parisian girls don’t follow trends if they don’t feel comfortable in them, meaning they would never wear oversized jackets if they think they are too petite for that style.  Or they would never wear a mini short if they think that their legs are too fat.  We are probably less free than the London girls who wear whatever thy like regardless of what people would think of their outfit or figure.  I think that we are very self conscious; and with beauty it’s the same. We are very conservative, and it takes a very long time to change from one hair cut to another or from one make up style to another.  Once we know what works well with us, we stick to it! And we do as little as possible.  I was at the 15th birthday of Colette last night, and not one girl had gone to the hair dresser for that.  Not one.  Neither had they foundation on their face.  Not that we have a better skin condition that the others, but it’s just not in our culture to be too “done”.  We keep it as simple as possible.

Q: Tell us about the inspiration for your blog Ma Recreation?  Will it be translated into English soon?

A: I’m hard working on the translation!  I created this blog in November 2010 when I was still a beauty editor at Vogue Paris.  At the time, I was bored and tired of only writing about beauty. I wanted to share all the addresses I had the privilege to try, beauty wise but also the hotels in which I was lucky enough to travel, the great restaurants I was invited to go to… and as I am a mother of a 4 year old girl, I also wanted to share my top addresses with parents that were looking for interesting activities with their kids.  It’s been such an amazing adventure since then!

Q: What is the one beauty product you can’t live without?

A: I can only pick one? There’s a high hesitation between my perfume (Chanel N˚19), my moisturiser (Aesop Camelia Nut Facial Cream), my cleanser (Lait Onctueux Capital by Joelle Ciocco) and a good lip balm (the lip balm by Kiehl’s for example). I also love my soaps by Santa Maria Novella (the one with iris), pure balance shampoo by Aveda, conditioner by David Mallett, AND I can’t go without cream concealer under my eyes (3 Custom Colour), cream blush (MAC) and orgasm multiple by Nars.

Q:What is your favourite item of clothing?

A: Shoes. I lose my mind anytime I find a nice pair of shoes.  Sometimes I forbid myself from entering the Celine store or Pierre Hardy next to my place, just like a gambler who can’t go to casinos anymore, because if I try them and they fit me well, I buy them…I realise that you might want a piece of clothing as an answer and not an accessory.  In that case, I would say that I love shirts.  Men’s shirts or my collection of vintage Chloe shirts (designed by Phoebe Philo when she was still at the head of the house).  A nice shirt works with everything.

Q: Heels or Flats?

A: Both. Although I wear more high heels than flats.  I always promise myself not to kill my feet with uncomfortable heels anymore.  But I still endure that torture once in a while.

Q: Tea or Coffee?

A: Tea.  Liters of tea.  Green, black, white or even roibus.  Most of them from Mariage Freres or Miller Harris in London.

Q: Favourite Flower?

A: I love Peonies.  I also love sweet pea.  At my wedding in June 2009, I managed to find pastel colours of sweet pea and that was the only flower on the table, I loved it.

Q: What are you reading?

A: I just finished Branded Beauty by Mark Tungate for an article I’m writing. I haven’t read a normal book/novel since my summer holidays, it is sick, I know.  I read tons of books about perfume for work but I spend a lot of time reading cooking books for my cooking section on my blog.  But the last two books that really amazed me were Nancy Huston’s Lignes de Faille and L’envie by my friend Sophie Fontanel.

Q: What are you listening to on your ipod?

A: Brigitte, Pixies, Fanfarlo, Morissey, Ella Fitzgerald, Prince, Serge Gainsbourg…

Q: Is there a beauty look that you would never be caught dead in?

A: Love that question.  You will never see me with a smokey eye + heavy lip.  Either do one or the other. Most of the time I like the nude/fresh look with a tiny bit of mascara and just a line of black under the eyes.

Q: What are you coveting for Spring/Summer 2012?

A: I’m actually already coveting the amazing Proenza Schouler fall 2012 coats.  Especially that one www.vogue.com/collections/fall-2012-rtw/proenza-schouler/review (look #25) and for fall, I’d love to get that spring coat by Carven www.carven.fr/collection/ete-2012#look_id