To beat the autumn energy slump and help you to keep your skin healthy, here's a porridge recipe that fills you up with vitamins B, C, E and K, manganese, flavonoids, copper, selenium, fatty acids, omega 3, fibre, etc.
350 ml almond, flax, oat or cow's milk + 20 g oat flakes + 20 g quinoa flakes + 1 tablespoon almonds + 1 tablespoon sunflower seeds + 1 teaspoon flax seeds + ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon + 1 tablespoon liquid honey + crushed pecans or hazelnuts + a few raspberries, blueberries or other seasonal fruit + 1 pinch of salt
Gently heat the milk. Mix the oat and quinoa flakes, seeds and salt in a saucepan over a medium heat until they are toasted and grilled. Add half of the warm milk, stir vigorously and incorporate the cinnamon and honey. Warm it over a low heat for 15 minutes, stirring constantly, and add the rest of the warm milk, and cold milk if necessary to obtain the desired consistency. Pour the mixture into a bowl and add the blueberries, raspberries and other seasonal fruit... and sprinkle with the pecans or hazelnuts.
Hula Hooping is an easy way to slim your waist. Turn up the stereo, grab a hoop, and start toning muscles all over while having fun too. On your mark, get set, hula!
Beauty Bonus: With Body Shaping Cream, you can enhance your workout results and smooth your skin, too!
GIF: Laurent Humbert
Nature addicts swear only by this gel bursting with benefits. Ayurvedic medicine was already using the superpowers of this plant that looks deceptively like a cactus 5,000 years ago. In the Ancient Egyptian era, Cleopatra is said to have used it in her beauty routine. What makes it so successful? To withstand the most arid climates, it traps an incredible amount of water, along with sugars, vitamins and minerals, at its core. This composition gives pure aloe vera gel unparalleled moisturising properties for the skin, as well as soothing, repairing and healing benefits. It works wonders on sunburn or burns, for example. That's a lot for just one plant. But its virtues don't stop there! Taken internally, it improves digestion and combats fatigue. What more could you ask for?
She founded the Princesse Margot association following the death of her 18-year-old daughter in 2012 from Gliosarcoma (a brain tumour). Since then, this strong, big-hearted woman has set herself the task of assisting sick children and supporting their parents and loved ones. Her motto: "I lost a battle, help us to win the war." We meet a wonderful soul.
How does it feel to be a Clarins Woman of Heart?
First of all, I felt very proud and emotional. Then, I was delighted to belong to this wonderful Clarins family...
What does Princesse Margot do?
The association supports and assists children suffering from cancer and their families, both at the Welcome Facility in Vincennes and in the partner hospitals, Saint Louis, Robert Debré and the Institut Curie, and more recently in Gustave Roussy.
How does the association work?
Primarily thanks to some sixty volunteers, who go four times a week to the hospital and the Maison Princesse Margot. I'm the founding president and I work full time on a voluntary basis, assisted by two part-time employees.
Who are the partners and figures that support you?
The association's patrons are Stéphane Freiss and Kev Adams, but it is supported by many other figures (Gilbert Montagné, Léa Drucker, Bruno Solo, Alain Chamfort, Gérard Darmon, Arié Elmaleh, Fanny Cottençon, etc.).
How did your meeting with Clarins go?
It took place at the headquarters with Patricia and Caroline (Clarins PR France), accompanied by my assistant, Périne. It was an initial discussion and presentation meeting, but also an emotional one... Then, after my nomination was announced, we lunched with Christian and Olivier Courtin-Clarins in their office, a first very warm and friendly meeting with the directors.
What will the Clarins Award change for you and the association?
First of all, on a personal level, it is really encouraging, but it also offers lots of visibility for the association and, of course, recognition from such a big and important French brand. Then, obviously, the long-term financial aid that will allow us to continue to develop the association's projects for sick children...
Did you already know the other Women of Heart?
Some of the most high-profile women, yes, as well as others through their actions on behalf of children.
On a lighter note: do you have a favorite Clarins product?
Before I became the latest Woman of Heart, I have used Eau Dynamisante and its associated products every summer from a very young age. Since then, I'm gradually discovering and becoming more and more a fan of them!
And to finish, have you any plans to extend Princesse Margot's activities outside of Paris?
The association is in fact planning to do so, but not in the short term. We are first going to have a new partnership with another hospital in the Paris region... It's all a gradual process.
There are three types of dark circles: brown that are linked to hyperpigmentation; hollow circles that create a shadow under the eye; and blue-toned circles caused by sluggish microcirculation. If your dark circles fall into one of the first two categories, go for a concealer to camouflage them. Choose one that is just slightly lighter than your skin tone and apply it directly to the dark circles. Beware of the "barn owl effect" from overly white shades applied all around the eye! Use the same technique if you have more bluish dark circles. You're in luck: you have the option of using a skin care base that reactivates the microcirculation and restores the clarity of the eye area from within. Getting more sleep, eating a balanced diet and reducing your screen time also make a big difference.
Oops! You've gone a bit overboard on sunbathing and ice cream this summer – two factors that aren't great for the skin or keeping the pounds off. Your number one resolution for autumn: tone up. Start an intensive programme with the new Extra-Firming Mask to regenerate cells and redefine the facial contours, along with Extra-Firming Body Lotion, paying particular attention to the thighs, stomach, bust and inner arms. Because firmer skin = a younger body.
Think that you know all about Paris, and have done the tour of the monuments to see and the most beautiful gardens? Are you really sure? The third most visited city in the world, Paris holds a wealth of hidden treasures that are worth going off the beaten track for. Follow the guide.
The Tuileries and Luxembourg are not the only gardens in Parisians' lives. There are also lots of charming little gardens where you can discover an astonishing botanical diversity, such as the Saint-Vincent Wild Garden in Montmartre, the gardens planted along the banks of the Seine and the hidden gardens of the 7th arrondissement. Green addicts will appreciate them. Guided tours are possible. Find a list of gardens and tours organised by Paris City Council at www.blog.paris.fr
Looking for zen? Go to the garden of the Buddhist Pantheon, an annexe of the Guimet Museum. Ponds, bamboo, stone bridges, and a tea pavilion instantly whisk you away to Japan.
://www.guimet.fr/en/
To see the city from a height, go stargazing at the Sorbonne Observatory or the Camille-Flammarion Observatory with the French Astronomical Society. A way to discover the sky from a new perspective as well as go behind the doors of unfamiliar locations. www.saf-astronomie.fr/observations
The Products: Hand and Nail Treatment Cream and ClarinsMen Active Hand Care
What do they do?
Hand and Nail Treatment Cream is enriched with sesame oil and Japanese mulberry extract, while ClarinsMen Active Hand Care contains Vitamin B5, allantoin and purslane. Both formulas form a protective layer against any environmental aggressors and minimise signs of ageing. Dry, chapped and fragile skin will thank you.
When do I use them?
Ideal during seasonal change when we experience skin irritations, these lotions keep our skin soft and supple. You never know when your hands may fall into the spotlight, especially if a certain ring appears.
Illustration: Clémence Monot