9 Beauty Secrets Italian Women Know (But You Don't)
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Loading... - Olivia Carrick
- 03 Jan 2022
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Italiana in fondo al cuore means "Italian at heart," and since I was a kid, that's how I've always felt. We Americans tend to value work over play, so I've always been fascinated by the passion for leisure that's pervaded Italian culture for so many centuries. From the stunning architecture of their ancient duomi to their colorful gelato flavors to their exuberant flair with fashion, Italians' passion for beautiful things and experiences seems to be in their DNA. That and a love for carbs. No wonder I've always wanted to be Italian.
But as far as international skincare, makeup, and haircare habits go, France and South Korea often steal the show. As a full-fledged Italophile, I thought it was high time we looked into the secret wonders of Italians' beauty routines. To do this, I got in touch with Italian model/writer/director/producer Mitzi Peirone, who now lives in Brooklyn, as well as Claudia Graziano of popular fashion blog, Human Hanger. They both gladly revealed their best beauty secrets from back home, all of which are utterly fascinating.
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"I think that overall the greatest difference between American and Italian beauty is that American women might go for what makes them look good, but Italian women go for what makes them feel good," says Peirone.
Want the feel-good beauty routine of an Italian girl? Keep scrolling for eight skin, makeup, and hair secrets straight from Italy.
1. Olive Oil Is a Secret Beauty Weapon
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It's not just a delicious topping for your pizza… Olive oil is truly at the center of Italian life and packs a ton of beauty benefits, like anti-aging vitamin E and hydrating squalene. Sophia Loren was known for slathering olive oil all over her skin. Peirone says she remembers her mother putting olive oil on the ends of her hair after a long, hot bath to maintain a healthy shine. ("I learned pretty much everything I know about beauty from my mom, Maria," she tells me.) Olive oil also has incredible curative properties. Peirone says she even uses it to cure pink eye.
2. Banishing Stress Should Be Your #1 Priority
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Peirone calls stress "the true beauty enemy." "Stress makes anyone look older and more tired," she says. Relaxation is a virtue in Italian culture. Their favorite way to take a load off? "A glass of wine every night," says Peirone.
3. Soft Skin Is the Ultimate Virtue
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Italian women value smooth, touchable skin and dedicate the majority of their beauty routine to moisturizing. That means using "heavier, richer moisturizers than Americans use," says Perione. They also make a daily ritual of massaging their skin from head to toe with body butters for hydrating and relaxation. "Your feet especially," says Peirone. "Coccolati!" she tells us, "which basically means treat yo' self!" Read More…
