GET PERFECT PARISIAN LEGS AT HOME

Body brushing

IT’S painful and laborious, but body brushing makes a huge difference to the look of your legs. It is also an effective tool in the fight against cellulite.

Always brush upwards, towards your heart. Two or three times a week is enough, but one French friend body brushes every day.

Melanin tablets

BRILLIANT preparation for your tan and your skin in general. Antioxidants, selenium, vitamin E and beta-carotene are antiageing. The two main ones are Phytobronz by Arkopharma and Solaire Intensif by Oenobiol.

Carrot oil

RICH in beta-carotene, carrot oil is a natural self-tanner. It’s a great aftersun treatment and tan extender, too.

The French use a brand called Floressance, but Planet Organic sells Fushi organic carrot oil (£10.99, planetorganic.com).

French women eat masses of carrots during the season: a friend of mine eats carrot soup every day for two weeks before les grandes vacances.

Anti-cellulite and slimming creams

FRENCH women don’t really like gyms — they prefer to cheat. So they use a host of anti-cellulite lotions and potions.

One of the most popular anti-cellulite products is Clarins Body Fit Anti-Cellulite Contouring Lotion (£39, johnlewis.com), which claims to target cellulite using quince leaf.

A special foot balm

A FRENCH woman doesn’t neglect any part of her body, not even her feet. Once summer starts, she will use a foot cream every night.

One of my friends swears by Repair Cream by Scholl (£9.99,

scholl.co.uk), but advises only putting it on once you’re actually in bed if you want to avoid skating across the bathroom floor.

Not a hair in place

I’M TALKING, of course, about hairs on your legs. It’s a complete myth that French women don’t depilate — in fact, they’re fastidious about it. Most of my friends prefer waxing or even lasering to get rid of unwanted hair. They exfoliate before waxing to increase the benefits and use anti-regrowth cream, such as Decléor Aroma Epil Expert Post-Wax Cream Anti-Hair Regrowth gel (£14.25,

feelunique.com), which claims to slow down regrowth by 92 per cent.

Legs of gold

NUXE Huile Prodigieuse, a multi- use dry oil is every French woman’s must-have summer product.

During the holidays, they like the gold version (Nuxe Huile Prodigieuse Or, £20.99,

feelunique.com), which makes your legs look long, slim and shimmering brown. Fabulous.