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After a long work week, you deserve an evening to yourself. A self-care night is the perfect way to unwind and focus on your own wellbeing. In this post, I’m sharing step-by-step how to have a French-inspired self-care night.

What makes this self-care routine “French-inspired”? It’s influenced by French women’s approach to self-care and includes ideas that stem from French culture.

Over the years living in France, I’ve picked up on how self-care is a normal part of women’s daily lives. It was about slowing down, taking time for themselves, and enjoying little indulgences here and there.

This routine is inspired by this mindset towards self-care. It also features ways to “Frenchify” an evening of pampering. If you’re a Francophile like me, I hope you’ll be inspired by the French books, recipes, products and more that I’ve paired with some of the steps below.

Although you can enjoy these French self-care rituals at any time, it might not be practical to follow all of these steps everyday. I usually have a lengthier “everything” evening on Sunday where I spend a couple of hours fully treating myself.

However, on a typical day, I’ll choose a few of these ideas to implement in my nighttime routine. Use the information in this guide in a way that works with your own schedule.

If you’re staying in this Valentine’s Day, this pampering routine is a lovely way to spend your evening solo too. You might even romance yourself with a glass of rosé, L’Amant, and a rose-scented face mask.

Set the Mood

Before focusing on yourself, it’s important to think about your physical environment. Start your routine by creating a calming atmosphere and you’ll be able to more fully enjoy your self-care night.

Tidy Up

When our space is chaotic, it’s easy for our minds to reflect this. Spend some time tidying up your surroundings. Make your bed, wash any dirty dishes, fold and put away your clothes, etc. Skip deep cleaning your space if you don’t have the time, and instead focus on arranging any items out of place. If you need some extra motivation, set a timer for 15-30 minutes and clean as much of your home as you can.

Scent Your Space

Once your home is a bit more organized, you can add your favorite candles or diffusers. Choose aromas that help you unwind. Lavender, vanilla and ylang ylang are popular scents that help reduce stress and promote calm, but you can opt for any scent that supports your inner serenity.

If you read my article on the best French candle brands, you’ll know Trudon makes some of the most luxurious scents. But if you don’t want to spend over $100 on a single candle, Element Brooklyn has some really nice alternatives, including one inspired by Trudon Abd El Kader. You can also find luxury recreations of Diptyque, REPLICA, Byredo and more.

Along with scented options, I’m always sure to light plenty of pillar candles for a relaxing self-care night à la française.

Dine Like the French

Taking the time to slow down and savor a delicious, well-balanced meal can help you unwind at the end of the day. The next step of this self-care night routine takes inspiration from the French philosophy around dieting to create a relaxing dining experience chez toi.

Prepare a Well-Balanced Meal

Cooking your own meal can be a meditative process, so consider incorporating it into your own self-care night. Pick a nourishing recipe that you’ll truly enjoy preparing and eating. The French aren’t strict about dieting, but they do value eating a balanced diet featuring local, whole foods. For your French-inspired self-care night, why not try a vegetable-packed ratatouille, hearty lentil soup or a savory mushroom galette?

Enjoy Your Meal à Table

If you usually eat on your couch or bed while watching Netflix, it’s time to break the habit and seat yourself at the dining table. Enjoying your meal à table can help you be more present and eat more mindfully. You’ll appreciate your food more and be able to better recognize when you’re full.

Don’t feel the need to dine on your finest china, but do set your table properly. If you plan to really dine like the French, don’t forget to set out a wine glass too.

Although sharing a meal is an important part of French culture, dining solo for your self-care night can be an equally enjoyable experience. While seated at the dining table, put away any distractions (like your phone or computer) so that you can fully focus on your meal.

Treat Yourself to Dessert

The French aren’t afraid to indulge in little pleasures from time to time. Whether it’s a piece of organic dark chocolate or a slice of decadent lemon tart, treat yourself to your favorite dessert on your self-care night. If you want to further pamper yourself, stop by your local (French, if possible) bakery and pick up a special treat. Pistachio eclairs and kouign amann are two of my favorite French desserts that I enjoy on occasion.

Sip on a Tea or Infusion

After sitting down and fully enjoying your meal, sip on a herbal tea or infusion to help settle your stomach. You can find several options made with a blend of pro-digestion ingredients like fennel, ginger and peppermint. Currently, I’ve been drinking the Traditional Medicinals organic spearmint tea. It’s been incredibly helpful for my acne. So much so that I bring back several boxes whenever I visit the U.S.

You might also try a digestive tea, nighttime tisane, warm milk or even fruit-infused water. The Nuit à Versailles herbal tea from Dammann Frères is my favorite French tea at the moment to help me unwind in the evening, but really any caffeine-free tea is perfect before bed.

You can drink your post-meal beverage at the table or as you continue the rest of your self-care night. I prefer to sip on my cup of tea throughout my evening of pampering.

Pamper Yourself

Adding some indulgent beauty rituals to your self-care night routine will help you to look and feel your best. Take care of your body with the following ideas inspired by the effortless, French girl approach to beauty.

Take a Long Shower or Bath

Relax by taking a long shower or bath. Add calming bath oil, salts or bubbles like the L’Occitane Relaxing Lavender Foaming Bath. This one is a forever favorite that I return to often. Even a few drops of shower gel can transform your running water into a luxurious foaming bath. Try the Yves Rocher Argan & Rose Petals Hammam Bath & Shower Gel (one of my newer French finds).

Bring along your preferred soaps and scrubs to pamper your body. My current favorite is the simple, yet effective Bioderma Atoderm Hydrating Shower Gel. I also love a good solid soap like this bar soap from Pré de Provence. It also happens to be under $8.

Listen to your chosen playlist, read a good book, or just luxuriate in a long soak. This is one of my favorite self-care rituals during the winter, but you can enjoy this kind of pampering year-round.

Apply a Face and Hair Mask

While enjoying your long shower or bath, why not apply a face and hair mask to further treat yourself? Caudalie makes some of my favorite face masks. As part of my winter skincare routine, I’ve been using their VinoHydra Moisturizing Mask. Indulge your locks in a deep conditioning hair mask too. The Kérastase Nutritive Masquintense Mask is my favorite for treating my dry (sometimes damaged) strands.

Give Yourself a Manicure

Groom your nails with a simple nail care routine inspired by the short and chic French girl manicure. Start by applying a cuticle cream to hydrate your cuticles, then use a cuticle stick to gently push back your cuticles. Wash your hands before shaping your nails with a file. Next, use a buffer to lightly buff your nail bed for a natural-looking shine.

If you want to add some polish, continue by applying a base coat to protect and nourish your natural nails. Next, add a layer of your favorite colored polish. Finish by applying a top coat for extra protection and shine.

Treat Your Skin

Take care of your skin like a French woman during your self-care night routine. Although the French approach to skincare is quite instinctive and natural, there are some key products that you can incorporate into your own skincare.

A micellar water is a gentle way to cleanse and hydrate your skin. Although you’ve likely heard of the cult classic Bioderma Sensibio H2O Micellar Water, there is a range of brands with their own micellar waters. Another popular option is the La Roche-Posay Micellar Cleansing Water, which is another savior for sensitive skin.

If you want a rich, decadent moisturizer without splurging on a pot of Crème de La Mer, the Embryolisse Lait-Crème Concentré is a French-girl pharmacy favorite for less than $30. It provides incredible moisture that your skin will appreciate. I’ve been purchasing this product for years now.

A gentle cleanser and moisturizer are two essentials for taking care of your skin, but you can boost your skincare routine with extra serums and oils. Some products I’m using in my routine right now are the Vichy Mineral 89 Booster and La Rosée Nourishing Care Oil.

Slip into Something Comfortable

The chic French woman doesn’t sacrifice comfort for style when it comes to relaxing at home. Wearing equally chic and comfy pieces during your self-care night will help to boost your mood and confidence, even if you’re enjoying the evening alone. Try a silk robe, cotton pajama set, cashmere joggers, satin nightgown or a more casual hoodie and sweatpants.

At the moment, I’m all about Intimissimi for affordable loungewear. I wear their boat neck cashmere tops both at home and outside. They are slightly sheer, but so comfortable! For summer, I love their silky lace trim sets.

Unwind with Sleep-Promoting Activities

A good night’s sleep is essential for your overall health and well-being. Spend the rest of your self-care night doing sleep-promoting activities to help you unwind before bed. Try to avoid scrolling social media, watching TV or ruminating on your to-do list, which can stress you out and negatively impact your sleep quality.

Move

A short yoga sequence is the perfect way to calm your body and mind before sleeping. You can create your own routine or follow a guided yoga session on YouTube.

Although exercising is a great form of self-care, it’s not recommended to exercise less than 1 hour before bed. If you want to move your body more without disrupting your sleep, try going on a long walk. You’ll get in some extra movement while also aiding in digestion.

Meditate

Meditation can help you let go of any built-up tension and encourage you to focus on the present moment. Incorporate a short meditation practice into your self-care night. There are a variety of meditation and mindfulness apps, videos, and podcasts online to help guide you, or you can simply focus on your breathing while releasing any thoughts.

My go-to meditation app is Headspace, which offers a large selection of guided meditations tailored to your goals. If you’re not a fan of meditation, their sleep stories and music are the perfect way to unwind on your self-care night.

Journal

Writing down your thoughts can help release stress and eliminate anxiety before bed. Grab your go-to notebook and a pen and engage in some healthy self-expression. I usually write about noteworthy events in my day, my current thoughts and feelings, or things that I’m grateful for. If you're new to journaling, I’d recommend reading this beginner’s guide to keeping a journal.

Read

Avoid the urge to spend the evening on your phone, and enjoy a good book on your self-care night. Reading is a great way to wind down and help you fall asleep.

Why not enjoy a piece of French literature for your French-inspired self-care? You can find a list of French classics here and more modern French reads here. Some of my favorite French books include La Délicatesse, Bonjour Tristesse, and L’étranger. If you can’t read in French, you can always find English translations of popular French books.

For a lighter read, flip through your favorite magazine or graphic novel. If you have a Kindle or other reading device, check out Cafeyn for an endless selection of French magazines that are affordable to download.

The French obsession with comic books (bandes dessinées or ‘BD’) and graphic novels was something I discovered when I first lived in France. Indulge in the country’s comic culture with a romantic read like Jeune Fille en Dior, a very cute graphic novel.

What do you think about the French approach to self-care? Let me know in the comments below.

How to Have a French Self-Care Night at Home