Welcome to Beauty Muse, where we delve into the beauty and wellness routines of women across the globe. First up is Fanny Bourdette-Donon. You’ve definitely seen her on Instagram, and maybe you’ve seen her in paparazzi photos, too. Read on for more.
“Everybody knows Fanny,” someone once told me about Fanny Bourdette-Donon. And it’s true: As Dior Beauty’s international PR and special projects manager, Bourdette-Donon has made knowing people like Jorja Smith, Kitty Cash, Yoon Ahn, and Bella Hadid into a career. Born in Hyères, France, she spent her childhood and teen years in Africa, studied law in Nice, and now calls Paris home. “My approach to beauty today is a big mix of everything that I’ve learned from all the travel I’ve done,” Bourdette-Donon says. “Staying in one place for too long is really tough on me. I feel like I am dying if I’m not learning from someone else.”
On Her Morning Routine
“I usually wake up around 6:30 a.m. I take a shower using Le Labo Mandarin Shower Gel, with an exfoliating washcloth (I can’t live without a good one!). Then I apply Nivea Nourishing Milk Cream 48h Intense Hydration. (I tend to have very dry skin during winter, so when the weather turns cold, I use Nécessaire The Body Oil beforehand.) I wash my face using the Dior Homme Dermo System face wash, then Pixi Vitamin-C Tonic using a cotton pad. Then I apply a Dior toner, serum, and moisturizer. My makeup is concealer, brows, a little bit of blush, and a lip pencil. I make myself a coffee while listening to the morning international news on the radio (I grew up listening to RFI Afrique and have stuck with it). I get dressed and walk to the office, grabbing a croissant along the way.”
On Hair
“Depending on the style, I either travel to London to see Rio Sreedharan or go to Stella Yato in Paris. I currently have a fun little mullet wig that Stella created for me—I’m allowed to give her two challenges a year. I usually wash my hair once a week during winter and every two days during summer (as I’m always in the water). I usually rotate between three shampoos: Avlon KeraCare Dry & Itchy Scalp Shampoo; SheaMoisture Jamaican Black Castor Oil shampoo; and Leonor Greyl Shampooing Crème Moelle de Bambou. I’ve recently started using Carol’s Daughter Almond Milk Ultra-Nourishing Hair Mask, which I love! I just discovered black|Up makes hair products and am really into their scalp-soothing lotion, Scalp Down.”
On Lashes
“My lash extensions? It’s a top secret that I am not sharing! I am not ready to share her with the world yet! I love a good, full set of eyelashes, but I can’t look like a show girl at the office. What makes good lash extensions great is the same recipe I’ve found for all beauty: When people are trying to apply the same thing on everyone, it will fail. But when you adjust it to your face structure and really make it yours, it’s a success. Mine really accentuate the almond shape of my eyes. And they last a long time!”
On Massage
“I got to really spend time in China, Japan, and Korea because of my job and learn more about their approach to beauty. Because of that, I started doing a face massage. For me, everything has to be fast and efficient—I am never going to spend three hours doing a full routine. But I try to massage my face every night, and I feel a big difference. I use a little jade roller.”
On Her Signature Scent
“I’ve always had a deep appreciation for Dior men’s fragrances. My grandfather wore Eau Sauvage all his life, and my dad wore Fahrenheit (I used to steal it), so when I discovered Dior Homme Intense, which I had never smelled on anyone before, I knew it was the one!”
On Travel
“I never really felt like I was the ‘French girl’ people were always talking about, because I never felt represented. The beauty of today is that we are all picking up things from one country to the next. One example: I have a little hair on my face, but in European culture, it’s not something that you would discuss. But when I was in Japan, I saw a friend of mine with a super-small face razor. I cannot tell you how mind-blowing it was when I saw her use it. I was like, I am not the only one, and I am not a freak! We are all women! We have so many similarities that people would not necessarily know about.”
Kathleen Hou is the beauty director at Elle Magazine.