by Alexandra Nicole Nuralam

Anne-Victoire Lefevre Talks Fashion & French Pharmacy Skincare

If you’re all about the Parisian aesthetic, then you need to follow Anne-Victoire Lefevre. Her Instagram feed makes our hearts sing with cool French-girl outfits, art, good food and stylish interiors. And if you ever need French beauty inspo, just do it like Anne does—makeup-free with bold freckles.

The Taiwan-born, Parisian-based fashion insider has lived in the city of lights since she was adopted at an early age from Taipei. She now stays in the 11th arrondissement (“one of my favourite districts!”) and is the Commercial Director for luxury French shoe label Michel Vivien.

We catch up with Anne as she chats about working in fashion and her skincare favourites from the pharmacy.

How did your interest in fashion begin?

When I got my bachelor’s degree, I didn’t really know what to do. I chose a school that specialised in communication. And when I did my first internship, it was obvious that I would go into fashion. I started as a photographer and HMU agent assistant at Management Artists when I was 20, but my first “grown-up” job was doing PR for the Italian group AEFFE, which manages Moschino, Alberta Ferretti, Pollini, Cédric Charlier, for almost 6 years.

After that, I worked for 3 years for French bespoke bag brand laContrie. I really enjoyed working for a small and made-to-measure brand; it meant being versatile with many things, from commercial to communications, and I even helped out with styling at times. Putting in the effort for a brand that you really care about is really a motivation for me. After that, I started to work for Michel Vivien, where I have been until now.

What do you find the most rewarding in the industry that you are in, and what is the most challenging?

I’m involved with working with the best quality leather and the best factories, with good conditions for the employees, and it’s important to me that the brand continues on in this way. All our shoes are designed by Michel Vivien and his team in our Parisian showroom, and everything is handmade in Italy, the best in the shoe industry. We create comfortable shoes that will last, in simple yet timeless designs.

What makes it difficult is staying competitive, especially when we are an independent company that strives to work with only the best suppliers. With the pandemic, we had to adapt and so we launched our first online store and opened our first boutique, which is the first time in our 20-year history. Consumer purchasing habits have also changed and we had to say bye to high heels—now say hello to fancy flats and low heels!

What does beauty mean to you? Are there any significant differences between the Asian and European ideas of beauty?

Beauty is a personality and a way of living for me. What you eat, which products you apply, whether you sleep enough, if you smoke… All that matters! I prefer the natural approach, so I prefer to invest in pharmaceutical creams or natural products. 

“French girls look like they don’t care, but it’s actually sophisticated and calculated negligence (laughs)!”

We love tanning during the summer, whereas I would say Asians prefer to keep their skin fair. They want to enlarge their eyes but to us, looking natural is always the best. I love my freckles and would never try to remove them!

Talk us through your typical skincare ritual and your favourite products. 

Every morning I spray Avène’s Thermal Spring Water on my face. Then I use an eye cream, tapping from the inside to the outside. After that, I apply a serum from either Seasonly or Typology, depending on my skin’s needs for the day. I’ll use my quartz tools from Seasonly (gua sha, roller and jade mushrooms). I keep them in the fridge and they’re great for helping to depuff the face. I also layer a richer cream on top, especially on my cheeks. When I feel a little tired, I love to use the Filorga Optim-Eyes Refresh Express Revitalising Eye Contour Stick, which always feels refreshing. Finally, I put Homeoplasmine on my lips, and that’s it. I can’t live without my Homeoplasmine, I apply it on my lips several times a day.  

At night, I use the Extremely Gentle Cleanser Lotion from Avène. It’s so important to wipe off everything at the end of the day. Imagine all the pollution and dirt staying all night on your face! After that, I’ll apply the same eye cream and then a face oil or night cream or mask.  

What is most important to you: comfort, beauty, or innovation?

It’s difficult to choose but I would say comfort, especially in this period.

Anne’s Beauty Picks

Avène Thermal Spring Water, SGD12
Avène Extremely Gentle Cleanser Lotion, SGD17
Filorga Optim-Eyes Refresh Express Revitalising Eye Contour Stick, SGD65
Homeoplasmine, SGD25
Darphin Essential Oil Elixir Vetiver Aromatic Care Stress Relief Detox Oil Mask, SGD70
Avène Cicalfate Repair Cream, SGD25.40
La Roche-Posay Toleriane Ultra Moisturiser, SGD42.90
Seasonly Night Repair Oil, EUR58
Seasonly Radiance Serum, EUR28
Furtuna Skin Porte Per La Vitalità Face and Eye Serum, USD98
Glossier Invisible Shield, USD25

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