Garance Doré: 5 Things Beauty is Really About

Garance Doré: Five Things Beauty Is Really About

Beauty

Garance

January 30, 2026

Author: Garance Doré

Beauty

Garance

January 30, 2026

Garance Doré: Five Things Beauty Is Really About

Author: Garance Doré

I just spent a week in Copenhagen (writing you from the airport, hiii!) and it was absolutely stellar, except for one little detail. I felt like I looked terrible. Exhausted, old, and unpolished. Each day my mood would go down a notch and I knew that, in big part, it had to do with the fact that I just wasn’t happy about how I look. But now that I look back—I know what happened.

Beauty is about health.

I am—actually—exhausted. I’ve been on the road for too long. Traveling that much, I don’t do that anymore. It is actually really hard on the body. I haven’t been able to recuperate. Very short nights, new bedding and temperature settings to get familiar with, unhealthy meals… I could go on.

Beauty is about lighting.

Two things. My bedroom was great but the lighting in it was absolutely awful. Bright overhead lights that would enhance the bags under my eyes and be completely unforgiving about any little flaw. On top of that, add the Copenhagen cold winter light that would make my skin look gray and dull.

Beauty is about hydration.

I’m so glad I had my Baume and would slather my face in La Crème, but even being careful about drinking a ton, I can feel that my body is dehydrated. CPH is the city of coffee shops and you end up caffeinating yourself all day long, which is highly dehydrating. It’s cold and windy out and and dry and hot inside. You’re constantly thirsty. It shows on your face—and your whole body!

Beauty is about self care.

Traveling also means that I haven’t been able to get my nails done, get my hair cut (I got my roots done because that’s a non-negotiable, but not everything can be a non-negotiable) or do any type of exercise. I just feel raw, and super self-conscious when I’m near other women who look all polished and well hydrated.

Beauty is about self-love.

All of the above does not only have a terrible effect on your face, it's also terrible for your mood. It all goes hand in hand—and it’s easy to spiral. So, yesterday, as I was at an all-time low, I decided to take it easy. I canceled dinner and stayed in. I knew I had to be patient. But I’m on my way home, and I’m going to buy organic fruits and veg and get back on a real exercise routine. I’ll do masks and drink bone broth and plan a whole exercise routine with ChatGPT. I’m going to show my body some love and some respect. I’m also going to give myself time and self-love. Because it’s okay to say yes when life calls you to travel a bit more than usual. And it’s totally okay to have time when we don’t look our best. As long as we find our way back home, to ourselves.PS: This photo is the last photo where I look reasonably alive, and that was 10 days ago in NYC.

I just spent a week in Copenhagen (writing you from the airport, hiii!) and it was absolutely stellar, except for one little detail. I felt like I looked terrible. Exhausted, old, and unpolished. Each day my mood would go down a notch and I knew that, in big part, it had to do with the fact that I just wasn’t happy about how I look. But now that I look back—I know what happened.

Beauty is about health.

I am—actually—exhausted. I’ve been on the road for too long. Traveling that much, I don’t do that anymore. It is actually really hard on the body. I haven’t been able to recuperate. Very short nights, new bedding and temperature settings to get familiar with, unhealthy meals… I could go on.

Beauty is about lighting.

Two things. My bedroom was great but the lighting in it was absolutely awful. Bright overhead lights that would enhance the bags under my eyes and be completely unforgiving about any little flaw. On top of that, add the Copenhagen cold winter light that would make my skin look gray and dull.

Beauty is about hydration.

I’m so glad I had my Baume and would slather my face in La Crème, but even being careful about drinking a ton, I can feel that my body is dehydrated. CPH is the city of coffee shops and you end up caffeinating yourself all day long, which is highly dehydrating. It’s cold and windy out and and dry and hot inside. You’re constantly thirsty. It shows on your face—and your whole body!

Beauty is about self care.

Traveling also means that I haven’t been able to get my nails done, get my hair cut (I got my roots done because that’s a non-negotiable, but not everything can be a non-negotiable) or do any type of exercise. I just feel raw, and super self-conscious when I’m near other women who look all polished and well hydrated.

Beauty is about self-love.

All of the above does not only have a terrible effect on your face, it's also terrible for your mood. It all goes hand in hand—and it’s easy to spiral. So, yesterday, as I was at an all-time low, I decided to take it easy. I canceled dinner and stayed in. I knew I had to be patient. But I’m on my way home, and I’m going to buy organic fruits and veg and get back on a real exercise routine. I’ll do masks and drink bone broth and plan a whole exercise routine with ChatGPT. I’m going to show my body some love and some respect. I’m also going to give myself time and self-love. Because it’s okay to say yes when life calls you to travel a bit more than usual. And it’s totally okay to have time when we don’t look our best. As long as we find our way back home, to ourselves.PS: This photo is the last photo where I look reasonably alive, and that was 10 days ago in NYC.

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