5 Habits of Coco Chanel That Kept Her Young

At 87, Coco Chanel continued working, creating collections and captivating men. Her secret to eternal youth was not in expensive creams or plastic surgery but in simple daily habits. What rules of life helped this great mademoiselle remain energetic and attractive until her last days?

Main points from the article:

• Chanel slept exactly 8 hours a day and never violated her sleep schedule;
• She started each morning with a contrast shower and light gymnastics;
• Eating according to the principle of 'little but quality'—preferring oysters to cakes;
• Never tanned and always protected her skin from the sun;
• Daily hand care, considering hands a woman's calling card.

Sleep as a Sacred Ritual

'Beauty begins with good sleep,' Chanel said and strictly followed this principle. She went to bed at 10:30 PM and woke up at 6:30 AM—exactly eight hours of sleep each night. No exceptions, even at social gatherings.

Chanel's bedroom was a true temple of rest. Heavy curtains blocked out any light, the temperature was kept at 18 degrees Celsius, and the room aired for at least half an hour before sleep. She slept on an orthopedic mattress—a rarity in the 1920s—and changed her bedding daily.

She paid special attention to preparing for sleep. An hour before bed—no work, only relaxation. A gentle facial massage, herbal tea, and meditation. 'Skin regenerates at night, and it's my duty to create ideal conditions for this,' she explained her ritual.

An interesting detail: Chanel never slept in makeup, even traces of lipstick were unacceptable. Evening facial cleansing took her at least 20 minutes—first with milk, then toner, and finally a nourishing cream of her own making.

Morning Exercise and Contrast Shower

At 6:30 AM, as soon as the alarm rang, Chanel went to the bathroom. A contrast shower—first hot water for two minutes, then cold for thirty seconds. She repeated this cycle five times. 'This is better than any coffee,' she joked.

After the shower came mandatory gymnastics. Nothing complicated: bends, squats, exercises for hands and neck. Just 15 minutes daily without exception. At age 60, Coco was more flexible than many thirty-year-olds.

She particularly focused on facial exercises. Massaging temples, forehead, and around the eyes. Making faces in front of the mirror—stretching cheek muscles, raising eyebrows, opening mouth wide. 'The face is also a muscle and must be trained,' she firmly believed.

She ended her morning ritual with a body brush massage. Starting from the legs and moving toward the heart—to improve circulation. Then she applied a moisturizing cream of her own making based on olive oil and rose extract.

Eating: Quality Over Quantity

Chanel ate little but only high-quality foods. Breakfast—black coffee, toast from whole grain bread and fruits. Lunch—a light salad, fish or seafood. Dinner—vegetables and protein, no carbs after 6 PM.

Her favorite dish was oysters with champagne. 'Oysters contain everything the skin needs: zinc, iodine, amino acids,' she explained her preference. She ate them twice a week and considered it the best cosmetic treatment.

Sweets—only at lunchtime and in minimal amounts. She preferred bitter chocolate instead of desserts—one piece after dinner. 'Sugar is the enemy of youth,' she repeated and strictly monitored her intake.

She drank plenty of water—no less than two liters a day. But not plain, but mineral with lemon juice added. 'Water flushes years from within,' Chanel believed. She rarely drank alcohol—only a glass of champagne on special occasions.

Interesting fact: Chanel never ate while running or snacked between meals. Each meal was a ritual—set table, beautiful dishes, leisurely enjoyment of flavors.

Sunlight—the Number One Enemy

While the whole world was obsessed with tanning, Chanel went against the trend. 'The sun is beautiful, but for skin it's death,' she said and never tanned. Even while living on the Riviera, she only appeared at the beach in the shade of an umbrella.

She protected her face with wide-brimmed hats and applied a homemade sunscreen cream based on zinc oxide. The recipe she kept secret, but it was so effective that friends asked for some.

When traveling, she always chose rooms with northern-facing windows. 'Northern light is the most beautiful and doesn't age,' she explained her choice. At home in Paris, her office was also on the north side.

Interesting detail: Chanel was one of the first to use self-tanning products. She mixed henna with coffee and applied it to exposed skin areas, achieving a light golden tone without harm to the skin.

The Cult of Beautiful Hands

'Hands reveal a woman's age faster than the face,' Chanel said and gave them special attention. Daily manicures, moisturizing, massage—hands were her constant care.

Each evening she did hand baths with sea salt and lemon juice. Then massaged each finger, rubbing in nourishing cream. At night she wore cotton gloves—for better absorption of the cream.

Nails were always perfect—neither too long nor imperfectly shaped. She painted them with clear or soft pink polish. 'A flashy manicure is a sign of bad taste,' she believed.

While working in the atelier, she always wore gloves. Even during fittings, she never touched fabrics with bare hands. 'Hands not only ruin my work but also damage the fabric,' she explained this habit.

Special ritual—weekly paraffin manicure. She dipped her hands in warm paraffin and wore gloves for half an hour. After the procedure, skin became incredibly soft and youthful.

Photo from ls.net.ru

Secret Beauty Recipes

Chanel didn't trust ready-made cosmetics and made creams herself. The base was first-press olive oil, to which she added rose water, chamomile extract, and vitamin E. She applied the cream not only to her face but also to her neck, décolleté, and hands.

Once a week she made a mask from honey and oats. Mixed them in equal proportions, added a few drops of lemon juice, and applied for 20 minutes. 'Honey nourishes the skin, oats cleanse, lemon brightens,' she explained.

For hair, she used a rinse of nettle and rosemary. She prepared the decoction in the evening and rinsed her hair with it after washing in the morning. The result—healthy shine and no premature graying.

Secret for skin elasticity—ice cubes with green tea. Each morning she wiped her face and neck with them. 'Cold is the best friend of youth,' she repeated.

The Psychology of Youth

But the main secret of Chanel was not in creams and procedures but in her special attitude toward life. She never spoke about age, never complained of health, and never allowed herself to look tired in public.

'A woman is young as long as she's interesting,' Coco believed. She constantly developed, read, traveled, met new people. At 80, she studied modern art and stayed updated on all cultural events.

She never romanticized the past. 'Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, today is a gift,' she loved to repeat. She always planned the future, worked on new projects, dreamed.

She paid special attention to her appearance. Even at home, she looked impeccable—neat hairstyle, subtle makeup, elegant clothing. 'Carelessness in details leads to carelessness in life,' she believed.

Modern Lessons from the Great Mademoiselle

Chanel's habits seem simple but require iron discipline. Regular sleep, physical activity, proper nutrition, sun protection, hand care—all accessible to any woman.

The key is consistency. Chanel made no exceptions, sought no excuses, and never postponed self-care to tomorrow. Beauty for her was not a goal but a tool of success.

Modern research confirms Coco's wisdom. Quality sleep really slows aging, contrast showers improve circulation, sugar restriction extends youth, and sun protection prevents photoaging.

Perhaps the secret isn't in specific procedures but that Chanel treated her body as a precious tool. She understood: to conquer the world, you must first conquer yourself. And this victory begins with simple daily habits.

'Fashion passes, style remains,' Coco Chanel said. The same can be said about beauty: creams and procedures change, but healthy habits remain the foundation of youth forever.

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