French Writers Explore Our Obsessive Relationship with Skin

French essayist Mona Chollet's new book "Soigner sa peau" examines society's obsessive relationship with cosmetics, joining several other French literary works this season exploring skin-related themes. The books reflect broader anxieties about a world that damages both our bodies and the planet. The publications coincide with what authors see as turbulent, uncertain times affecting our primary sensory organ—the skin, our first point of contact with the world. Nathalie Azoulai's work scrutinizes actresses' plasticized faces, while Claire Marin celebrates the sense of touch in her writing. The authors draw parallels between personal skin wounds and the Earth's "critical zone"—the fragile few kilometers of planetary surface sustaining life—following a summer marked by wildfires and environmental damage.