I’ve always been fascinated by the French makeup look. From celebrities to street style blogs, all the French women I see look completely fresh, glowing and natural. Somehow, it doesn’t look like they are actually wearing any makeup at all!
Alas, the truth about French makeup is far more complicated than it seems. After speaking with a number of French women during my time in Paris, I’ve realized that despite the “effortless” French beauty cliché, French women adore and use makeup daily just like the rest of us!
If you’re curious about French girl makeup tips and secrets, then keep reading because I’m going to share everything I’ve learned about French makeup in this post. I’ll even demystify the French beauty tips you always wanted to discover.
Start with Your Skincare
The first step if you want effortless French girl beauty is to take care of your skin. Makeup can only do so much for dehydrated or damaged skin. Having a good cleansing and hydrating skincare routine will set you up for French beauty success!
Luckily the basics of French skincare aren’t too complicated.
You’ll want to primarily focus on cleansing and moisturizing at a minimum before applying makeup.
I like to let my moisturizing cream sit for at least 10 minutes while I pick out my outfit, too.
The top facial hydrating cream that French women use before applying makeup is the Embryolisse Lait-Crème Concentré cream which doubles as a primer.
If you have extra dry skin, then go for the dermatological La Roche-Posay Toleriane Double Repair Face Moisturizer which is safe for sensitive skin.
For moist lips, apply Nuxe Rêve de Miel lip balm before using lipstick.
As some French makeup artists say, “Skin is 50% of makeup.”
Try the Best French Makeup Products
Ok, now let’s talk product.
When it comes to the best French makeup products, there are a few cult beauty products to know about. These are items I’ve seen recommended by French models, influencers, and makeup artists countless times.
YSL Touche Éclat: This high-end brightening highlighter pen reached cult status after it was noted as a miracle-working product by actresses, models, and influencers looking to hide blemishes, under-eye circles, and dark spots on the face. It contains hyaluronic acid, vitamin E, and calendula extract.
Lancôme Hypnôse Mascara: This volumizing mascara provides just enough plumpness to make the eyelashes pop. It is a buildable formula so you can use it lightly for a natural look or apply several coats for a more dramatic nighttime look.
Chanel Rouge Allure Velvet Lipstick: This creamy lipstick provides extra long coverage and a smooth texture. I like to dab it on my lips for a natural-looking application.
Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer: This is a newer product that I’ve seen many people talking about. Tinted moisturizers provide light coverage and an even complexion for the skin. They even have a bit of SPF to protect them from the sun. This formula provides natural, light coverage for a dewy finish. It gives you that no-makeup glow!
Dior Lip Glow: For a daytime pink, I recommend Dior Lip Glow Balm which has been used by countless French models to give their lips a fresh and dewy pink tint.
These products are a great place to start if you’re looking to familiarize yourself with the products that real French women use on the regular. If you’re on a budget, try these affordable French beauty products.
Find Your Ideal French Makeup Brands
What are the top French makeup brands to keep an eye out for? Can you buy them in the United States? I’m here to tell all.
Luxury French Makeup Brands
These are the most luxurious, high-quality French makeup brands to know. They are on the higher end of the price scale but their investment in research and development has paid off with some amazingly effective products.
- Lancôme
- Guerlain
- Sisley
- Chantecaille
- Dior Beauty
- Chanel Beauty
- YSL Beauty
Contemporary French Makeup Brands
If you’re looking for more consumer-driven contemporary French makeup brands, these are the ones to know. These brands cater to the everyday French girl. They aren’t necessarily much more affordable but certainly fall into a mid-range price point.
Laura Mercier is a French makeup artist who made it big in New York. She went on to found her own makeup line!
Violette is a French YouTube makeup artist who launched her own brand a few years ago. She loves bright colors and sparkling eye makeup.
Les Filles en Rouje is the beauty division of Parisian influencer Jeanne Damas’ French it-girl lifestyle brand.
La Bouche Rouge is a French clean beauty line perfecting the art of lipstick.
For affordable French makeup, I recommend going with some of the older, national makeup chains like L’Oréal and Bourjois.
Beauty Brands French Girls Love
French girls don’t only use French beauty brands, of course. That would be silly. They love international brands, too. A few makeup brands I’ve seen recommended by French women include Estée Lauder, ILIA, and Glossier.
Where to Shop for French Makeup
Luckily, thanks to global e-commerce, you don’t need to fly to France to shop for French makeup products. Here are the retailers I recommend when looking for French beauty products and makeup:
- Sephora: This global French retailer has tons of international brands where you can get the best beauty products and earn points for fidelity
- Ulta: Ulta has a wide selection of French skincare and beauty products.
- Amazon: The store where you can get anything sells a ton of products by French pharmacy brands and lots of affordable French makeup
- Oh My Cream: This French multi-brand beauty boutique has several physical shops in addition to a well-designed e-commerce site where you can shop the latest trends in clean French beauty
French Facial Skin Makeup
The French have many different facial skin makeup solutions for achieving different results. I would never recommend using all these products at once, but depending on your needs on any given day, each one could be useful.
- French Concealers: to hide dark under-eye circles
- French Tinted Moisturizers: a lightweight all-over cream for evening the skin tone
- French Foundations: for a bit more coverage without cakiness
- French Face Powders: ideal for mattifying the skin and setting makeup
- French Blush: perfect for adding rosiness to your cheeks
- French Bronzing Powder: great for extending your summer tan glow
- French Highlighters: for adding a bit of sheen to where the light hits your face
French Eye Makeup
If you want to highlight your eyes, then there are lots of amazing French eye makeup products out there to help you do so.
Some of the best French eyeshadows can really make your eyes pop.
Black eyeliner is a bold choice that works best in the evening.
If you have sparse eyebrows, a good French eyebrow pencil will do the trick to make them appear natural.
Lastly, a good French mascara will brilliantly open up your eyes. It’s a must!
French Lip Color
There are several options to choose from when adding color to your lips. Some are light and natural and others are bold and daring!
- French Lipsticks: Great for a bold color on the lips
- Lip Gloss: For a shiny, dewy glow
- Lip Plumper: For people with thin lips
- Lip Pencil: To define your lips
Do Your Everyday French Makeup Look
When it comes to your everyday French makeup look, there is one key beauty rule: less is more! The French don’t pile on copious amounts of foundation and they certainly don’t own a contouring brush. Instead, they keep their makeup routine to five minutes, maximum!
Today’s French beauty standards value natural, effortless looks. Your average French girl’s makeup look might include the following products:
- Concealer: She might apply concealer beneath her eyes to cover up any dark circles or dark spots on her face.
- Tinted Moisturizer: A thin liquid with a bit of SPF to even out the facial complexion and skin tone, while protecting the skin from UV rays.
- Mascara: Used after curling the eye lashes with a curler, just to make them pop a bit.
- Blush: Only if her cheeks aren’t naturally rosy, to give a natural glow.
- Lipstick: It could be a bold lipstick or a shiny gloss. If lipstick, French it-girl Jeanne Damas recommends applying it with the finger instead of smearing it on for a more natural tint.
Voilà. Five minutes tops and she’s out the door!
At the end of the day, you never want to notice the makeup before you notice the woman. That’s the French makeup philosophy.
Pick one element of your face to highlight and go all out on only that feature. A French woman might choose a dramatic red lipstick, but leave the rest of her face nearly bare. Or she might use a heavy black eyeliner and opt for nude lips. It’s all about making a statement on just one part of your face.
Use French Makeup Remover at the End of the Day
Another golden rule of French beauty is to never go to bed with your makeup on! When it comes time to remove your makeup, there are a few products that French women prefer.
Bioderma Sensibio H2O Micellar Water – This French pharmacy staple is on just about every French girl’s bathroom shelf. I first heard about this miracle product from a French influencer, but I can’t remember which one. In any case, Sabina, Jeanne, and so many more French women are a huge fan of it. You just take a small cotton pad and makeup comes off in just a swipe or two. It’s gentle on the skin and doesn’t leave a residue.
Collosol Eau de Lait – This is a French makeup remover that has been passed down through the generations. It was first created in Paris in the 1950s. A pharmacy located near the Champs Elysées received several requests from actresses looking for a product that would remove their heavy stage makeup. Responding to this need, Collosol created a makeup-removing formula using milk and water with a subtle fragrance. Even Karl Lagerfeld sings its praise!
Oh, and don’t even think about using makeup-removing wipes. Sure they are convenient and sold in France, but they are terrible for your skin! Makeup removing wipes will stretch out your delicate skin and move dirt around, causing wrinkles and breakouts.
Stick to micellar water or gentle makeup removing milk to dissolve the makeup particles. Follow up with a French toner to be extra sure you’ve got it all off!
French Makeup vs. American Makeup
The biggest difference between French makeup and American makeup is the attitude around beauty. Americans seek to hide their imperfections while French girls want to just enhance their natural beauty.
The French tend to celebrate their unique features, while Americans want to blend in more. The approach to makeup is vastly different between the two countries.
Everyday French Makeup Over 50
French makeup over 50 isn’t all that different from French girl makeup. Because the makeup is so timeless and the products are high quality, you can stick with the same products all your life.
Of course, older French women have added an anti-aging serum to their beauty routines by the time they start seeing wrinkles. But as far as makeup goes, there’s no reason why you can’t rock a bold red lip or go with a flattering black cat-eye.
That’s an overview of French makeup tips and products to know. Stay tuned for French beauty product reviews and more secrets from Paris!
