Being French, in this article, I’ll share with you all my tips and tricks to help you achieve that perfect French girl makeup look ;). French women are known for their effortless approach to beauty. Makeup is minimal, discrete, and mainly used to enhance one’s natural features rather than cover them up. All makeup products are used in moderation, and contouring is not a thing in France. The good news is that the French girl makeup look is simple and easy to re-create! You’ll only need a few makeup products, like a tinted moisturizer, a concealer, blush, bronzer, and mascara. Whether red or nude, lipstick is optional as the French don’t wear bold lipstick daily. Keep scrolling below to read my step-by-step guide to French makeup. You’re welcome ;)!
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1. Use a Lightweight Foundation
First, to even out your complexion and blur imperfections with a natural finish, opt for a lightweight foundation, a BB/CC cream, or a tinted moisturizer. To create a fresh, dewy glow, prefer a liquid formula with the most natural finish and avoid any heavy or matte formulas. I’m using the iconic Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer (in color 1W1 Porcelain) or Sisley’s Phyto-Teint Nude foundation (in color 2N Ivory Beige). Also, I recommend this amazing CC cream from the French-Korean beauty brand Erborian, which is very popular in France. If your foundation is too heavy, mix it with a little bit of moisturizer to get a more natural base. It will dial down the coverage and give skin a dewier, natural finish. Also, use your fingers to apply your foundation and blend it, particularly around your hairline, brows, and jaw.
2. Apply Concealer Sparingly to Problem Areas
Apply the tiniest amount of concealer sparingly to problem areas: under the eyes and elsewhere to cover blemishes or pigmentations. Blend with your fingers, as the warmth of your skin makes the product melt right in, so the application looks seamless against the rest of the skin. My favorite concealers are Laura Mercier’s Flawless Fusion Ultra-Longwear Concealer and Le Correcteur de Chanel.
3. Use a Little Bit of Blush
Then, add a bit of blush exactly where you would naturally flush: to the apples of your cheeks, up onto your temples, and right on the bridge of your nose. Blend until you have a very subtle color and natural finish. I recommend using powder blushes, which have the best natural finish and are the easiest to apply. I love L’Orchidée Blush by Sisley Paris (shade Corail).
4. Add Definition with Bronzer Powder
French women like to use bronzer powders to give their faces a natural, healthy, sun-kissed look. I recommend opting for the cult-favorite Guerlain Terracotta Light Bronzer. With a Kabuki brush, apply your favorite bronzer from the forehead to the cheekbones, then from the cheekbones to the chin, and also on the bridge of the nose.
5. Keep Your Brows Full
French women generally keep their brows full, boyish, and never overly filled in. I must confess that I like to keep my eyebrows as natural as possible, and I don’t pluck and trim them ;). However, I like using a brow gel like Chanel’s Le Gel Sourcils (shade 370 Brun) to slightly intensify my eyebrows’ color and shape. Et voilà! Nothing dramatic, nothing too structured.
6. Apply a Thin Layer of Mascara
Then, apply a soft, light brown eyeshadow on your eyelids, like Chanel Ombre Première in color 802 Undertone or Laura Mercier’s Caviar Stick Eye Color in Rose Gold or Cashmere. They are so easy to apply! Just use your fingers to dab some color on your eyes. Curl your eyelashes and apply a maximum of two coats of mascara to each eye (I love to use Le Volume de Chanel). Then, use a cotton bud with a little makeup remover to remove some excess mascara.
7. Hydrate Your Lips
Use a lip balm to hydrate and protect your lips (check out my favorite lip balms). One of my favorites is Sisley’s Nutritive Lip Balm. Then, apply your favorite nude lipstick (mine is the Rouge Coco 434 Mademoiselle, a warm rosewood shade). Dampen a small fluffy makeup brush, and use the brush to buff the color into your lips, creating a diffused, long-lasting lip stain. If you feel extra ambitious, you can opt for bright red lips! I love Violette’s Petal Bouche in Amour Fou and Rouge Coco in color 444 Gabrielle. Learn more about how to wear your red lipstick like a chic French woman.
Et voilà! I hope you enjoyed reading this article and that it will help you achieve that perfect French girl makeup look. Please let me know in the comments below if you have any questions.
