We all picture the French girl aesthetic: tousled hair, flawless skin with natural makeup, a simple yet always chic style, and, of course, a red lip. While the key to this look is to appear effortless, it does take some effort to achieve. As a French woman, I can tell you that red lipstick can add instant chic to any outfit, but it’s not always an easy look to pull off. To help you out, I’ve gathered all the tips and tricks you need to recreate this classic red lip look à la Française, no matter where you live ;).
This post is not sponsored, and all opinions are my own. I only feature products I truly love and personally select. If you purchase through my links, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Merci!
1. Prep Your Lips for Perfect Red Lipstick
Before you dive into applying your red lipstick, make sure to exfoliate your lips. You can use a lip scrub—I adore Dior’s Lip Sugar Scrub Sweet Exfoliating Lip Balm—or even an old toothbrush. This gives you a smooth, hydrated canvas and helps your lipstick last longer. After exfoliating, treat your lips to a nourishing lip balm. My go-to is Sisley Paris Nutritive Lip Balm, but any good lip balm or primer will do. This step is key for smooth lips and keeping the red color from bleeding. Opt for a balm that’s not too heavy—just enough to hydrate without feeling thick. If your lips are super dry, layer on the lip balm and let it sit for a few minutes before applying your red lipstick. Your lips will thank you ;)!
2. Apply Red Lipstick the French Way
Start by swiping your lipstick in one continuous motion from one side of your bottom lip to the other. Then, use your fingertips to diffuse the color evenly over your lips. Gently caress it to blend, and you’re done! For a more intense color, tap the lipstick onto your lips. For a daytime look, I like to soften the color with my fingertips or an eyeshadow fluff brush without adding more lipstick. The goal is to add a hint of color without making it too bold or sophisticated. For an evening look, I intensify the color for a more dramatic effect. I apply several layers of red lipstick and then press my lips onto a tissue. This trick helps your lipstick last all night.
3. Opt for a Timeless Shade of Red
Here are my favorite shades of red lipstick that I love to wear and highly recommend to anyone looking to achieve a classic, French chic look.
- Rouge Dior 999 Velvet Finish
- Chanel Rouge Coco 444 Gabrielle
- Violette_fr Petal Bouche Amour fou
- Guerlain Rouge G 880 Ruby Red
- Rouge Hermès 85 Rouge H
4. Keep the Rest of Your Makeup Natural
When I wear bright and intense red lipstick, I like to keep the rest of my makeup very natural. I love the contrast of a bold red lip with nearly bare skin and minimal makeup. I start by choosing a base depending on my skin’s condition: either a tinted moisturizer (Laura Mercier’s Tinted Moisturizer is fantastic), a CC cream (try Erborian’s CC Cream), or a foundation with very light coverage (I adore Sisley Paris Phyto-Teint Nude Oil-Free Foundation). Recently, I’ve been loving Aime Skincare Powder Foundation SPF in the shade Light.
Next, I apply a tiny amount of concealer—I recommend Le Correcteur de Chanel—sparingly to problem areas like the inner corners of my eyes or any blemishes. I always finish my look with a hint of blush (Aime Healthy Cheek & Lip Cream and Sisley Paris L’Orchidée are my favorites) and a touch of bronzer (Guerlain’s Terracotta Light Healthy Glow Bronzer is a cult classic!).
5. Pair Your Nails with Your Red Lips
When I wear a bright shade of red lipstick, I love to pair my nails with my lips. It can be challenging to find the exact same shade of red for both (except maybe Rouge Dior 999, which matches perfectly with Dior Vernis 999). Depending on my outfit and the season, I usually opt for a lighter or darker shade of red on my nails compared to my lips. Some nail polish colors that I absolutely adore are Chanel Le Vernis 151 Pirate, 111 Ballerina, Les Mains Hermès Rouge H, and Dior Vernis 999.
Et voilà! I’d love to hear your thoughts—share your favorite red lipstick tips and shades in the comments below! Merci.
Bonjour,
Oohhhh~ Hermes lipstick looks so pretty- on my wishlist.
Would you please recommend a few red lipgloss ~ no matte . I want to try Violette amour fou , unfortunately, it’s matte .
And … moisturizing masks .
Thank you!
Thank you so much. I can’t wait to try these tips. As with many others, I have been searching for the perfect red. I am nearly 70 and any tips for those of us with thinning, aging lips who still wish to rock a beautiful red, would be much appreciated. Merci !
Thank you, Joyce! For thin lips (like mine), I recommend avoiding shades of red that are too dark. A good lip liner can help define and enhance the shape of your lips, and I recommend shiny lipsticks over matte formulas. Also, highlighting your cupid’s bow can make your top lip appear fuller. I hope these tips help you rock a beautiful red with confidence ;)!
Thank you very much! ❤️
I sometimes blend my favourite neutral lipstick with a red one to tone it down slightly, it feels more wearable. And yes, to making it feel less sophisticated!
Bonjour Susan! Thank you for sharing this great tip! Blending a neutral lipstick with a red one is a clever way to make a bold color more wearable for everyday looks. Merci beaucoup! xo
Hullo. I live in south Australia and look forward to reading your weekly blog
My husband and I have visited France 3 times and have really enjoyed our time
there. Annecy and Bordeaux are both beautiful towns.
Best wishes to you. Jilly
Thank you so much, Jilly! It’s wonderful to hear that you look forward to reading my blog and that you’ve enjoyed your visits to France. Annecy and Bordeaux truly are beautiful places :). I appreciate your kind words <3 Best wishes to you as well!
I’ve been passively trying to find the perfect red lipstick for the past few years (since reading this blog) and have finally succeeded in finding a few. I was always paranoid about it drawing attention to my teeth, which I’m less than happy with, so I’ve just started week 3 of invisalign braces. It’s expensive, but I’m worth it! By the end of the year, they’ll be a lot better, and I’ll do a whitening treatment, and then I think it’ll be red lippy every day for me. In the meantime, I’m having to go without, because I feel like its too easy for it to smudge onto the plastic. I’m in my mid 40’s and finding that with my pale skin and greying hair, my face needs that bit of colour. I’m very minimal make up otherwise – tinted serum under my moisturizer, mascara, that’s it. For night time or more formal events, I’ll add some eye shadow. I get red easily when I’m warm or have had a glass of wine, so never bother with blush.
So thank you for the red lipstick inspiration over these past few years! I’ve been wanting to get my teeth fixed for a really really long time, and this was one of the things that finally pushed me to just do it.
Thank you so much, Lindsey, for sharing your story here! I’m really happy to hear that you’ve found your perfect red lipstick and are taking steps with Invisalign to feel even more confident wearing it. I can’t wait for you to rock that red lipstick every day once your treatment is complete. Thank you for letting me be a part of your inspiration <3 Merci xo
Thank you Leonce <3 Have a Nice day!
Merci beaucoup Melissa <3 Have a wonderful day too!