What is it about French girls that makes them so damn beautiful?
French girl beauty is all about creating a very natural glow with little makeup, yet a lot of good skincare. You’re not alone if you want to emulate the effortlessly beautiful look that French girls know how to do so well. The truth is that French girl beauty done right subtly enhances the natural attractive qualities of a woman’s face, making it seem as if she’s wearing nearly no make-up at all.
I’ll let you in on a little secret, though. I live in Paris and the fact is that French girls do invest time, effort and money into their beauty routines! …They just don’t let it show.
If you’re looking to adopt a simple but effective approach to your everyday beauty routine, then keep reading our French beauty guide. We think you’ll love the natural glow that comes with following French girl beauty advice!
French Girl Beauty Starts With Skincare
The French beauty regime begins with the skin. French girls take very good care of their skin by moisturizing on a daily basis. They also understand the importance of protecting the skin from harmful sun rays and preventing premature signs of aging.
Jeanne Damas wears sunscreen every day, especially between the hours of 10am and 2pm. This is a very good practice to avoid premature aging due to sun exposure and harmful UV rays. Be sure to invest in a sunscreen that is made specifically for the face (like Lancôme Bienfait), especially if you are prone to breakouts.
If your sunscreen does not moisturize your face as well or you know you will be inside all day, then be sure to invest in a quality facial moisturizer like cult-favorite Embryolisse Lait-Crème Concentré, which French makeup artists use on models’ faces in between Paris fashion week shows.
As far as the rest of your body, Embryolisse body moisturizer is very popular for hydrating the skin from your arms all the way to your legs. Personally, I love applying Avène Cold Cream to my dry feet. Within a few days, any dry and flakey skin is completely gone. It’s truly a miracle product!
Nuxe body oil has cult-status among French girls for its ability to moisturize any part of the body – from the legs to the ends of your hair. Not to mention, it adds a beautiful shine to the legs. Great for those summer Instagram shots!
Cleanse Your French-Girl Face
French girl beauty is very much about taking care of your face for yourself and keeping up with the maintenance that goes along with having skin that may get exposed to pollution and sun rays.
French girls cleanse and exfoliate often to keep their skin in top shape. The product most recommended by French girls is without a doubt Bioderma H20 Micellar Water Cleanser. This light and gentle product is great for cleansing your face from the day’s makeup and toxins and restoring the natural balance of your skin. The water in Paris is notoriously hard – it has a very high percentage of calcium and magnesium so French girls rely on micellar water to wash their face and prevent skin damage.
Haircare Like a French Girl
Let’s talk about French girl hair. French girls are known for their messy, just-woke-up-like-this, lightly tousled hairstyles.
French girls don’t typically wash their hair every day, and when they do, they use a paraben-free shampoo from their local pharmacie. On the days in between washing, Klorane’s dry shampoo with oat milk can offer a volume boost while absorbing an excess oil. This product is magnifique for helping you achieve that second-day messy hair look French girls are known for.
Makeup the French Way
Now that your skin is hydrated and your hair is perfectly messy, it’s time to apply makeup the French way!
When it comes to makeup, French girls keep it very light, and very simple. They will typically invest in a good foundation (Armani Luminous Silk Foundation is a favorite), a good mascara (French model Louise Fouillan recommends Lancôme Hypnose), and of course a bold red lipstick (Mac’s Ruby Woo is a classic bright red).
That doesn’t mean you cannot use other beauty products like eye shadow, or highlighter (YSL Touche Éclat has a cult following among French girls), it just means that those three products are typically the basics for an everyday French girl beauty look.
You should consider makeup products that are necessary to your particular needs. For example, I typically use the three products mentioned above as well as a brow filler because I have sparse eyebrows. Using the brow filler actually gives my eyebrows a more natural and fuller look. Same goes for concealer. As long as you don’t cake it on, it’s perfectly fine to conceal any blemishes or uneven skin tones.
French Girl Lipstick
Lipstick is the one must-have for any French girl’s beauty routine!
When it comes to the lip color, stay away from anything too bright or too pink. A deep, Bordeaux red is a great choice, or a smooth brown in the fall. You’ll have to experiment a bit to find the best shade for your skin tone, but generally speaking, French girls tend to stay away from anything too flashy or unnatural on their lips. Muted tones are the way to go.
Jeanne Damas has cited Mac’s Diva lipstick as her go-to shade for a deep, Bordeaux-red lip color. For less than a third of the price, you can also try the Diva dupe Divine Wine. Damas has also shared that Mac’s Viva Glam III is her go-to color for a subtle daytime shade.
Now you may be wondering how to apply lipstick like a French girl. While you may be tempted to smear on your new lipstick directly to your lips, French girls dab it on with their finger and spread the color just outside the edges of their lips, giving their lips an even tint and full pout that looks like they just finished kissing their boyfriend.
Keeping your lips moisturized is a must, especially during the harsh Parisian winter. Jeanne Damas swears by Nuxe lip balm – a pharmacy favorite to moisturize the lips.
I hope you found this guide to French girl beauty useful! Something to keep in mind is that French women don’t see imperfections the way that Americans do. They admire the small differences in our faces which make us unique! So break out your confidence, because that’s usually the key to French beauty success.
