How to Do French Makeup
French makeup is all about striking the ideal balance. If your eyes are strikingly stunning, let the lips or cheeks remain subtle – but always aim for an all-over natural glow!
Start by applying a lightweight foundation that will enhance your skin tone; one great choice for this is By Terry Brightening CC Serum!
Eyes
France, famous for iconic masterpieces like the Louvre, Musee d’Orsay and Grand Palais is an epicenter of beauty. French people take great pleasure in celebrating beauty as more than just cosmetic art; beauty for them means emphasizing one’s individual characteristics while celebrating them as unique characteristics.
French women are experts at translating runway trends to everyday style with makeup, but that doesn’t mean going overboard with their looks. Even adding just a hint of sparkle here or there or using classic black smokey eyes with nude lips can be very flattering when using appropriate products.
To achieve the ideal “French girl” look, start with clean skin and lightweight foundation or tinted moisturizer. “Makeup sits well on sparkling clean skin that has been properly moisturized,” according to Parisian makeup artist Charlotte Ravet, who shared some of her tips for effortless French beauty.
Ravet suggests using gentle cleansers such as Vichy Purete Thermale 3-in-1 Cleanser and La Roche-Posay Toner Effortless Clarifying for cleansing and toning purposes, respectively. She further advises spritzing on some Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer under your eyes and around your nose, which helps cover discolorations without appearing cakey.
After applying a light blush with her fingertips, she then uses curling her lashes and applying one or two coats of ILIA Limitless Lash Mascara (her favorite!) for a polished look.
Ravet suggests selecting a neutral lipstick with just a hint of shine for lips. She enjoys using either Clinique Superbalanced Moisture Lipstick in Plum or Rose for its matte finish, or Burt’s Bees All-In-One Lip Balm in Rose for its moisturizing properties.
To complete her look, she uses the Laura Mercier Brow Pencil with light strokes to outline her brows, while applying highlighter on top of her cheekbones for extra glow.
As the finishing touch, she uses Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Setting Powder which will keep her look looking soft and radiant all day. This step ensures her skin remains supple and youthful throughout the day.
Lips
French girls tend to highlight their natural beauty rather than attempt to cover every flaw with makeup, choosing instead to highlight it by adding just a hint of color. French girls won’t hesitate to show off a bold red lipstick or dramatic eye look while still leaving much of their face exposed.
Therefore, they prefer not to apply heavy contouring or any other makeup on their skin, instead opting for light coverage foundations and tinted moisturizers with tinted properties to even out their complexion while still allowing freckles, redness, or imperfections to show through. They also have a regimented skincare routine including regular visits to an esthetician as well as rigorous cleansing prior to sleeping.
Yolaine suggests using a sheer foundation similar to your natural skin tone and that contains SPF for optimal sun protection, and layering on lightweight cream blush or bronzer for an earthy, youthful glow without looking shiny. She also suggests applying tinted moisturizer with shimmer for an enhanced natural effect and youthful radiance without appearing overly shiny.
Yolaine recommends choosing a soft nude or blush pink shade that doubles as both lip and cheek color, or opt for an eye-catching lipstick in classic red like Mac’s Ruby Woo. She adds that you should reapply your pout throughout the day to keep it looking its best.
Yolaine advises choosing dark brown or black mascara for evening eye looks that draw the focus onto your eyes, framing them. Next, she recommends finishing off the look with shimmery loose powder that sets your makeup while simultaneously absorbing excess oil from your face – Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Powder is her go-to product for this task!
Cheeks
French girls tend to use minimal makeup on an ongoing basis in order to emphasize natural features, instead opting for bold red lips or dramatic eye makeup on special occasions.
French women understand the value of having glowing skin is at the foundation of any beauty regime. To achieve this look, they utilize gentle cleansers and moisturizers suitable for their individual skin type and avoid products with strong fragrances or irritating ingredients like sodium lauryl or laureth sulfates. In addition, they follow an everyday skincare regimen, consisting of face masks before bedtime cleansing as part of a consistent skincare routine.
De Fontbrune emphasizes the importance of blush to achieve that alluring, fresh-faced French look, which is achieved through careful application. He suggests applying “a subtle wash of pink or rose on the apples of your cheeks can brighten up your whole face without looking overly vibrant”. Cream blush provides a natural finish and blends easily; French women use concealer sparingly, only covering up blemishes or dark spots and using pore blurring setting powder so it stays put throughout the day.
French women love an eye look with subtle glow. Achieve this effect requires using their fingertips and dabbing on balmy highlighter with minimal shimmer on key areas like the bridge of their nose, Cupid’s bow or inner corners of their eyes – these techniques will bring out their eyes’ true potential!
Petersen recommends choosing a brush with soft, fine tips so as not to clump or smudge; opt for something without stiff bristles.
Lips-wise, she opts for simple clear gloss for everyday wear; but when she needs to look her best for special events she opts for a deeper berry shade instead. To prevent overdosing it is a small mirror always within reach in case she overdoes it with lipstick application.
Skin
French beauty lies not only in what makeup you wear but how it is applied. Instead of seeking to become someone other than themselves through transformational make-up techniques, Parisian women strive for naturally radiant and elegant skin that complements their features.
First step to creating healthy skin: an effective skincare routine. A double cleanse (using an oil based cleanser and cream cleanser) should always be part of this routine, followed by an SPF-rich moisturizer tailored specifically to your skin type, serum or mask treatment, moisturizer with SPF and finally micellar water to wipe away any leftover residue while you sleep and protect against free radical damage caused while you doze off.
Avoid heavy makeup by opting for lightweight concealer. When covering up blemishes, opt for lightweight concealer rather than cakey foundation; something dewy like By Terry Radiance CC Serum or L’Oreal Paris True Match Super-Blendable Compact Makeup will do better.
Add some sparkle and dimension with highlighters on your nose, cheekbones and cupid’s bow for a boost of luminosity. Aim for subtle gleams that catch the light when smiling or moving your face; using a luminous powder also gives skin that radiant appearance.
Although achieving a subtle glow should always be your aim, masking away blemishes or dark circles is never recommended. Instead, opt for lightweight concealer that won’t fully hide problem areas like this one from Cle de Peau which contains antioxidant-rich green tea extract to protect against free radicals and reduce redness.
If you want that French girl glow, don’t neglect your nails! French women love manicures and pedicures, with polish colors being just as important as their lipstick choices. Select neutral tones to let your natural nails and beds show through or bolder hues for a statement red lip look.