Until this year, I’ve never been to France, but I have certainly heard about the way Parisian girls do their makeup. Natural glow, an absence of eyeshadows and a signature red lip – French girls are known for enhancing their natural beauty and accepting themselves for who they are. While I never claimed to be an expert on French makeup, over the course of the last few weeks that I spent in Paris I learned a trick or two. Today I’m collaborating with Clarins, my favorite French luxury cosmetics brand, to share with you my version of how French girls are doing their makeup.
Step #0: Skin Prep
But before we begin, I have to mention that perhaps the most important part of the French beauty routine is skincare. While walking around Paris, I saw an enormous amount of beauty salons, perfumeries, SPAs, nail salons, and pharmacies full of skincare goodies. This observation combined with what I’ve read about French beauty secrets brought me to the conclusion that the first step of any French makeup routine is to properly take care of your skin.
Generally speaking, every French-style makeup starts with washing your face with a mild cleanser and toning it to restore the pH balance of your skin, followed by moisturizing and protecting your skin from the sun. Make sure that the products you use are suitable for your skin type and do not irritate your skin.
Products I Used:
• Laneige Moisturizing Foam Cleanser
• Clarins Toning Lotion with Chamomile
• Clarins Double Serum (check out my full review)
Step #1: Glowing Skin
The thing that immediately caught my attention while in Paris is that French girls seem to avoid doing anything with their makeup that looks not natural. While they are definitely using a foundation and a concealer, you will never see anyone with a “cake face.” One of the tricks that I’ve learned on how French girls achieve such natural looking skin is to mix foundation with a moisturizing lotion for a lighter coverage. While many brands already produce light foundation formulas that do not require to be any lighter, the trick of thinning foundation with a cream seems to be prevalent among French girls until now.
Another idea that I borrowed from French ladies is to make your concealer look more natural by mixing it with an eye serum. In order to do so, you could either mix concealer with an eye cream in your palm and then apply it, or put on your concealer as always and then pat a few drops of light eye serum.
Finally, I didn’t see French women wearing contouring products or even bronzer. Maybe a bit of blush (again, it should be undetectable!) and that’s it. While talking with sales assistants at one of the luxury shopping malls, I’ve learned that many French women use dry face oil instead of highlighter to make their skin look naturally glowy. In order to achieve such an effect, all you need is literally one drop of dry oil applied on temples of your cheeks.
Please keep in mind that such technique will definitely move your foundation so use this trick only if you have perfect skin on these areas that do not require foundation or concealer. In other words, apply correcting products where needed and put on a drop of dry oil on the areas with perfect skin.
Products I Used:
• Kevyn Aucoin The Etherealist Super Natural Concealer in Light EC 01
• 111 Skin Space Defense Bright Eye Lift Gel
• Hourglass Vanish Seamless Foundation Stick in Alabaster
• Nuxe Paris Huile Prodigieuse Multi-Purpose Dry Oil
Step #2: Simple Eye Makeup
Another important observation about French beauty habits is that French girls don’t seem to be obsessed with eyeshadows as many American girls do. Looking back now, I can’t remember even one person wearing a colorful eye look – French girls seem to stick to neutral eyeshadows. They do wear eyeliner and a thick layer of mascara though – but the wings of French eyeliner application technique are less dramatic compared to how American girls are applying their makeup. If you want to do your makeup in a French girl way, try creating as thin eyeliner line as possible and cut the wing of your typical eyeliner look in half.
To recreate French style eye makeup, I started by applying a new Clarins Ombre Matte Eyeshadow in 02 Nude Pink which is the most natural looking eyeshadow shade for my skin tone. The product features a lightweight creamy powder formula that you could apply in just a few seconds by using your fingertips. Since the finish of this eyeshadow is so subtle and natural, feel free to apply it all over the lid up to the brow.
Since the eyeshadow is creamy and we will be using an eyeliner on top of it, I recommend setting it with translucent powder so your effortless makeup lasts all day long. By the way, for this look I’m not using tinted brow products at all – similar to what French girls do, I just brushed my brows and applied a clear brow gel.
Perhaps, the most important part of the French style eye makeup is an eyeliner. As I mentioned before, the idea here is to create an elegant thin line that emphasizes your lashes and doesn’t look too much. Meaning, you need a really good and super thin eyeliner to start with. My current favorite tool is Clarins Graphik Ink Liner in 01 Intense Black which allows creating a precise line as thin or as thick as you want. It’s an easy to use tool that guarantees deep pigmentation and effortless, all day wear eyeliner look.
Finish the look by applying a black volumizing mascara. While the rest of the makeup should be as delicate as possible, don’t limit yourself while applying mascara. Two, three, four, five layers are fine as soon as your lashes look super long and voluminous.
Products I used:
• Clarins Ombre Matte Eyeshadow in 02 Nude Pink
• Clarins Graphik Ink Liner in 01 Intense Black
• Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Gel
• Dior Diorshow Mascara in 090 Black
Step #3: The Red Lip
While exploring Paris, I made another important observation that French women might be as obsessed with red lipsticks as I am. In fact, I can’t recall any commercials that feature the lip color of any other shade. Brown? Only if it’s an undetectable nude. Pink? It doesn’t seem to exist in Paris! Being a true red lipstick addict myself, I obviously don’t mind it at all! In fact, while in Paris I’ve been wearing a red lipstick every single day – and definitely loved doing so!
To finish my French girls inspired look, I used a new hydrating lipstick Clarins Joli Rouge in the shade 742 Joli Rouge. This product features one of the most comfortable formulas out there: thanks to soothing Mango oil and Organic Marsh Samphire, you could wear this perfect shade of red all day long and do not worry about your lips getting dry. While this lipstick shade comes with a matching lip pencil shade (Clarins Lip Liner Pencil in 06 Red), I decided to wear the lipstick on its own – the French way!
Products I Used:
• Clarins Joli Rouge in the shade 742 Joli Rouge
That was it for my easy to recreate French girl look. Red lips, toned down eye makeup, fresh skin, and tousled hair – to create effortless and natural looking makeup. This feminine and minimalistic makeup might be not as creative as colorful Instagram-friendly looks we American girls are so used to, but there is something so incredibly flattering about it. After all, we are all beautiful as we are – so why not using makeup only to emphasize this beauty instead of covering it in layers of makeup that looks like makeup?
Fantastic tips and absolutely gorgeous photos!
April xx
| APRIL ROSE PENGILLY |
I also love this simple looking style of makeup! You make it look easy to attain, thank you for sharing this and the products used!
❤️?❤️
Elle
https://theellediaries.com/2017/10/09/the-fifth-decade-still-blossoming/
You look gorgeous, thanks for sharing your makeup secrets! :)
http://www.gloryofthesnow.com
Thank you, Rach! Really appreciate your sweet feedback!
AWWW THANK YOU! I love doing a simple eye makeup with a perfectly red lip too! So glad you liked it!
Thank you, sweet Gemma! xoxo
Thank you so much for your feedback, Jalisa! I’m so glad you found these tips helpful!! Yep, French girls know so much about skincare and makeup and I love learning all the French beauty tips and tricks!
Thank you, Nina!
Thank you so much, sweet Shireen!
Thank you so much!
Thank you so much for your sweet feedback, Lauren! As always, you are the sweetest!!
Agreed! Glowing skin forever! Yay!
Awww you are so sweet, Miri!! Thank you for your kind words and have a great week too!
Awww thank you!
Agreed! Clarins is one of my all time favorite brands! Love it so much!
Thank you for your sweet words – you are so kind!
xoxo
Agreed! I was amazed with how perfect eyeliner looks on French girls! It’s such perfection and everybody seems to know how to use it the right way!
Yay! It means I learned all the correct tricks!! Thank you so much for your feedback, Margot! I’m so glad my version of French makeup actually reflects the type of makeup French girls actually like to do!!
Glad you found it helpful! Thanks for stopping by, Bernie!
Yes, let’s definitely go together next time! My trip was a mix of two – traveling and attending PFW!
I also love a bold eyeshadow look! So I’m the opposite to what Parisian girls do with their makeup!
Thank you for reading, Courtney! Glad you enjoyed it!
Thank you, Maryam!
Awww thank you darling! You are so sweet!
Thank you so much, Julia!
Awww thank you! You are so sweet!
Great post :) You look so beautiful :)
https://venswifestyle.wordpress.com/
Perfection! Love your make-up and you’ve used some great products!
Julia x
http://www.thevelvetrunway.com
you are so so pretty!! love love this classic french style. super suits you!!
kisses from the sandpit ❤︎
http://www.mahryska.com
That eye liner screams French girl. Love it!
xx, Maryam
http://www.glamandposh.com
This really does look very classic French! I will have to give it a try. Thanks for showing us!
xx
Courtney || https://courtneylivin.com/
Wow this look suits you! I do my opposite of the French Girl look, I play up eyes with shadow and do a nude lip. Love the photos too, great post. Were you in Paris for FW? I was. If you go next year we should meet up.
Allie of
http://www.allienyc.com
Like the outcome and it’s definitely something I’d try. Thanks fro sharing.
Bernie, xx
The Style Fanatic
It’s funny how I’m french and actually do often this make up ! ☺
xx,
Margot
https://troughthepasturesofthesky.com/
Nobody slays eyeliner like a French girl! You look amazing here, babe.
-Ashley
Le Stylo Rouge
Your tutorial is sooo cool! I love this look on you :) And Clarins is such a great brand <3
xx
Claire from Dresscape
http://www.dresscape.com
You look stunning, love this make up !
http://www.pardonmyobsession.com/
Hi Katya,
You look stunning. I love your lipstick. I wish I could do makeup like you.
Have a great week.
XO
Miri
http://currentlywearing.com
Yesss glowing skin is everything!
xx Sofia | SOFIAADOT
Love everything about this. Parisian women are so effortlessly chic, and you did a wonderful job summing up all of their beauty secrets! And your pictures are gorgeous as always ❤️
amazing post! You look so lovely!
https://leraseyo.blogspot.com
Love this look, very chic and sophisticated!
Shireen⎜Reflection of Sanity⎜Burberry Beauty Giveaway
You look so lovely, This makeup suits you !
Have a great start to your week !
Nina
xox
http://www.thecrispylipstick.com
You look so incredibly gorgeous, girlie! I love your makeup, the red shade looks so good on you. Everything you’ve shared here sounds like what I’ve heard French women do when it comes to their skincare and makeup regimen! Thanks for sharing and I hope you’re having a great start to your week so far!
XO,
Jalisa
THE STYLE CONTOUR
The French are just so elegant and perfect – you definitely captured the look perfectly! So gorgeous girl :)
Lauren Lindmark | https://www.dailydoseofcharm.com
Absolutely love this makeup look! It really suits you! Gemma x
http://www.jacquardflower.uk
I love this makeup look!! The classic style of the eyeliner and the lips are gorgeous, and definitely a go-to look for me! Xx
http://www.thefashionfolks.com
Your makeup looks fabulous! Love it! It really is French girl’s style!
http://www.rdsobsessions.com