From Brigitte Bardot to Vanessa Paradis, France’s famous females have well and truly mastered the art of effortlessly elegant beauty. But, with a focus on pharmaceutical skin products, tamed tresses, and perfect ruby-red pouts, it’s actually not as hard as you imagine to recreate the fabulous looks from the City of Love a little closer to home.
And so, to celebrate Bastille Day on July 14 and the enduring aesthetic that is French girl beauty, we chatted to CoCo Giddings (Scientific Communications Liaison of iconic French brands Avène and Klorane) and rounded up all the tips, tricks, and products you need to pretend you’re a true Parisian princess.
Less is more. Oui, oui!
French women are known for their minimalist approach to beauty, with a focus on a fresh-faced look. “French girls are the original skinimalists!” says CoCo. “They tend to take a relaxed, ‘less-is-more’ approach to beauty prioritising high-quality, efficacious products packed with natural ingredients.”
To achieve this, they focus on their skincare, opt for a light foundation, tinted moisturiser, or BB cream (no exaggerated contouring routine required!), and finish with a relaxed ‘do to let their natural beauty shine through.
A carefully curated complexion
French girl beauty begins with a really good skincare routine. Although it doesn’t necessarily need to be an expensive one. In fact, with their focus on pharmacy-stocked brands, it’s actually relatively affordable to recreate a Francophile-inspired routine for your face, at home. “A typical French-girl skincare routine generally includes gentle cleansers and lightweight moisturisers and sunscreens. And a focus on glow-enhancing hydration, and hydrating Serums,” says CoCo. “These help to combat dehydration and fortify the skin against external aggressors, and also deliver a dewy, lit-from-within look — another staple of French-girl glam.”
One final French-girl tip from CoCo: Look out for hard-working, multi-tasking products that can tackle any skin situations,” she says. “Such as the Avène Thermal Spring Water.” It will leave you with the kind of glow that’ll hide the fact that your diet consists of croissants, cheese and Champagne!
Our favourite French Girl beauty finds for skin
- Effaclar Micro-Peeling Purifying Gel Cleanser, $39.96, by La Roche Posay
- Thermal Spring Water, from $12.99, by Avène
- Premier Cru The Rich Cream, $160, by Caudalie at Sephora
- Immortelle Divine Youth Oil, $155, by L’Occitane
- Tinted Moisturizer Natural Skin Perfector, $85, by Laura Mercier at Mecca
Makeup in moderation
Much like French fashion (all berets, black pants, beige trench coats and ballet flats), when it comes to cosmetics, French girl beauty is all about an easy effortless approach. “Products often align perfectly with the French ‘Pleasure Principle’ — the idea that everyday activities [like our make-up application!] should be pleasurable and help to enhance physical and mental well-being,” says CoCo.
To nail this nonchalant look, blend your base with your hands (the warm oils will lend to a softer finish), opt for brown instead of black mascara, slick your lips with a dewy balm or dash of red lipstick, and finally, go for a clean and classic short-nail French mani.
Our favourite French Girl beauty finds for your cosmetic case
- Nomade Jasmin Naturel Intense EDP, from $189, by Chloe at MYER, David Jones and Sephora
- Jazz Club EDT, $210, by Maison Margiela at Mecca
- Faux Cils Longest Lash Mascara, $122, by Chantecaille at Mecca
- Green Flash LED Nail Polish, $33, by Manucurist at Mecca
- Lash Clash Mascara, in Brown, $62, by YSL Beauty
- VIP Expert Palette N4. Bonjour Paris, $92, by By Terry at Mecca
Smooth Silky Strands
French girl hair starts with a cool, uncomplicated cut, a few styling products, and hair that’s not washed on the regular, proving that when it comes to Bastille-esque beauty, less truly is more.
“Natural-looking waves and tousled textures are preferred to an overly flawless finish,” says CoCo. “To recreate this look at home, use a texturising dry shampoo like the Klorane Ultra-Gentle Dry Shampoo with Oat Milk to create natural movement and a lived-in look.”
Alternatively, avoid excessive heat and leave your hair to dry naturally before taming your tresses with a little serum, and rolling into an undone bun for a tres chic look.
Our favourite French Girl beauty finds for hair
- Ultra-Gentle Dry Shampoo with Oat Milk, from $9.99, by Klorane
- Triple Cleanse Scalp Scrub, $56, by Fekkai at Sephora
- Volumizing Pre-Shampoo Clay Mask, $24, by Abyssian at Sephora
- Hydrating Leave-in Cream with Aloe Vera, $54, by Christophe Robin
- Nutritive Nutri-Supplement Scalp Serum, $91, by Kerastase Paris
