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When it comes to beauty, French women have long mastered the art of effortlessness. A swipe of bold red lipstick, a tousled blowout that looks perfectly undone, and skin that glows with health — these elements are all beacons of the French approach to glamour. It’s the kind of chic that tends to feel just out of reach, as if Brigitte Bardot woke up with bedroom hair that somehow fell into place or Catherine Deneuve’s pink-nude lipstick never smudged during a café rendezvous.
The French beauty philosophy is simple: less is more, with one strong focal point that feels intentional yet never overdone. As Violette Serrat, founder of Violette_fr, explains, “In France, we love a bold red — not a shy red. The key to mastering this look is to ensure that the focus remains on the lips; the rest of your appearance should feel natural and effortless.”
Another key to the French-girl beauty formula? “Celebrating what Mother Nature gave you,” adds Violette. “Rather than masking imperfections, we use skin care and makeup to enhance confidence in our unique traits. When it comes to complexion, for example, we rarely use heavy foundation. Instead, we use quality skin care products and touches of concealer to let the skin breathe, even if our skin isn’t perfect — because what does perfect mean anyway? We should love our skin just as it is.”
French beauty muses Francoise Hardy in 1964 (left) and Catherine Deneuve circa 1975 (right).
Courtesy Bernard Allemane\INA via Getty Images; Silver Screen Collection/Getty Images
For years, beauty editors and industry insiders have filled their makeup bags with French pharmacy staples like Homeoplasmine, Biafine, and A313 — cult-favorite products that, frustratingly, remain available only overseas. But lately, an influx of French beauty brands in the U.S has made this elusive allure far more accessible stateside. La Bonne Brosse, which collaborated with luxury skin care powerhouse Augustinus Bader earlier this year, and the trending Bienaimé are just some of the modern labels that are carving out space alongside storied brands like Guerlain, Clarins, and Caudalie. Add in upgraded French pharmacy favorites now available in the U.S., including Filorga and Yon-Ka, and suddenly (gloriously!) a Parisian beauty routine feels within reach.
Whether you’re after Françoise Hardy’s bare-faced insouciance or the perfect French-inspired flick of mascara, these products offer a shortcut to channeling effortless beauty all throughout the winter season.
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Violette_Fr Petal Bouche Matte Rose Petal Lipstick
A bold red lip is an essential part of every Parisian women’s style, so owning this matte liquid lipstick — with its intense pigmentation, petal-like ombré effect, and irresistible velvet texture — should be at the top of your priorities list. It’s long-lasting, meaning you’re guaranteed to get through your day looking très chic to the max.
Price upon publish date of this article: $31
Embryolisse Lait-Crème Concentré
This multifunctional moisturizer for dry skin (it’s officially winter, after all!) is made of soy proteins, aloe vera, beeswax, and shea butter — ensuring all skin types are nourished through a weightless, dermatologist-approved formula. It’s truly a product that does it all, including serving as a makeup primer, cleansing milk, aftershave, and post-sun healing solution that will give your complexion the loving it deserves.
Price upon publish date of this article: $19
Bioderma Sensibio H2O Micellar Water
After a memorable night on the town, all a girl needs is an effective, one-and-done makeup remover. The Bioderma Sensibio H2O Micellar Water is unfragranced, good for sensitive skin types, and effectively cleans even the trickiest parts of the face: like the area around your eyes, say. Sleeping in makeup is not in your cards for the latter part of 2025, and this micellar water will make sure of it.
Price upon publish date of this article: $19.99
Clarins Double Serum Complete Age-Defying Concentrate
An absolute icon in French skin care, Clarins has a bestselling face serum that combines 21 plant extracts — including turmeric, known for its antioxidant power — to address visible signs of aging. The dual-chamber formula’s targeted ingredients come together to deliver radiance, firmness, and hydration in one pump. Apply morning and evening before moisturizing to create the luminous canvas French women swear by.
Price upon publish date of this article: $140
Filorga Time-Filler Eyes 5-XP Daily Anti-Aging and Wrinkle Reducing Eye Cream
This multitasking eye cream targets five types of wrinkles with a cocktail of peptides, plant extracts, and hyaluronic acid. It helps smooth fine lines, lift drooping lids, and even strengthen lashes with daily use. A true French pharmacy staple, the Filorga favorite layers seamlessly under makeup, making it as practical as it is chic.
Price upon publish date of this article: $74
La Bonne Brosse N.01 The Small Universal Hair Brush
Handcrafted in France, La Bonne Brosse’s luxury hair brush detangles while stimulating the scalp and distributing natural oils for stronger, shinier tresses. Its mix of boar bristles and nylon fibers minimizes breakage, leaving strands smooth without sacrificing their volume. Consider it the French girl’s secret to that effortless, “just-tousled” finish — hair styling tools optional.
Price upon publish date of this article: $155
Guerlain Kiss Kiss Bee Glow Lip Oil
This lip oil-meets-lip stain wraps pouts in a glossy veil of honey-infused nourishment while imparting long-lasting color. The product hydrates and plumps without stickiness, creating the kind of healthy, supple lip look that doesn’t need frequent touch-ups. Think of it as the modern French alternative to heavier lip glosses and classic lipsticks.
Price upon publish date of this article: $42
Sisley-Paris Precious Hair Care Oil
A few drops of this lightweight hair oil — rich in passionfruit, shea, and cottonseed oils — bring instant gloss and softness to dry, unruly lengths. It tames frizz without weighing hair down, helping locks look naturally polished in that distinctly French, never-too-done way. Use it on damp hair before air-drying or smooth through the ends of styled hair for a silky-as-can-be finish.
Price upon publish date of this article: $130
Klorane Non-Aerosol Dry Shampoo With Oat Milk
Beloved by French women for decades, Klorane’s TikTok-famous dry shampoo refreshes second-day styles without the telltale (and dreaded) chalkiness. The gentle, oat milk–fueled formula soaks up oil while adding soft volume, keeping blowouts fresh and bangs grease-free. Spritz roots in the morning and tousle with fingers for that covetable, lived-in, French-girl texture.
Price upon publish date of this article: $25
Caudalie Vinoperfect Brightening Dark Spot Serum
Caudalie is an iconic French skin care brand known for its minimal formulas that deliver noticeable results. And this brightening serum, dear reader, is no exception. It not only banishes unwanted dark spots but also evens out skin tone and delivers hydration sans grease. Nous l’adorons!
Price upon publish date of this article: $82
Nuxe Huile Prodigieuse Multi-Purpose Dry Oil
Seven natural botanical oils? Eight-hour hydration? A scent peppered by notes of orange blossom, magnolia, and vanilla? Sign us up, stat. All this, and more, is offered by Nuxe’s body oil — a formula designed to heal skin and reduce the appearance of stretch marks.
Price upon publish date of this article: $28
Bienaimé Geisha Ritual Matifying Paper
Though Bienaimé is a French brand, this blotting paper is made in Japan with ancient techniques that harken back to the 17th century: when Geishas first started using said paper to keep their makeup in tip-top shape. The sheets (there are 100 of them that come with this purchase) are presented inside a glam, feminine notebook that you’ll be proud to carry in your handbag on the daily.
Price upon publish date of this article: $23
Avène Thermal Spring Water
Bottled at the source, Avène’s Thermal Spring Water is a modern wonder: soothing skin by reducing inflammation, itching, redness, and irritation. Instead of drying out your face (or wherever else you choose to apply it), this thermal spring water works overtime to restore its balance. Spray it on after your multistep cleansing routine, while on a red-eye flight, or as a makeup setter… and thank us later.
Price upon publish date of this article: $15
La Roche-Posay Hyalu B5 Pure Hyaluronic Acid Face Serum
This hydrating face serum makes your skin positively plump and bouncy. It’s loaded with key ingredients like vitamin B5 for moisture; pure hyaluronic acid; madecassoside, boasting anti-aging and antioxidant properties; and thermal spring water from, you guessed it, the actual town of La Roche-Posay, France. Simply layer it on skin after cleansing and before moisturizing. Then, watch as the magic happens (with consistent use, of course).
Price upon publish date of this article: $39.99
French Girl Clear Skin Oil
Leave breakouts in the dust with this acne spot treatment, which kicks redness and inflammation to the curb thanks to the powers of hemp oil, tea tree oil, tamanu oil, and other good-for-you components (like rose hip oil, for instance, which boosts cell turnover rates). Every offering from this brand is 100-percent vegan and cruelty-free, meaning both you and your skin will feel good about the purchase.
Price upon publish date of this article: $28
Yon-Ka Paris Phyto-Aromatic Treatment Mist
A lotion in a spray bottle is our idea of French innovation in the beauty space. This face mist instantly refreshes skin, diminishes surface oils, and can be used anytime you need a delicately fragranced pick-me-up. Warning: You’ll soon catch yourself pulling it out everywhere this season, from the work meeting to the potluck with friends.
Price upon publish date of this article: $58
Leonor Greyl Paris Huile Secret de Beauté Hair & Skin Oil
After you take your “everything shower” (you know the one, in which no inch of the body goes unexfoliated), spritzing this oil onto hair and skin will detangle and fortify the former while hydrating the latter. PSA: It also works to enhance the appearance of tans and flaunts anti-aging properties. We have no notes.
Price upon publish date of this article: $76
Bonjout Beauty Le Balm Skin Savior Solid Serum
Formulated by the French pharmacist behind Bonjout Beauty, Dr. Natacha Bonjout, this serum is a true multihyphenate: repairing the skin barrier, regenerating cells, increasing elasticity, and so much more. Great for travel, the overachiever can be used as a night cream, eye cream, primer, and even overnight repairing mask.
Price upon publish date of this article: $130
French Girl Beauty Tips
Prioritize skin and hair health: French beauty starts with the basics — glowing skin and naturally healthy hair being chief among them. Hydration, gentle skin care, and a low-maintenance hair routine lay the foundation for everything else. As Violette puts it, “Skin care is the most important component of French beauty.” We’ll cheers to that.
Soften your smile: Forget the crisp, ultra-defined outline of an American red lip. French women prefer to apply color just above the lip line, then blot and soften the edges for a soft-focus end result that appears polished but never fussy, like you swiped the lip product on just before running out the door.
Keep makeup minimal: Restraint is key to achieving the effortless harmony French beauty is known for. For example, a strong lip look works best with pared-back makeup. Violette recommends nothing more than “a classic eyeliner and a bit of mascara” to balance it all out. Voila!
Surprise with subtle details: Intrigue often comes by way of unexpected touches, like a swipe of blue eyeliner that only reveals itself when you blink. “It’s all about creating an everyday look with added interest,” Violette tells WWD, proving that French beauty thrives on quiet impact rather than overt perfection.
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Meet the Expert
Violette is a makeup artist and founder of Violette_fr. Her decades-long career and extensive portfolio included collaborations with Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, W Magazine, T Magazine, Dazed, Teen Vogue, and beyond: showcasing Violette’s ability to not only conjure up painterly beauty looks but contribute her distinctive creative direction as well. In 2012, she was appointed as the International Makeup Designer of Dior Beauty, where she became the youngest makeup designer in the brand’s history. Soon after, Violette was invited to consult for Sephora on product development and later held the role of Global Beauty Director of Estée Lauder at the age of 33 (also making her the youngest person to serve in this position within the company).
Meet the Author
Claire Sullivan was a commerce editor for WWD and Footwear News, where she wrote and edited beauty, fashion, and lifestyle stories. She has over eight years of experience as a writer and editor for national media outlets including Martha Stewart Living, Martha Stewart Weddings, InStyle, and Byrdie. She’s tested hundreds of products during her time as an editor, so she’s well-versed in selecting the ones that make a meaningful difference in your skin and hair.
Stacia Datskovska is a Senior Commerce Writer at WWD. Previously, she worked at ELLE DECOR as an assistant digital editor, covering all things luxury, culture, and lifestyle through a design lens. Her bylines over the past five years have appeared in USA Today, Baltimore Sun, Teen Vogue, Boston Globe, Food & Wine, and more. Prior to joining ELLE DECOR, Datskovska learned the ins and outs of e-commerce at Mashable, where she tested products, covered tentpole sales events, and curated gift guide roundups. She graduated from NYU with a bachelor’s degree in journalism and international relations. Datskovska regularly reports on buzzy beauty buys worth your time and money.
