The French Beauty Routine and Products Parisians Swear By

French beauty advice is often characterized by its less-is-more approach. In the same way that the key to French girl style is not to overdo it, the same goes for French beauty!

Even though less is more, that doesn’t mean that French women don’t take care of themselves. Quite the opposite, they tend to place greater value on caring for their skin than applying a ton of make-up.

From moisturizers to face masks, keeping your skin youthful and fresh is a key component of the French beauty philosophy.

Surely French women wear makeup, but they keep it to a bare minimum. Oftentimes, they select one or two features to highlight and leave the rest natural. Last but not least, a red lip is the signature look of the classic French woman!

I’ll share everything I know about the French concept of beauty, the best French woman beauty routine, and several key French beauty products that have been enormous successes in France!

Let’s go over some French beauty basics to get started.

French Concept of Beauty

The French concept of beauty lies in highlighting the best features of our faces and accepting our imperfections. Women in France are proud of their little “flaws” that might be seen negatively in other cultures. So your face isn’t perfectly symmetrical? Who cares! It’s about how witty and intellectual you are – that’s true French beauty.

French Beauty Standards

Now, I would be lying if I said there weren’t any beauty standards in France whatsoever. There’s no denying that while it’s a nice thought that French women don’t care about physical beauty, the truth is that most people do. It’s just that they’re not as obsessed with perfection in France as we are here in America.

French culture definitely values beautiful eyes and red lips the same way that we do in the States. However, they also find messy hair and smudged eyeliner beautiful – so long as it’s just one flaw at a time!

Hair styles in France lean towards a more natural and effortless look. This might involve loose waves or a simple bun or chignon. It is not uncommon to see women embracing their natural hair texture, including natural gray hair.

Begin with French Skincare

First and foremost French women take care of their skin really well. That means washing the face morning and night and removing any makeup before bed.

The one product I’ve seen recommended countless times by French women of all ages is Bioderma micellar water. It comes in a clear bottle with a pink cap. If you can’t swing by CityPharma (the famous French pharmacy in Saint Germain), then you can order this solution online from Walmart, Amazon, or Dermstore.

Although micellar water is mainly used to remove makeup, it’s often used by French women as a light skin cleanser.

I have lots more French skincare tips to read if you want to learn the full French skincare approach.

How to Do French Makeup

The makeup routine of your average French woman is very gentle. A lightweight foundation, a swipe of mascara, and the perfect shade of red lipstick are all you need to get the perfect everyday French makeup look.

Foundation

French women do wear a lightweight foundation to cover up any imperfections in their skin, but they ensure it’s never visible. Giorgio Armani’s Luminous Silk Foundation is the product I see most often recommended by French women. It doesn’t come cheap, but you can snag a more affordable dupe from L’Oreal.

An alternative foundation is to use tinted moisturizer. Laura Mercier makes one of the best tinted moisturizers on the market. This product will give you an even skin complexion and it even has a bit of SPF to protect your skin from harmful UV rays.

Mascara

Model Louise Follain swears by Lancôme Hypnose mascara (and I can also attest to the wonders this mascara can work!), which is a bit pricey but gives your eyelashes lots of volume!

Lipstick

I’ve noticed that French women don’t wear bright red or pink lipstick the way that Americans do. Their shade of red is typically much darker (like a Bordeaux red) and always matte, never too shiny.

Mac’s Ruby Woo was in style for a while, but nowadays I see shades like Mac’s Diva lipstick and Bobbi Brown’s Rum Raisin popping up on the lips of French women.

For casual days, French models are often seen wearing a lightly tinted lip balm like the backstage favorite Dior Lip Glow.

Get that Coveted French Hair

Traditionally, French women are known for their effortless and natural approach to hairstyling. They often prefer styles that are easy to maintain and don’t require a lot of expensive products or fancy tools.

French Haircare

French women often prioritize hair health over styling. Regular trims to maintain the health of the ends, and the use of nourishing hair masks and oils are common practices.

French women don’t wash their hair every day and for good reason. Shampoo can rid your hair of the natural healthy oils it produces. Instead, opt for dry shampoo on days when your hair feels too greasy.

Klorane’s oat milk dry shampoo is an affordable option sold in French pharmacies. This oat-scented powder can absorb any excess oil in the hair and give it a nice volume boost. You can find this shampoo at Ulta, Dermstore, and Amazon.

I have tried this product myself and it has become my haircare staple! Seriously, the smell and the texture are unlike any American dry shampoo I’ve tried in the States, and I’ve tried many. This is one product I wouldn’t opt for a dupe on.

French Hair Styling

Hair is styled to a minimum in France. You will often see French women with lots of hair out of place, borderline messy! This carefree attitude just adds to the aura of the French girl. Of course, she can’t be bothered to style her hair for hours in the morning, she’s busy after all!

French Hair Cuts

Lots of French women cut their own hair. It is often left long, loose, and wavy, in its natural state. If you do want to visit a hair salon, then ask them to give you a seventies-style cut with long sweeping bangs that taper down along the sides of your face. This is the quintessential French girl haircut!

Styles such as the bob or pixie cut are popular, often accompanied by effortless, soft styling that allows for some movement and texture.

French Hair Color

When it comes to hair color, many French women opt for hues that are close to their natural hair color, with subtle highlights to add dimension and depth.

That’s it! As you can see following French beauty guidelines is super easy and may actually simplify your daily makeup routine.