Three Stylish Parisian Women Recently Shared Their Best Makeup Tips for French Girls.

      There’s truly nothing quite like the beauty of Paris. I know—it’s a cliché for Americans to idealize the French. Yet, there’s a reason people have been captivated by the French-girl makeup look: it remains classic while feeling refreshingly current, particularly in recent times, according to Paris-based aesthetician Sophie Carbonari. "French makeup has experienced a subtle but significant transformation," she explains. "It’s evolved beyond the minimalist style of the early 2010s. Influenced by multicultural trends and voices like Aya Nakamura, we’ve embraced a more inclusive and expressive beauty standard. What we now see is a version of French makeup 2.0—a blend of timeless nonchalance and modern boldness." And, of course, we can’t forget the elusive je ne sais quoi. French beauty represents not only a selection of cream blushes and red lipsticks but also a mindset. "There’s a casual quality to it," remarks French makeup artist Violette Serrat, founder of Violette_FR. "People frequently ask how to achieve an effortless look, and I usually respond: The only way to look effortless is to really be effortless. That’s the secret. It’s about five minutes in the bathroom, not 50."

      To help us streamline our routines to that five-minute mark (or as close as we can get), I asked some of the most stylish Parisians I know (Serrat, Carbonari, and Rouje Founder Jeanne Damas) to share their essential tips for 2025. Read on for the techniques and products these French women swear by, along with the steps they find entirely unnecessary.

      1. Begin With Simple, Gentle Skincare When it comes to your base layer (which we’ll discuss shortly), the primary rule is that your skin should look like, well, skin—and that starts with focusing on skincare. Naturally, everyone’s skincare routine varies based on individual concerns and goals, but typically, the French prefer a straightforward and deeply hydrating approach. Damas opts for a creamy SPF 50 instead of a traditional moisturizer to simplify her regimen further. "It keeps my skin fresh, protected, and radiant," she reveals.

      Conversely, Carbonari incorporates a few additional steps (she is the aesthetician, after all!). However, her routine remains quite straightforward: "On clean skin, I begin with the Rohto Mentholatum Hada Labo Gokujyun Premium Lotion for deep hydration. I follow that with The Ordinary Niacinamide Serum to reduce inflammation, then apply my go-to S Serum before any makeup," she notes.

      2. Always Use a Sheer, Lightweight Base As you might expect, French-girl makeup features a very light base—think sheer skin tints or strategic dabs of concealer. "No primer, rarely foundation. That’s too many steps for us. Just a bit of concealer where necessary is preferred," Serrat states. Carbonari recommends Merit's Tinted SPF for a lightweight, dewy finish, while Damas favors a concealer-only approach. "I love seeing skin—not concealing it. It should feel breathable, never heavy," she adds.

      3. Skip Contouring, but Use Plenty of Bronzer Carbonari, Serrat, and Damas all agree: French women typically do not contour. "Contouring isn’t prominent in France; it comes across as too heavy," Carbonari points out, while Damas remarks, "It feels overly sculpted and artificial for my taste." However, bronzer is a cherished essential, especially for achieving "that healthy, sun-kissed glow we call bonne mine," notes Serrat. "Just a sweep with a large brush over the face. Nothing too calculated."

      4. Blush Is Essential; Highlighter? Occasionally. A soft, natural blush is quintessentially French. "If you only invest in one product for a French look, it should be good blush," asserts Carbonari. You can choose any blush that appeals to you, but cream or liquid varieties that can be blended with your fingers tend to feel more effortless (and, thus, very French). Apply it to the apples of your cheeks, suggests Serrat, to "revitalize" your features. Highlighter, on the other hand, is more of a "nice to have" than a must-have. If you choose to use it, Carbonari advises applying it purposefully: "On the cheekbones, nose bridge, or even eyelids for a radiant, skin-like glow," she recommends.

      5. Eye Makeup Should Be Either Natural or Worn-In With eye makeup, there will be some variation. Some women prefer a smudged, lived-in eyeliner, a hint of color (but never combined with a bold lip), or opting for nothing at all. If you want to accentuate your eyes, ensure the look isn’t overly perfected. "I use a black