This Lip Stain Is the French-Girl Beauty Item I’ve Been Lacking.

      After spending more than 12 years in the beauty industry—as a writer, facialist, consultant, and Head of Beauty Buying at Liberty London—I’ve viewed the sector from every perspective. I’ve tried countless products, negotiated with international brands, and dedicated years to distinguishing what truly deserves the attention (and what doesn’t). Now, I’m excited to share that insight with Who What Wear UK in a new monthly column where I’ll discuss the beauty items I genuinely appreciate—especially those that often go unnoticed.

      Let’s face it: the beauty market is overcrowded. There’s always a new product launch, a viral trend, and a must-have ingredient vying for your attention. But what truly merits your time, money, and space on your top shelf? That’s what I’m here to clarify.

      From rich salted butter to the perfect striped top, the French are behind many elements that I consider essential to my identity. Yet, arguably their most coveted export is French-girl beauty—a captivating blend of smudged eyeliner, great skin, and the confidence to step out with just one item in your bag. Whether it's sporting a perfect red lip or browsing pharmacy shelves that feel like Aladdin’s cave, French-girl beauty—with its effortless style and soft features—has ingrained itself into the global beauty conversation, being both sophisticated and understated.

      At the heart of its transformation is Violette Serrat, a French makeup artist turned founder of Violette_FR. For years, I’ve been captivated by her YouTube tutorials, where she makes blue graphic eyeliner or berry-stained lips appear accessible—not theatrical. Her style is both effortless and precise, perfectly disheveled in the most stylish manner. When she debuted her eponymous beauty line in 2021, I knew it would be more than just a personal project. And indeed, it is not.

      Her simple, user-friendly formulas have already established themselves as staples in my makeup collection, but her recent release, Lip Nectars (£30), further proves this point. Continue reading for my candid opinions and swatches of each shade.

      Violette_FR Lip Nectars

      If you're rolling your eyes at the idea of yet another lip product, I completely understand. We’ve been bombarded with formulas claiming to be the perfect blend of hydration and long-lasting color, shiny but not sticky—and they often fall short. However, these are different. Lip Nectars are intelligent, desirable, and utterly addictive. They strike me as what a sophisticated adult in Paris would wear: sheer yet striking, sensual yet uncomplicated. It's a touch of color that knows its destination.

      What sets Lip Nectar apart is its redefinition of a lip stain. Many viral lip stains from TikTok are watery and excessively drying, leaving your lips craving hydration. In contrast, Violette’s formulation utilizes a state-of-the-art oil-in-water emulsion. In simpler terms, this means the pigment attaches to your lips for enduring color while moisture remains on the surface, creating a hydrating layer that keeps your lips feeling nourished for hours afterwards. There’s no stickiness, peeling, or cracking—just soft, shiny color that fades gracefully. After application, while the glossy finish diminishes, the stain endures for over six hours. Removing it requires intentional cleansing at the end of the day.

      With four thoughtfully curated shades inspired by nature, I tried all of them, and not a single one disappointed. Each shade adapts slightly to your skin tone, revealing its full color moments after application. You can also build up the intensity by applying in layers if you wish. During a personal conversation with Violette at the launch, she shared her love for layering different shades to craft a unique pout, often using the darker shades to “line” the lips with the lighter ones applied in the center for added dimension.

      The Shades

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      Lip Nectar in Dahlia Noir

      Dahlia Noir is the deep plum I’ve long sought—seductive and somehow flattering on both warm and cool undertones.

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      Lip Nectar in Bêtise

      Bêtise provides a just-bitten berry tint, the type of color that prompts compliments on your lips.

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      Lip Nectar in Pois De Senteur

      Pois de Senteur is a delicate, sweet pink that gives lips a naturally radiant glow.

      (Image credit: @its_rhea for Who What Wear UK)

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      Lip Nectar in Rose De Moab

      Rose de Moab is a soft, café-au-lait nude that appears polished, not washed out.

      The Formula

      It’s more than a quick application—it’s a complete sensory experience. The texture is rich, reminiscent of jam (which was actually Violette’s inspiration), and the packaging—a tinted tube with a gold twist cap—looks elegant enough to be mistaken for a perfume bottle.

      More importantly, they