I found 5 French-girl methods for applying eye makeup this summer, and it’s all due to this single product.

      It is often said that the eyes serve as a window to the soul, and I would argue that eye makeup mirrors one's style. Whether you lean towards a makeup maximalist or minimalist approach, those around you get a glimpse of your creative identity through the vibrant colors on your eyelids or the subtle smoky liner framing your eyes. Your eyes convey not only warmth, openness, or a desire for solitude but also that you grasp color theory well enough to understand that deep burgundy shadow makes your brown eyes stand out or that you intentionally chose to skip mascara to highlight your lipstick.

      As I constantly seek to refresh my eye makeup, my initial inspiration comes from the French—their allure, eclectic fashion, and effortless beauty. While Parisian women are renowned for their bold red lips, French makeup artist Violette Serrat describes one of her latest products, the Violette_Fr Plume Eye Shadow, as being particularly true to her lifestyle.

      "In many ways, Plume Eyeshadow may be the most authentically French formula we’ve developed," states Serrat, who is both the artist and brand founder. ("After Bisou Balm," she adds.) "I have always been captivated by the depiction of eyes in classic French cinema—nothing overly polished or artificially 'done'," she elaborates, "just a gentle, lived-in allure that allows you to appear more like yourself, yet with an air of mystery." Although cream eye shadow sticks, liquid shadows, and powders abound, Serrat struggled to find something that offered sheerness, ease of application, and a distinctly French vibe, meaning it could simply be swept on and be done with it. "I came to realize that there was nothing available that delivered that experience in an effortless, intuitive manner," she recounts to Who What Wear. To address this, her team collaborated in the cosmetics lab to develop a cream-to-powder texture that provided the blending ease she desired alongside the smoky, airy finish she was after. "It features an incredible melt-to-matte effect that merges with the skin, creating a soft veil of color rather than something harsh or flat," she explains. In essence, they are inherently mistake-proof. According to Serrat, the resulting dreamy shadows, which appear almost ethereal rather than typical makeup, are products you can "build, smudge, and use intuitively." This truly sounds like a French daydream.

      **The "French Girl" Philosophy**

      Serrat describes the "French girl" philosophy as centered around restraint. Sheer layers of color and soft blends might seem straightforward, but they typically result from numerous ultra-thin layers meticulously blended by an experienced makeup artist. "I aimed to create a formula you could genuinely swipe on with your finger within seconds and be ready to go. If you find yourself spending an hour at the mirror to perfect your eyeshadow, you have already lost that effortlessly chic vibe," she notes. The essence of effortless beauty should indeed be effortless, right?

      **5 Ways to Apply the Plume Eye Shadows**

      Yes, I devoted a paragraph to the French view on beauty, but the secret is surprisingly straightforward—messy, quick, and nearly technique-less. Nevertheless, as an American interpreting French beauty, I’m inevitably complicating matters a bit. Keep scrolling to discover five ways I'm experimenting with this shadow this summer.

      **Watercolor Wash**

      The first and most genuinely French technique is the smudge-and-go. These soft, sheer shadows allow you to apply the cream powder with your fingertip and blend it onto your eyelids for that diffused wash of color. "One technique I love is applying the shadow to the volume of the eye," Serrat shares, referring to the center of the eyelid. "I apply it to the center, then add depth in the crease and along the lash line, extending towards the outer corner," she explains. "This gives the eyes a lively, smoky appearance that feels cinematic and sensual without looking overly polished."

      **Color Used:** Pluie Violette

      **Hazy Liner**

      One of my preferred methods for eye makeup is to define the lash line with a gentle flick of eyeshadow instead of liner. This softer approach is great for daytime but can be deepened as evening falls—or anytime you choose. "I enjoy taking a small brush to press along the upper and lower lash lines, almost like a soft liner, and then slightly winging it out," Serrat comments. "It provides definition and depth to the eyes, but in a much lighter manner than traditional eyeliner."

      **Color Used:** Charbon Fumé

      **Soft Smoke**

      While I enjoy crafting a clean wing with these soft shadows, the formula wraps the eye in an alluring haze when blended along the lash line. "I use both my fingers and a brush to apply color across the eyelid, focusing on depth in the outer corner and tracing along the upper and lower lash lines," Serrat explains. "Then, I softly blend additional