Let it be known: Effortless French beauty is not a one-two-three-step regimen but a state of mind. “There’s a casualness to it,” French makeup artist Violette Serrat, founder of Violette_FR, once told me about that coveted je ne sais quoi. “The only way to look effortless is to be effortless. That’s really the secret. It’s five minutes in the bathroom, not 50.”
That said, the right product lineup (read: a flick of black eyeliner, a dab of cream blush, a swipe of crimson on the lips) certainly doesn’t hurt, especially when it’s brimming with French-born staples like Guerlain, Dior, and the aforementioned Violette_FR. French makeup brands abound, of course, so to discover the very best, I went straight to the source and tapped the chicest Parisians I know for their tried-and-true buys. Curious which products locals actually collect in their beauty bags? Scroll ahead for every rec, from luxury treasures to pharmacy must-haves—best applied with an air of elegant nonchalance.
La Bouche Rouge
A relatively new brand on the French beauty scene (it launched in 2017), La Bouche Rouge offers luxurious, sensorially appealing products that double as works of art. Paris-based aesthetician Sophie Carbonari is quick to praise its craftsmanship and clean formulas, noting that the refillable leather cases ” feel like a precious object you keep for years.” The brand offers a smattering of makeup staples, including blush sticks, eye shadow palettes, and high-quality brushes, but the lipsticks are arguably the main characters. Says Carbonari, they “have this beautifully velvety, refined finish [that’s] chic, understated, and so Parisian.”
Star products:
La Bouche Rouge
Refillable Fine Leather Lipstick Case
La Bouche Rouge
Matte Lipstick Refill
La Bouche Rouge
Refillable Les Ombres Eyeshadow Palette
La Bouche Rouge
Highlight Brush
Hermès Beauty
I likely don’t need to convince you of the Hermès Beauty allure. The luxury house has some of the chicest makeup (and nail) staples around, housed in sophisticated packaging you’ll want to immediately display on your vanity. “Hermès Beauty has this effortless elegance I can’t resist,” agrees Carbonari, who is a major fan of the brand’s velvety lip products. I’d wholeheartedly agree. Though, I’d also add an eye shadow palette and burgundy mascara to your cart as well, for good measure.
Star products:
Hermès
Rouge Hermès Matte Lipstick
Hermès
Ombres D’hermès Eye Shadow Quartet
Hermès
Hermèsistible Infused Lip Care Oil
Hermès
Trait d’Hermès Revitalizing Care Mascara
Embryolisse
You didn’t think we’d skip the pharmacy aisle, did you? Embryolisse may be best known for its cult-famous Lait-Crème Concentré, but the brand does have a few subtly tinted offerings for a healthy, luminous glow. I personally adore the Apricot version for allover warmth, but the Rose works wonders as a dark circle–neutralizing color corrector—a tip I learned from French makeup artist Mélanie Inglessis back when the creams made their official Stateside debut. Just a pea-size amount of product is all you need to counteract blue-green shadows, which means you’ll wind up using way less concealer later on (and French beauty is nothing if not minimal!). While you’re at it, Inglessis recommends snagging the Masque Hydratation Intense and the Lait-Crème—both great formulas to apply before your complexion base.
Star products:
Embryolisse
Radiant Complexion Cream – Apricot Glow
Embryolisse
Radiant Complexion Cream – Rose Glow
Embryolisse
Lait-Crème Concentré
Embryolisse
Masque Hydration Intense
YSL Beauty
Carbonari puts it simply: “A French icon.” The luxury brand is responsible for some of the most time-honored beauty staples of all time (looking at you, Touche Éclat Concealer Pen!), and it has something for everyone, whether your aesthetic leans chic and minimal (I present to you the Loveshine Lip Oil Stick) or you’re gunning for more of a “moody Parisian” vibe. Carbonari personally can’t get enough of the Volume Effet Faux Cils Mascara: “It brings instant definition and volume without clumping, and it gives the lashes that bold, flirty intensity I love,” she says. “Whenever I want that classic ‘French eye,’ this is the one.” It’s sadly out of stock at the moment, but the Lash Clash Extreme has very similar volumizing capabilities.
Star products:
YSL Beauty
Touche Éclat Awakening Concealer Click Pen
YSL Beauty
Loveshine Lip Oil Stick – 213 Pink Trip
YSL Beauty
Lash Clash Extreme Volume Mascara
YSL Beauty
Make Me Blush Bold Blurring Powder Blush
Sisley Paris
My beauty routine is slowly transforming into an all-Sisley lineup—and that just might be the chicest sentence I’ve ever written. The French beauty brand has some of the most luxurious skin, hair, and makeup offerings on the market with the high-powered botanicals and elegant packaging to prove it. The stunning lipsticks are surefire winners, but Carbonari gives a special shout-out to the ultra-precise Stylo Correct concealer pen. “Lightweight but effective, it brightens without creasing and feels beautifully skincare-infused—very Sisley,” she quips.
Star products:
Sisley Paris
Stylo Correct
Sisley Paris
Phyto-Rouge Velvet
Sisley Paris
Ombre Éclat Liquide Eyeshadow
Sisley Paris
Phyto-Blush Twist
Violette_FR
Of course, we can’t discuss French makeup without mentioning Violette Serrat, French makeup artist and founder of Violette_FR. Her beauty brand has amassed a cult following, from beauty editors to fellow makeup artists to celebrities (hi, Hailey Bieber), but if I had to pick out a few star products, I’d say opt for the Bisou Balm sheer matte lipstick and Yeux Paint liquid eye shadow. The former is the only item you’ll need for that quintessential French blurred lip, and the latter has incredible color payoff and comes in a smattering of chic shades.
According to Parisian-based content creator Léna Farouil, the brand’s Petal Bouche liquid lipstick is also not to be missed. “It’s full coverage, velvety matte and long-lasting—my true ‘power era’ lipstick for nights when I want to impress,” she says.
Star products:
Violette_FR
Bisou Balm Sheer Matte Lipstick
Violette_FR
Yeux Paint Liquid Eyeshadow & Eyeliner
Violette_FR
Petal Bouche Liquid Longwearing Matte Lipstick
Violette_FR
Bisou Blush Marbled Cream Blush Stick
Dior
When it comes to designer makeup, both Farouil and Carbonari praise Dior’s lavish creations, namely its complexion offerings. “I love the Forever Skin [foundation] for days when I want a more complete and polished makeup look,” says Farouil, while Carbonari treasures the Backstage Face & Body Foundation. “I love its versatility,” she notes. “You can sheer it out for a second-skin glow or build it up seamlessly. It photographs beautifully, and the shade range is genuinely inclusive—always reliable in my kit.” Another winner from the Backstage collection, the Rosy Glow Powder Blush is my personal MVP for a high-impact pinch of color, and I must call out the iconic Lip Glow Oil—super glossy with juicy, long-lasting pigment.
Star products:
Dior
Dior Forever Skin Glow Foundation SPF 15
Dior
Backstage Face & Body Foundation
Dior
Rosy Glow Powder Blush
Dior
Lip Glow Oil Hydrating High-Shine Gloss
Guerlain
Talk about objets d’art. Guerlain’s luxurious products—from the refillable lipstick cases to the handmade highlighting pearls—truly make you feel like the fanciest French lady alive. Each deserves to be displayed on vanity, though Carboanari and Farouil both adore the Rouge G Lipstick, which comes with the aforementioned refillable case. “Nothing beats a good lipstick when I want to feel like the most glamorous version of myself—a little old-school Hollywood but make it Parisian,” shares Farouil, who calls this Guerlain hero her “little luxury ritual.”
Carbonari agrees (“It feels like makeup as a couture accessory,” she says), also noting the bullet’s rich yet comfortable texture. In terms of complexion products, she recommends the Terracotta Luminizer for a touch of warmth without glitter. “It gives that ‘[lit] from within’ glow—exactly what I look for when I want skin to look alive and effortlessly luminous,” she adds.
Star products:
Guerlain
Rouge G Customizable Satin & Velvet Matte Lipstick
Guerlain
Rouge G Customizable Satin & Velvet Matte Lipstick
Guerlain
Meteorites Setting & Finishing Illuminating Powder Pearls
GUERLAIN
Terracotta Luminizer
Le Rouge Francais
According to Inglessis, all the Le Rouge Francais lipsticks are worth your dollar—and I’d wholeheartedly agree. My personal favorite shade is Raspberry Red (a perfectly blurred berry), but the electric crimson and light pinks are just as vibrant and dreamy. The bullet itself is embossed with a gorgeous botanical design, which makes each lippie feel like such a little luxury. I have the lip oil and tinted balms too and can’t get enough of both skin-softening staples.
Star products:
Le Rouge Français
Rouge Tinctorial Lipstick – Raspberry Red
Le Rouge Français
Rouge Tinctorial Lipstick – Nude Pink
Le Rouge Français
Lampyris Divine Lip Oil
Le Rouge Français
Lampyris Divine Tinted Lip Balm
Aime Skincare
“My everyday makeup is from Aime Skincare,” shares Farouil, who specifically touts the complexion stick, tubing mascara, and cream blush as her all-time favorite grabs. “Natural, fresh, skin-respecting… It’s my perfect ‘no-makeup [makeup]’ routine.” The multi-category brand—which also offers a variety of supplements and collagen powders—is relatively new to the U.S. market. Though, it’s a mainstay for savvy French beauty enthusiasts. Pulling the sleek silver packaging out of your bag is essentially a sly nod for shopping with the locals.
Star products:
Aime Skincare
The Complexion Stick
Aime Skincare
Powder Brush
Aime Skincare
Healthy Cheek & Lip Cream
Aime Skincare
Lash Care Tubing Mascara