9 Beauty Essentials If You Want To Look Like A Chic But Effortless French Lady
Image from Savoir Flair
by The Candidly Team
Just the word “French” has some kind of Svengali chokehold on us.
Edgy without trying. Sexy without thirst. Chic without effort.
We wrote about the best French pharmacy products. And the ideal French wardrobe. And the perfect French wardrobe for CHEAP. And so today we reveal the how to build the ultimate French makeup bag, if you’ve always dreamed of getting that “I might be wearing the same makeup from yesterday, but magically, it all looks amazing, and I haven’t even glanced at a mirror for 24 hours, but oops, my lips are pouty and my eyes look like a fox” look.
You, too? Let’s begin.
1. Barrrrrely there foundation
Our Favorite: bareMinerals Complexion Rescue Tinted Moisturizer Mineral SPF 30
Even if you think you have lots to cover, oui must have the lightest hand with foundation. A sheer, dewy complexion, imperceptible of makeup is why we’re all lusting after the “French look” in the first place—it’s somehow both elegant AND utterly natural.
We have never found a more natural, easy-to-use product that evens out skin tone, covers spots and blemishes, while never ever looking like makeup, than Bare Minerals. Never. We know choosing a color on the internet feels daunting, but even their colors are sort of impossible to get wrong. But if you need help, dm us.
Price: $37
2. Creamy concealer that covers but doesn’t cake
Our favorite: Clé De Peau Concealer SPF 27
The price? Disgusting! But just hear us out. First, this thing lasts forever. So your cost per use is like .05 cents by the time you’re done with it. Second, it is T H E best concealer for covering dark spots, darkness, redness, veins, blemishes, all of it, while never, ever looking cakey. We love an imperceptible foundation to tint and blur our complexion, but this means we need a powerfully opaque concealer for all the heavy lifting. Use a TEENY amount with a fine brush. You won’t believe the coverage.
Price: $75
3. Sheer blush that looks like you climbed a mountain just moments ago
Our favorite: Beauty Counter Cheeky Clean Cream Blush in Goji
Wearing blush should never look like you’re wearing blush. Perhaps the most quintessential element of the French beauty aesthetic is skin that looks like skin. And a blush with a reddish undertone gives you a more natural, après ski look. Don’t be scared of how it looks in the pot. Tap it on with your fingers until you look flushed, and then, never think about it again all day.
Price: $42
4. A bold lip color that makes you feel cool not old
Our favorite: Tower 28 Beauty ShineOn Lip Jelly Non-Sticky Gloss In Spicy
If wearing a “lipstick” just makes you feel too much like your own grandmother, this is a sort of beginner red for people who are scared but want to dip a toe. It’s a glossy sort of buildable sheer for just a whisper of warm French lady rouge.
Price: $16
Our other favorite: Mac Lipstick Matte Ruby Woo
We can’t possibly breeze through this section without mention of the boldest red lip anyone is talking about, which is of course...
No one knows exactly what shade Miss Swift is wearing, but if you want the closest dupe, you can’t go wrong with the universal best matte red, Ruby Woo by Mac.
Price: $23
5. An eyeliner sharp enough to kill a man
Our favorite: Beauty Pie Deluxe Precision Liquid Eyeliner
You knew it was coming. And if this one is good enough for Michelle Obama, it’s good enough for us. Extremely easy to create that little French flick, and lasts. all. day.
Price: $32
6. Fluttery mascara that never clumps
Our favorite: Clinique Lash Doubling Mascara
We have been sleeping on Clinique lately, and we are not proud of it. A couple of lashings of this mascara, and you are doe-eyed without looking overdone or clumpy. Oh, and never ever a flake.
Price: $23
7. Imperceptible powder
Our favorite: Clinique Stay-Matte Sheer Pressed Powder
Yes! Clinique again! Look. There are many higher priced powders out there. With much fancier packaging. But what we want from a powder is to knock back shine while NEVER EVER looking “like powder.” This one blurs, fills in pores, never dries you out, and can even be used as foundation if you veer into a more combination skin type. We’re never using anything else.
Price: $38
8. The step that if you don’t do, none of this matters
Our favorite: Avene Hydrance Rich Hydrating Cream
If you don’t have a gorrrrrrgeous base of hydrated happy skin, no matter what makeup you use, you will look like a crispy ghoul. This Avene is our new semi-affordable fave, and it’s incredible under makeup.
Price: $40
9. If you want that glow, never use shimmering highlighter. Just use this
Our favorite: Furtuna Due Alberi Biphase Moisturizing Oil
The French do love their oils, and while this last step is more of a “nice to have” rather than a “must have,” it’s actually the secret to getting that lived-in looking skin that has natural glow. Nevvvvvvvver use a shimmery highlighter. Just use this, pressed onto cheekbones, bridge of nose, over brows. Yes, it’s a pretty penny, but it’s a multi-use product that lasts forever, and the before and after photos will astound you. See?
Use CANDIDLY25 for 25% off your order.
Price: starting at $100
At The Candidly, we try a lot of stuff so you don’t have to. We only recommend things we truly love, and that we think you’ll love, too. All products are chosen independently by our creative team, and all details reflect the price and availability of products at the time of publication. If you buy something we link to, The Candidly may earn a commission.
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