7 Beauty Essentials If You Want To Look Like A Chic But Effortless French Lady
Image: Allied | Paramount Pictures
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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. A red lip that makes you feel cool not old
Our Favorite: Violette_Fr Lip Nectar in Bêtise*
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: $29
2. 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: $39.50
3. Creamy concealer that covers but doesn’t cake
Our favorite: Tower 28 Beauty Swipe All-Over Hydrating Serum Concealer*
This is T H E best concealer for covering dark spots, darkness, redness, veins, blemishes, all of it, while never, ever looking cakey, especially on mature skin. 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. You won’t believe the coverage.
Price: $24
* Gifted
4. Sheer blush that looks like you climbed a mountain just moments ago
Our favorite: Laura Geller The Wonder Balm in Rosy Refresh*
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 rosy undertone gives you a more natural, après ski look. This is unequivocally, the most beautiful and flattering cream blush for mature skin that we’ve ever tried.
Price: $30
5. An eyeliner sharp enough to kill a man
Our favorite: Haus Labs Clear Cut Liquid Eyeliner*
This is an amazing liquid liner that fully lasts all day even on hooded lids. Extremely easy to create that little French flick, and lasts. all. day.
Price: $26
6. Imperceptible powder
Our favorite: Huda Beauty Easy Bake Loose Baking & Setting Powder*
What we want from a powder is to knock back shine while NEVER EVER looking “like powder.” This one blurs, fills in pores, and never dries you out. We’re never using anything else.
Price: $40
7. The step that if you don’t do, none of this matters
Our favorite: Charlotte Tilbury
Magic Cream Anti-Aging Moisturizer*
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 is forever the one we go back to, and it’s incredible under makeup.
Price: Starts at $69
Bonus: 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 CANDIDLY for 25% off your order.
Price: $125
* Gifted
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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