These French beauty brands will have you looking so Parisian-core

You've got a certain je ne sais quoi...

Content Producer / August 06 2024

Ah, France. The home of champagne, croissants 'It Girls' and of course, French beauty. 

There's just something undeniably great about the beauty brands that come out of France, that solidify themselves as world-class right from the get go. Maybe it's because the French are just so classy and chic that we need to know their secrets (at all costs really). 

Well from we can tell, there are four main steps to achieving the effortless 'glow' that all Parisians seems to exude. Of course, it starts with 'undone' hair, glowy skin, and to top it all off, a bold red lip. Yep, it's a world we could really get behind. 

So, come on a journey of the most sought after beauty brands and see what French beauty has to offer (spoiler alert: it's a lot).

French Beauty

French Skin Care

Look, we could spend all day talking about French skin care. Because honestly, we're not sure what extra special secrets they're putting in it, or if the water in France is just better. But have you ever seen a French person with anything less than perfect skin? Nope. Because it doesn't exist. So, we'll be doing everything in our power to emulate that easy glowy complexion. 

Starting with a cleanser backed by the power of micellar (how French!) technology, allow us to introduce the Bioderma Sensibio Gel Moussant Soothing Foaming Gel Cleanser ($26.99 at Priceline). Lightweight and gentle, it's the perfect start to a glowing routine. The French might get a bad wrap for drinking too much wine, but dont worry because theyve actually gone and found other clever uses for the grapes too, enter: Caudalie Vinoperfect Brightening Dark Spot Serum ($113 at Sephora). Touted as one of the best alternatives for vitamin C, this sellout TikTok mad serum is actually Vanessa Hudgens' fave too. And of course, would any French skin care routine be complete without the multipurpose godsend La Roche-Posay Cicaplast Baume B5+ ($24.95 at Adore Beauty)? Honestly, it speaks for itself. 

And to keep that glossy, hydrated glow throughout the day, no handbag should ever be without a can of Avène Thermal Spring Water ($12.99 at Adore Beauty). 

French Haircare

ICYMI: The French basically invented the classic 'undone' but totally done, messy-chic tresses look. Marie Antoinette would absolutely rate it. And the two French haircare brands we absolutely stand behind are Kérastase and Klorane. 

The Kérastase Elixir Ultime Original Hair Oil ($80 at Adore Beautygives your strands serious shine-boosted, heat-protected, frizz-controlling hydration, which paired with the on-the-go, volume-enhancing, Klorane Dry Shampoo with Oat and Ceramide LIKE ($24.99 at Adore Beautygives your mane a tousled 'just woke up like this' kind of aura.

French Body Care

It's true that the French live off a diet of croissants and wine (okay not quite, but go with it), but when it comes to the skin on their bodies, they make sure to look after them the best way possible: with a gorgeous hit of hydration. 

These two French classic oils layer together to ensure your skin will be radiant and glossy all day long. Starting off with the L'Occitane Almond Shower Oil ($75 at Adore Beautyto wrap your skin in a satin-like cleanse and then following it up with the glimmering gorgeous Nuxe Huile Prodigieuse Gold Shimmer Dry Oil ($52 at Sephora). The lightweight, non-greasy oil is known for its abundant golden glow, AKA pure sunlight in a bottle. 

A bold red lip

Yep, when it comes to the French, their attitudes define their look. And there's nothing more empowering than the feeling of a bold red lip. So it makes sense why the often au naturel faces of the French still carry a bold red lip so well. And what's a more iconic French brand than Chanel, of course. The Chanel Rouge Allure Luminous Intense Lip Colour in 'Indépendante' ($72 at Myeris the perfect 'true' red. But of course, there are 'balmier' formulas the complete the bold look too. For those days the Violette_FR Bisou Balm in 'Amour Fou' ($46 at MECCAis key. 

 

Main Image Credit: @thylaneblondeau

Lily Collins is a total French pharmacy skin care convert, check out her enviable routine...

Emma Allcock began her career in the world of fashion and beauty in 2015, interning for various PR fashion houses. Naturally her love for style soon extended to beauty, and Emma landed firmly in the beauty and wellness world thanks to an internship-turned-role at local Australian fragrance brand Maison Blanche. One thing that remained consistent whether unpacking accessories or creating social content? Her commitment to an always-perfect manicure. Luckily, she’s since turned her talents to helping her readers achieve the same, writing about all things beauty and wellness. Emma is now a Content Producer for BEAUTYcrew, with her words and recommendations also appearing across beautyheaven. Emma loves the process of diving deep into the world of testing (and writing) about everything from haircare to fragrance. When she’s not slathering her skin in something new, she’s going for an early morning stroll to catch a stunning sunrise (coffee in hand, of course), because life’s all about that wellness balance after all.

Related tags