TRÉS BELLE

VIVE LA FRANCE! IN CELEBRATION OF BASTILLE DAY, JULIETTE WINTER SPILLS THE BEANS ON HOW TO ACHIEVE FUSS-FREE FRENCH CHIC WITH HAIR AND MAKE-UP.

AS A CHILD, Sandrine Carliez spent her spare time soaking up the pampering particulars at her grandmother’s beauty salon in France. “I grew up playing with creams and experimenting with lipstick,” says Sandrine, now the global trainer for Guinot Institut Paris. “I listened closely to her secrets and rituals for radiant skin because this is a big part of the life of a French woman. It is part of her education.”

In fact, femmes françaises begin their cleanse-mask-moisturise routine in earnest — as Sandrine did — in their early teens because, on the whole, they prefer a preventative approach to beauty. “If you take the extra step to take care of your skin, it will pay off in the long run,” Sandrine tells us. “French women are dedicated to face masks, and it’s something passed down at an early age from our mothers and grandmothers.”

As well as a twice-weekly mask, the recommended daily regimen includes a gentle milk cleanser, or micellar water if there isn’t much make-up to remove. “If the skin starts to be unbalanced from the first step of care, it will create a vicious cycle of sensitivity and dehydration, which speeds up the ageing process,” says Sandrine. “French women go for facials every month, too, because we see this as ‘exercise’ for the skin. Just as we eat healthily and exercise our bodies, we like to exercise our skin to slow down ageing as much as possible. We prefer a natural approach.”

Hydration (lashings of eye cream and moisturiser) is generously applied, in keeping with the French philosophy of beautiful skin equals less make-up. “Glowing skin paired with a simple red lipstick, a lick of mascara and brushed up brows — this is the uber-chic Frenchgirl look,” says Alphie Sadsad, national artistry lead for Sephora. If a rouge lip leaves you feeling daunted, Alphie has a pro tip for creating the perfect bleed-free edge. “Trace the outer edge of the lips with a little concealer and blend into the skin with a lip brush,” he says.

Despite lips taking centrestage, the French have long had a love affair with smoky eyes or, at the very least, a defining smudge of kohl. “That rock’n’roll French-girl vibe is really easy to pull off if you apply kohl pencil before bed,” says Alphie. Here’s the secret … when you wash your face the next morning, you will be left with just the right amount of eyeliner for a natural but defined look.

While our obsession with glowing skin continues unabated in Australia, French women tend to prefer a ‘velvet’ rather than dewy finish. “Healthy, natural-looking skin is a must, and instead of a full face of foundation, they often just have a great skin care routine and use a little concealer where needed,” says Alphie. “And all French girls love a fresh cream blush on their skin. They lightly apply blush on the apple of the cheeks and blend up.”

The French attitude to hair demands the same laissez-faire approach. “French girls never wear a lot of make-up or put too much product in their hair,” says Virginie Gayssot, head of education and talent management for Franck Provost Paris in Australia. “Most French women aren’t diehard trend-ophiles. They don’t chop and change their hair and wardrobe based on the latest fad that is here one minute and gone the next. Their approach is classic in nature, and their look is never overdone.”

In terms of hair, that translates to a preference for balayage over high-maintenance foils and a strong focus on the cut because “if done well, there is less time [spent] blow-drying and fewer product reinforcements,” according to Virginie. Hair is not washed daily — second-day hair is easier to style into a messy top-knot or chignon. French women do, however, apply effort to creating volume if required — working mousse into the roots when hair is damp and blowdrying it upside down works a treat.

If you don’t have time to wash, a volumising powder will blot away the oil and lift the roots a little. “The French style is naturally textured with movement rather than slick or shiny,” says Virginie, adding that French women are not fans of the super-straight hot-ironed look because it’s too perfect. If they reach for tongs, it’s to create random waves for an unstructured ‘I got up like this’ look.

“The French look is understated and never contrived,” says Virginie. “What makes it work so well is pairing it with loads of self-confidence and attitude. French women do that very well!”

“Most French women aren’t diehard trend-ophiles … Their approach is classic in nature, and their look is never overdone.”