PARLEZ VOUS FRANCAIS?
For that effortless French girl beauty …
Anyone who has ever wandered through the streets of Le Marais or gazed admiringly at the passersby while seated at an outdoor café in Montmartre, will understand the sheer minimalist elegance that French women parade on a daily basis. It’s that untouched, “I woke up like this” approach to beauty that looks easy, but for us mere Francophiles, requires a little more work.
WHO spoke to Guerlain makeup artist Claire Thompson and brand ambassador for TIGI, Michele Mcquillan, to learn the tricks of mastering this simple, sexy yet chic approach to beauty.
FRENCH MUSE
“So many French girls—lou Doillon, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Louise Follain, Camille Charriére, Caroline de Maigret, Léa Seydoux, I could go on forever!—they all have their own take on the style, and their makeup often is there to complement their individual beauty, not overtake it,” says Thompson.
When it comes to makeup and hair, the overall consensus is that preparation results in that minimalistic, nonchalant approach. Investing in regular facials and hydrating treatments at the hair salon will keep skin and hair in optimum condition. At home, exfoliate skin at least once a week to keep skin-cell turnover at peak. For a few cheats, follow Thompson’s beauty rules:
CHEAT CHIC
Steal Poesy’s look: From wet hair create a messy centrepart using your fingers (only brush your hair at this stage if you need to). Spray a salt spray through, blast the hair dry using your fingers (no brushing) then irregularly tong different sections of the hair with a large curling iron. Make sure there is no formula to the tonging, it has to look random, natural and loose. Work visually by looking in the mirror and seeing what needs a bend, says Mcquillan
VIVA LA VISAGE
Always prep skin first with a hydrating, plumping moisturiser. “The most important thing with this look is not too have too heavy a foundation, powder or contour thing going on!” advises Thompson, who recommends leaving your coverage as the last step in your makeup application.
JOUE
On cheeks, she recommends trying a classic rouge with the Guerlain Rouge G lipstick and no powder “to keep the look modern, with fresh glowing almost glossy skin.”
SOURCIL
Achieve definition to eyes through the brows. “To lift the eye, brush the brows upwards and outwards,” says Thompson, “in little strokes, mimicking the direction and thickness of the actual hairs, filling in any gaps and slightly elongating at the end.” Finish and set the brows with gel using your fingers to gently press the brows into the skin and remove any excess product.
CHEVEUX
“Impeccable grooming is what the French do so well,” says Mcquillan. This helps when it comes to deconstructing the hairstyle. “Working from the inside out is a great start—healthy life, healthy hair,” says Mcquillan who suggests being mindful of hair maintenance, including hydrating, conditioning and paying attention to beautiful colouring or balayage highlights.