It takes a lot of effort to look so effortless. That’s right, even for French women. For years, we’ve been hunting for the beauty “secrets” of French women who undoubtedly possess a certain je ne sais quoi with their tousled locks and natural beauty — with skin so perfect it doesn’t even require foundation. It’s as if they…just woke up like this.
Except, they didn’t.
Although French women aren’t known to contour and strobe like an Instagram model or a Kardashian (sorry for dropping the k-word), there’s plenty of effort that goes into their elegant, subdued beauty. And it all starts with the French beauty products they use when it comes to skin care, color and even hair. The good news: All of these are available in the U.S., too. So yes, you too can look like a French girl. Here are nine products to get you started.
[ Next: C’est Chic! 8 Secrets of Effortless French Style ]
The best French beauty products that ship to the US
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Bioderma
There's a reason why Bioderma Sensibio H20 has been making the favorite products lists for years — it works beautifully to remove all traces of makeup and leaves your skin feeling comfortable and fresh. But remember: It's only meant to remove makeup, so make sure to follow up with a second cleanse.
Sensibio H20, $16.90 at Amazon
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Caudalie
This beloved mist is perfect for waking up and brightening your complexion in the morning, setting your makeup and refreshing it throughout the day, or as a quick pick-me-up at any time. The elixir just brings a certain "zing" to your face with the help of rosemary, astringent mint and rose essential oil.
Beauty Elixir, $49 (or $18 for travel size) at Sephora
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Darphin
Not only is this essential oil elixir from well-loved French brand Darphin great at transforming your skin overnight into a more glowing complexion, it has an incredible, sensual, long-lasting aroma that can easily double as a fragrance — something French women tend to gravitate toward.
8-Flower Nectar, $150 at DermStore
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Embryolisse
If your skin is on the drier side, this is the solution for you. Although it gets absorbed quickly, it is quite a rich lotion full of essential fatty acids and vitamins. It won't really help you fight wrinkles, but your skin will feel incredibly hydrated, soft and plumped. It's a great base for foundation.
Lait-Crème Concentrè, $16 at Embryolisse
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La Roche-Posay
Reversing the clock on damaged skin is just soooo much harder than actually preventing that damage in the first place. The key, as you surely know by now, is sunscreen. But unfortunately, so many of us forgo sunscreen because it doesn't feel particularly good on skin, especially under makeup. Well, the French have got you covered. Literally. La Roche-Posay Anthelios 60 Ultra Light Sunscreen Fluid feels more like a serum than sunscreen and soaks in extremely quickly, feels great and has you covered with its 60 SPF. (And if you forget and happen to get sunburned, find yourself some Biafine.)
Anthelios 60 Ultra Light Sunscreen Fluid, $29.99 at Ulta
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YSL
Part of the secret of having such natural-looking skin is that instead of dabbing foundation everywhere, most French women tend to conceal only the areas that need a little extra TLC while leaving the good bits uncovered, creating the illusion of perfect skin all over. This pen helps with that.
Touche Éclat Radiance Perfecting Pen, $42 at Sephora
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Leonor Greyl
This brand may not be as widely known in the U.S., but it is well-loved in France. The most cult-status product has to be its pre-shampoo oil treatment, which can be used overnight as a nourishing mask, before a shower to help hydrate and prepare hair for a wash — reducing breakage and tangles — or before going swimming to protect hair.
Another great product by Leonor Greyl is Serum de Soie Sublimateur, which uses silk proteins to seal the hair cuticle, minimize frizz as well as simultaneously enhance and protect your locks without that dreaded weighed-down feeling.
All Leonor Greyl products are developed using only botanical ingredients.
L'Huile de Leonor Greyl, $60 at Net-a-Porter
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Christophe Robin
Christophe Robin is well-known as a master hair colorist in Paris, but in 1999 he launched his own line of hair care products. His products, which have only become available in the U.S. more recently, have been a longtime staple in France.
The products may take a bit more effort to use, but they are worth it. His cult Cleansing Mask With Lemon ($49) is paraben-, silicone-, SLES- and colorant-free and works to deeply cleanse and nourish your hair. A small amount goes a long way, it works well on color-treated hair and you may not even need to follow up with conditioner. It also smells great!
For an intensive boost, try the Regenerating Mask With Rare Prickly Pear Seed Oil ($71) or for a little help with volume, the Volumizing Conditioner With Rose Extracts ($43) is a great addition to your shower routine.
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Lancôme
Although French women tend to go for a more minimalistic look with much of their makeup, where they look to make a statement is their lipstick color — generally favoring a red lip above all else. French women may be elegant and subtle, but they are not shy.
L'Absolu Rouge in Absolute Rouge, $32 at Sephora
