Whatever you think you know about French girl makeup, think again. “For starters, we’re not French girls–we’re women,” says Violette Serratt, creative director of makeup at Guerlain and founder of . “Second, when people say French girl makeup, it’s not like we set out with the intention of looking French, but I suppose it’s a by-product of our cultural philosophy.
” That philosophy, summarized by Violette as “you are not happy if you are not free,” is the mantra guiding the effortless look French women are best known for. And if anyone understands the essence of the French aesthetic, it’s Violette. Her self-taught know-how has scored her a Carine Rotfield cosign and starry tenures at the biggest French makeup brands, including Estée Lauder and Dior.
Violette’s Makeup Favorites She’s right to suggest that French makeup epitomises freedom. It’s apparent in everything from the statement red lips to the bold blue mascaras, and the smudged smokey eyes to the almost bare skin. “Generally, we don’t use makeup to disguise or change the face,” she adds, explaining that that’s why you’ll notice none of the heavy contouring or affinity for embellishments, such as false lashes, seen elsewhere in the West.
Imbued with the region’s storied heritage in fashion and the arts, French makeup is instead about wholly embracing–and expressing–yourself. From the paintbox colors and easy complexion products that define Violette’s own line to the exact.
