"French girl beauty" has been here a long time, but I'd argue that where it really shines is in the summer months. Its "less is more" approach is perfectly tailored to warm weather, where looking "effortless" is the goal; as is highlighting the features you want to accentuate, and embracing so-called "imperfections". And who better to chat about this with than the French make-up artist, Violette Serrat, who founded her eponymous brand, VIOLETTE_FR, in 2021.
"It's funny because I was asked about 'French Girl beauty' decades ago, and I had no clue," the self-taught MUA tells me. "But when I moved to the US, I cracked the code—in France, it's all about being happy, and to be happy is to love yourself. Easy. The role of make-up, then, is just to sell yourself. It has nothing to do with 'fixing' anything, because we strive to accept ourselves the way we are. Plus, we spend very little time in the bathroom, because we'd rather go out and enjoy life. To look effortless, you have to be effortless; there's no other secret, and that's why I create products that require zero effort."
