Brigitte Bardot, Lea Seydoux and Marion Cotillard; what do they all have in common? They're French – and gorgeous at that! We're such big fans of how Parisian women go about beauty and make-up in such a fresh and clean way that we've rounded up some must-follow tips to achieve the same look.
Marion Cotillard works a fabulous bold lip
Prep your skin
To pull of Parisian beauty you need to start by making sure your base is the best it can be. Cleanse, moisturise and add the occasional face mask into your routine, and make sure you use a regular eye cream to keep your peepers looking youthful. Our product suggestions are; By Terry Cellularose Nutri-Pure Comforting Balm Cleanser, Darphin Hydraskin Light All-Day Skin-Hydrating Cream and La Roche-Posay Hydraphase Intense Eyes, but of course there's plenty more options out there from France.
Choose your base
No fresh-faced look would be complete without a good primer and nothing screams French more than L'Oreal Paris Infallible Priming Base, which will give your skin a smooth and silky feel, perfect to pop foundation on.
You'll want to choose a foundation as close to your natural skin tone as possible, as the Parisian style is all about embracing your natural features. Lancôme's Miracle Cushion Compact not only gives good coverage but it's also extremely lightweight, meaning you won't look like you're caked in foundation. It comes with a handy sponge too, perfect for application.
Go easy on the rest
A subtle touch of blusher is all that's needed to add definition – just enough to give depth. If you really want to push the boat out and go fully Parisian, try Chanel's Joues Contraste Powder Blush, or for an even more natural touch go for Guerlain Terracotta Joli Teint Natural Healthy Glow Powder Duo.
Now, the eyes are probably the most important part of this beauty look; go easy on the eyeliner and pick a shade that doesn't make too much of a statement, then apply a thin line along the upper lashline for a relaxed finish. Neutral eyeshadows are also favoured by Macbeth star Marion and co. and such tones emphasise their natural beauty even more, with just a slick of mascara to elongate lashes.
With lips you can go all out though, but opt for a chic red just like the Parisians do. That's actually why you should keep eyes more relaxed – pout over peepers any day if you're going French chic! We love Estée Lauder Pure Color Envy Lipstick in Vengeful Red and Clinique High Impact Lip Colour SPF15 in Red-y to Wear.
