First, I’m excited to announce that the winner of our Sephora winter giveaway is Glenda-dopeperfectly3f95520912. Congrats! Please email therealchiclife@gmail.com to claim your prize. And thank you to everyone who entered! We’ll be announcing our next exciting giveaway for subscribers on Tuesday.
Lately I’ve seen a lot of references online to the “French Girl” makeup look and I’m drawn to it because I love natural glam and the “no makeup” makeup look. I love that French beauty is effortless yet intentional, chic but somewhat undone. It’s all about enhancing your natural beauty with just a few perfectly placed products. Below, I break down the essentials and pair them with favorite picks you can snag at Sephora.
Start With Skin (Your Canvas)
French beauty begins with healthy, glowing skin.
Best products to try:
Sephora Collection Reveal The Real Soft Radiant Skin Tint – A lightweight tint that subtly blurs imperfections and adds luminous coverage without masking your natural texture. Saie Glowy Super Skin Serum Foundation – Serum-like foundation with a dewy, skin-like finish — perfect for that effortless, “my skin but better” vibe. Fenty Beauty Soft’lit Naturally Luminous Hydrating Foundation or ILIA Super Serum Skin Tint SPF 40 – Both deliver beautiful, natural coverage with luminosity that feels like skin, not makeup.
Chic Tip: Skip heavy powders. If you want a little set, tap a light layer of Sephora Collection Microsmooth Multi‑Tasking Baked Face Powder only where you need it.
Conceal (But Keep It Light)
French makeup celebrates imperfections — you only conceal what you must. Spot-conceal under eyes or blemishes. Let the rest of your skin breathe. The Huda Beauty #FauxFilter Matte Buildable Coverage Waterproof Concealer and the Armani Beauty Luminous Silk Hydrating Face and Under-Eye Concealer blend seamlessly.
Chic tip: Try layering very lightly with fingers or a small brush for a seamless look.
A Natural Flush: Blush
The Parisian glow comes from cheeks that look kissed.
Lovely blush options:
Rare Beauty Soft Pinch Liquid Blush – A loved favorite that delivers a sheer, flush-of-color finish. Yves Saint Laurent Make Me Blush 24H Powder Blush – A chic powder that blurs and warms cheeks effortlessly. Both give that “just came inside from a morning stroll” look.
Minimal Eyes, Maximum Impact
French eyes are subtle — think soft definition, not dramatic. Swipe on a natural-looking brow gel or stick with what you have at home for gentle shape. Add one or two coats of mascara that enhances without clumping. Try a bestseller like Lancôme Lash Idôle or Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara for subtle yet impactful length and volume.
Chic Tip: Lightly curl lashes if necessary for that wide-awake, effortless finish.
The French Girl Lip
This is the moment of the whole look. You can’t go wrong with a classic soft red or berry lipstick for chic daytime flair. Merit’s Signature Lipstick in Vermillion or Power is lightweight and buildable. Or keep it simple with a tinted lip balm or sheer stain (lately I’ve been loving Eadem’s Le Chouchou balm in the shade Bissau Glaze).
The idea is confidence over precision — let the color stay relaxed and lively.
Final Touches
French makeup is as much about attitude as application. It’s about knowing when to stop — a little undone is the point. The beauty is found in imperfection, softness, and subtle enhancement.
Remember: If it feels too polished, remove just a touch and start again — the most Parisian makeup look feels effortless.
Xo, Courtney
The Real Chic Life 
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