As a Frenchwoman, I have always prioritized skincare to nourish my features and makeup to subtly enhance them. For me, beauty is about balance—natural yet sophisticated, with an eye on long-term care to keep my skin at its best as I age.
My Approach to French Girl Beauty
I recently had the pleasure of being interviewed by PureWow to share my thoughts on the French girl approach to beauty.
In the interview, I shared how I believe the most essential part of makeup is what comes before it: skincare. When your skin is well-cared for, you don’t need much to feel confident and radiant. My daily routine is grounded in products that support skin health, enhance glow, and help me age gracefully. I use makeup not to hide, but to highlight what I love about my face.
Julia Comil in Chanel Beauty
Below, I’m sharing the brands and products I trust the most—some I’ve loved for years, others I’ve discovered more recently, but all of them reflect my philosophy: effortless beauty with intention. You can also access my full shoppable French beauty edit here.
Chanel Beauty: The Iconic
Chanel
Everything about Chanel Beauty is a luxury experience. I’m an avid user, and what they truly excel at is color. My go-to nail polishes, blushes, and eyeshadows are all from Chanel. Lately, I’ve been obsessed with the Jeux de Lumières palettes and the Latte Frappé eyeshadow. And for fragrance on-the-go? The Coco Mademoiselle purse spray with its delicate pearl chain is the epitome of effortless chic.
Dior Beauty: The Iconic
Dior
Dior has been a longtime favorite. It perfectly bridges the world of runway and real life. The packaging is elegant, the formulas are high-performance, and the finish is always natural. I repurchase Dior Addict Lip Oil Glow, Capture Totale Hyalushot, Diorshow Mascara, Dior Forever Nude Bronze, and Dior Forever Skin Correct over and over again.
Kérastase: The Must-have
Kerastase
This is my go-to for haircare. When I went blonde, Kérastase Première became essential—the shampoo, mask and serum, overnight nutritiv serum are staples. I even buy the full line when I need a full reset. The formulas are effective and indulgent, and the scent? I’ve been addicted since my teenage years.
Guerlain: The iconic
Guerlain
A timeless French house. I’ve used Terracotta and Météorites for years, and the Youth Watery Oil Serum is my go-to for a radiant, lightweight finish, especially in the warmer months. Their vintage-inspired packaging makes every product feel like a collectible.
Caudalie: The French pharmacy essentials
Caudalie
One of my skincare staples for a fresh face. I love their Makeup Removing Cleansing Oil (so gentle on the eyes), Moisturizing Toner with Rose Water, and Gentle Cleansing Almond Oil. Their body care is also incredible—hand cream, foot balm, you name it.
L’Occitane: How I Indulge
L’Occitane
Almond Shower Oil has been in my shower for over 15 years. It’s lush, smells divine, and makes every rinse feel like a mini spa moment.
Manucurist: The trending clean beauty
Manucurist
In France, we tend to favor natural nails over gel manicures. Manucurist is my dream brand—non-toxic, low UV, and fast-drying. Their formulas are both safe and high-performance. The starter kit will get you covered.
Garancia: The iconic
With sensitive skin, I skip traditional scrubs. Pschitt Magique is a 30-second exfoliating micro-peel that leaves my skin fresh without irritation. It’s perfect for a low-maintenance yet effective routine.
Clarins
Clarins
A trusted French name. I swear by Total Eye Lift Concentrate—it visibly lifts while layering beautifully under makeup.
La Roche-Posay: The French pharmacy most trustworthy brand.
La Roche Posay
No French pharmacy routine is complete without it. I love the Anthelios SPF line and the Toleriane Hydrating Gentle Cleanser—one of the best cleansers I’ve ever found, especially for sensitive skin.
Typology: The trendy
A trending French brand I absolutely love—clean formulations and a minimalist aesthetic. I especially recommend their eye serum and hyaluronic serum. The quality is impressive, and the price point is very fair.
Lancôme
Lancome
After I had my baby, my skin needed help. That’s when I discovered Lancôme Génifique Ultimate Recovery Serum. It gave me an instant glow and reminded me how transformative a good serum can be.
Violette_FR: The trendy
Violette
French beauty with a creative twist. Bonbon à la Rose Bisou Jelly is like a macaron for your lips—delicate, hydrating, subtly enhancing. I also love Boum-Boum Milk to refresh and calm my skin after a long day or short night.
Final Thoughts on French Skincare
French girl beauty isn’t about perfection—it’s about intention. Taking care of your skin, choosing products that work for you, and allowing your natural beauty to shine through. Whether you’re applying a serum or swiping on lipstick, make it feel like a small act of self-love.
And if you’d like to read the full PureWow interview where I share even more about my beauty philosophy, you can find it here.
Full shoppable French beauty edit is available here.
À bientôt,
Julia