Some of my fondest memories live in France. There are the places, of course—the years I spent weaving through the sun-drenched streets of Cannes and Old Town Nice, and the far less glamorous hour I once spent in line at Le Bouillon Pigalle in Paris for a carafe of house wine and a profiterole the size of my head. But then there are the more tangible pieces: the fashion, the market treasures, and, naturally, the makeup. France is the birthplace of so many of beauty’s most beloved brands, from couture classics such as Chanel and Dior to indie favorites like Violette_FR and Le Rouge Français. And while not every product I own comes straight from its source, it’s as good an excuse as any to wax poetic about the City of Light.
Swatching my way through French makeup has become its own kind of travel ritual, one that transports me straight back to those winding streets and late-night cafés. That sense of carefree ease is baked into the beauty culture itself—like a pain au chocolat pulled fresh from the oven. As French celebrity makeup artist Patrick de Fontbrune reminds me, “The French approach to makeup is always looking like you didn’t try too hard. It is never about covering up and changing features, but simply complementing and enhancing what is already there.” It’s a philosophy every great French makeup brand shares.
Ahead, I’ve rounded up seven of the best French makeup brands to know and covet, whether you’re looking for a stand-in for your next getaway or a lineup to tuck into your carry-on. I've included a product recommendation for each, plus a mix of editor and shopper reviews, so you’re armed with everything you need. This list comes from years of my own testing as a beauty editor, recommendations traded around the Marie Claire office, and the refreshingly honest takes I’ve scrolled through on Reddit threads. Alors, allons-y.
Dior Beauty
Dior entered the beauty world in the early 1950s, when Christian Dior introduced his first lipsticks to complement the silhouettes that came down his runway. As Fontbrune told me, Dior embodies that French philosophy of “enhancing” rather than transforming, and you see it across the brand’s staples. Dior Backstage Foundation is an industry-favorite for clean, perfected skin, and Diorshow Mascara remains one of the most recognizable tubes in any artist’s kit.
My personal favorite is the Forever Skin Perfect Stick Foundation. It’s ideal for travel and touch-ups since there’s zero chance of it spilling in transit. But what I love most is that it blends like butter and gives my skin a soft-focus finish while still looking like my skin, just without the dark spots or unevenness.
Contributing beauty writer Marisa Petrarca using the Dior Forever Skin Perfect Foundation Stick.
Violette_FR
Violette_FR has been on my radar for years. I followed makeup influencer–turned–brand founder Violette long before her line existed. She was the French girl I pinned endlessly on Pinterest for her bangs, bold (yet somehow effortless?) painterly lids, and overall cool-girl energy.
When she launched her namesake line in 2021, it felt like watching that aesthetic materialize in product form. The vibe lines up perfectly with what she’s always done, and her bestsellers make that clear: Yeux Paint for that statement eye (the applicator even doubles as an eyeliner when you flip it), and Lip Nectar Hydrating Lip Stain, a texture unlike any stain I’ve tried and a blurred finish I usually need two products to achieve.
Marisa Petrarca wearing Violette_FR Yeux Paint in Dieu Bleu and LIP NECTAR Hydrating Lip Stain
Le Rouge Français
Founded in 2018 by Élodie Carpentier, Le Rouge Français is the French indie brand that celebrity makeup artists are using on the regular. (Both pros I interviewed brought it up unprompted.) The line—and its beloved Rouge Tinctorial Lipsticks—uses botanical pigments pulled from flowers and plants, which create softer, more natural-looking color than many synthetic dyes. They’re moisturizing, rich with payoff, and refillable, too.
Fontbrune loves the “beautiful creamy” reds, noting they range from cool to warm and layer effortlessly. Inglessis is just as devoted, calling the lipsticks “so gorgeous” and praising the textures, formulas, and chic resin packaging.
Chanel Beauty
Chanel is the benchmark—one of those French houses that shaped how the world talks about beauty long before “French-girl makeup” had a name. Fashion came first in 1910, but beauty followed close behind, with Chanel launching fragrance in 1921 and makeup shortly after.
The brand’s classics truly earn the title: Les Beiges for a healthy, well-rested glow (even when you’re anything but), Baume Essentiel for instant cheekbone light, and the red lipsticks that have lived in celebrity makeup bags for decades.
Lancôme
Lancôme has been part of the French beauty landscape since 1935, and it’s always struck me as a brand that evolves without losing its roots. Back in 2018, I got a custom foundation blended at one of its counters—a shade-matching service that felt noticeably ahead of what most brands could do at the time.
That same mix of heritage and innovation is what I presume Inglessis meant when she called the mascaras a “cultural chéri.” Lash Idôle and Hypnôse mascaras consistently deliver that lifted, fanned-out lash, and Teint Idole Ultra Wear is still one of the most reliable long-wear foundations I own.
Sisley Paris
Sisley Paris has been family-run since 1976, and the makeup reflects that botanical, skin-first philosophy the brand built its name on. The formulas use plant extracts and gentle actives, making them feel noticeably softer and less irritating than what you find in many luxury lines.
Phyto-Cernes Éclat is the hero—a brightening concealer with a cooling metal tip that smooths the under-eyes in seconds. The Phyto-Blush Twist melts into skin with a believable flush, and the Phyto-Lip Twist gives easy color with a balmy feel. It’s an elevated makeup that treats skin kindly.
Guerlain
Guerlain may date back to 1828, but it has always treated makeup like tiny pieces of couture. Rouge G lipsticks feel like little treasures, Terracotta bronzers still shape the French sun-kissed aesthetic, and the Meteorites pearls brighten, blur, and look like art sitting on a vanity.
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Meet the Experts
Mélanie Inglessis is an LA-based celebrity makeup artist who grew up in Paris.
Patrick de Fontbrune is a celebrity makeup artist based in Los Angeles.
