French It Girl Jeanne Damas Spills Her Coveted Beauty Tips and Pregnancy-Safe Skincare Picks
If you've scrolled through social media content dedicated to French fashion and beauty trends in the past few years, there's a high chance you've come across an image of French designer, creative director, model, and founder of fashion label Rouje, Jeanne Damas. Her signature scarlet lips combined with her wispy bangs and shoulder-sweeping bob may be strong call-backs to what we beauty lovers tend to associate with "traditional" Parisian beauty, but there's no denying that Damas' recognizable face has become synonymous with what could only be described as the continuation of an international and multigenerational beauty movement.
The launch of Rouje in 2016 brought French-girl style to the U.S. with a flair for vintage-inspired silhouettes, eye-catching prints, and the color red. In 2022, we saw the launch of the Les Filles en Rouje beauty line, which has since expanded to include skincare, nail polish, blush, and lip products to help customers elevate their everyday beauty routines by adding the products Damas developed to echo her own. While we're excited to see what's next for both Rouje and Les Filles en Rouje, we'll also be following along as she embarks on a new chapter in her personal life: becoming a mother of two.
We caught up with Damas in between the many fashion shoots and shows of Paris Fashion Week to learn more about her updated pregnancy-safe approach to beauty and self-care as well as the essential beauty products that define her morning and night routines.
Catching Up With Jeanne Damas
With the trend cycle moving as quickly as it does, how have you determined your personal approach to beauty?
I've hardly changed my beauty routine. My mother taught me early on [about] the importance of protecting your skin from the sun since it not only prevents cancer but also signs of aging. In my opinion, It's the number one skincare tip everyone should know. No sun between noon and 4 p.m. in the summer, and sunscreen every day of the year instead of normal cream after serum. I'm very "less is more" in my routine! Double cleansing in the evening is very important, and so is hydration. I also love LED masks.
Congratulations on your growing family! Have you experienced any changes to your skin so far? If so, how have you adjusted your skincare regimen to meet your needs?
When I'm not pregnant I tend to have hormonal acne, so I always have one or two spots which I have a hard time getting rid of. I try zinc cures from time to time. Being pregnant, I don't have these problems. The pregnancy glow is not an urban legend—it truly exists!
You've been known to love shopping at French pharmacies. What do you believe sets them apart from others?
I'm not that much into French pharmacy products anymore. I think what concept stores like Oh My Cream propose is more interesting as they propose many new brands and clean beauty innovations. In pharmacies, I buy just the Klorane Dry Shampoo ($34).
Are there any standout skincare products and ingredients you use during autumn? Why do they stand out to you?
My staple product for the change of season is a face oil as my skin is dryer. The Les Filles en Rouje L'Huile Visage ($70) is perfect for my mixed-type skin, and I love its orange blossom scent.
What are your go-to products to add the perfect amount of fullness and texture to your hair?
I found my perfect hair routine by accident after getting home in the rain. My usually very straight hair had a natural wave. Since then, every morning I wet my hair with a diffuser usually used to water plants, I add a bit of Les Filles en Rouje Le Brume Cheveux ($42), and use a Dyson diffuser to dry the hair. I totally fake my French-girl hair, but it works!
How do you achieve your signature light, wispy bangs?
There's less hair for the bangs, with a couple of strands that I've cut a bit shorter to have more texture. My inspirations are '90s actresses like Sophie Marceau or Penelope Cruz. Delphine Courteil has been my hairdresser since I was 15 and knows all the secrets and tips.
Let's say you have five minutes before leaving home. What does an express beauty routine look like for you currently?
I use a hair clip with a flower if I have a bad hair day or if it's dirty. I use Les Filles en Rouje Le Correcteur ($42), the face palette for some blush, and an eyelash curler. I finish with a colored lip balm. A pair of jeans and an oversize sweater and I'm ready to go. I'm very quick to get ready in the morning even f I have time. I'm always ready before my boyfriend.
What beauty must-haves are in your everyday bag for busy days on set and in the office?
A Victoria Beckham lip pencil for definition and the Les Filles en Rouje La Palette Visage ($55) for blush and lip color. A lip balm finishes the look.
We're so excited to see what's next for Les Filles en Rouje. What do you see for the brand's next steps?
The future of Les Filles en Rouje is quite exciting indeed! I love what we’ve built with the team, and I am very proud of what the brand is becoming. Our next steps include diversifying our product range, blending our signature French aesthetic with new categories, expanding globally, and including collaborations with international creatives.
Do you have a can't-live-without Les Filles en Rouje product, and how do you like to wear it?
It’s tough to choose just one, but the La Palette Visage is definitely a must-have. It has everything I need for my daily routine—highlighters, blush, and lipsticks—all the essentials in one practical palette!
Shop Jeanne's Favorites
Here's a madeleine-scented nourishing oil that hydrates and nourishes the lips using a blend of natural ingredients like squalane, avocado oil, argan oil, and apricot oil.
This oil's formula of avocado, pomegranate oil, vitamin C, and prickly pear extract brightens and moisturizes the skin as well as protects the complexion from environmental aggressors.
The Les Filles en Rouje Gua Sha tool can help stimulate blood circulation, decrease puffiness and inflammation, brighten the complexion, release tension, and more.
Damas swears by her own La Palette to add a healthy flush of color to her cheeks and lips. It includes four ultra-creamy, blendable shades for all your makeup needs.
The brand's first-ever eye palette offers three shimmering shades white buildable intensity and a silky-smooth consistency housed in a natural mother-of-pearl checkerboard case.
This two-toned concealer palette corrects and perfects the skin in seconds. Its second-skin formula features moisture-boosting shea butter and powders to combat oil and texture.
Recently, Jeanne has been loving Les Filles en Rouje's La Palette Visage for a quick and easy makeup look. It features six stunning blush and highlighter shades.
The Le Velours is a creamy long-lasting liquid lipstick that stays in place all day while keeping the lips hydrated and healthy. This vibrant shade of red is so chic, it's named after its founder.
Damas uses the La Brume Cheveux spray to create her signature hairstyle. It turns up the volume and shine of your strands with natural sea salt and nori seaweed extract.
Maya Thomas is Who What Wear's assistant beauty editor based in New York City. Her strong love for all things beauty and fashion stems from a strong childhood interest in the fine arts. During a gap year spent in Paris studying the history of French fashion, she shifted her focus to English literature and journalism as a student at Loyola Marymount University with the goal of one day pursuing a career in fashion. After graduating in May 2021, Maya began freelancing for Parade.com as a contributing commerce writer while also building a following on her lifestyle blog, Itsmayalala.com. When she's not writing, Maya spends her free time catching up on reading, perusing art galleries, and enjoying a night out at the ballet every now and then.
-
Editors Know Hair Accessories Elevate a Winter Wardrobe—These Are the Chicest Ones to Shop
Some are even on sale.
By Kaitlyn McLintock
-
This Celeb Makeup Artist Almost Exclusively Uses High-End Products—These 5 Drugstore Products Are the Exception
From a lash-lengthening mascara to an iconic French pharmacy product.
By Kaitlyn McLintock
-
I Needed Quick Holiday Party Makeup Inspo, so I Asked My Favorite Makeup Artist for Guidance
Perfect for any lazy girl.
By Shawna Hudson
-
A Makeup Artist Just Helped Me ID the Best Products to Enhance My Two-Toned Lips
I'm leveling up my lipstick game.
By Maya Thomas
-
I Found Out Meghan Markle Uses This Highlighter—Now I'm Stocking Up Ahead of Holiday Parties
Glassy skin is right this way.
By Kaitlyn McLintock
-
I Asked 6 Jet-Setting Beauty Editors for Their Nonnegotiable Travel Items
Just in time for your holiday travel plans.
By Shawna Hudson
-
I'm Kicking Off 2025 With an Elite Beauty Routine—30 Finds I Can't Wait to Start Using
My wallet won't know what hit it.
By Maya Thomas
-
I Don't Believe in Glow-Ups, But My "Winter Arc" Is Fueled by These Beauty Picks
It's all about consistency.
By Maya Thomas