The Chicest French Woman I Know Just Schooled Me on Makeup, And I’m Enlightened

Forgive my brutal honesty, but as a beauty editor that is somewhat (read: very) fussy with her makeup, I struggle to find makeup artists I really trust. I'd like to clear up that, considering I have the makeup skills of a potato, I'm fully aware of just how toxic this trait of mine is. The truth is, my makeup tastes are pared-back. I like things to look natural, effortless, and generally take next to no time at all. As soon as a makeup artist starts talking to me about contouring, baking, and filling in brows, I'm out. In short, my dream aesthetic embodies the laid-back coolness of French-girl beauty.

It's needless to say, therefore, that the makeup artists I turn to most are French. French makeup artists just get it. They understand that not everyone has three hours to do their makeup in the morning, they champion fresh skin, and have a wonderful way of keeping things low-key. And while my ears prick up whenever any French makeup artist has some wisdom that they wish to impart, there is one in particular who, in my opinion, is the queen of French-girl makeup—Violette.

As a journalist, I have put a lot of effort into trying to get some time in with the French makeup artist-turned-brand-founder, wanting to pick her brain on anything and everything makeup. Having followed her for years on Instagram, barely a working day has gone by that hasn't involved me fawning over her low-key, but impossibly chic, makeup looks. However, being one of the most in-demand people in beauty, pencilling any sort of time in with her appeared so difficult that I had almost given up.

But when news broke in the beauty world that Violette had been appointed Creative Director of Makeup at Guerlain (a French beauty powerhouse, no less), not only was I excited for what this meant for one of my all-time favorite beauty brands, I also knew now was my time to reach out for an interview. And if you're sat there wondering what on earth it is that makes Violette so special as a makeup artist that I've spent the best part of five years trying to interview her, let me enlighten you. It's not just that her work embodies the coolness of French women so effortlessly, she herself is also the chicest woman I follow. Everything from her beauty choices to her fashion choices ooze chicness. She has a way of being creative, playing with color, textures and shapes, while tying together a sense of playfulness with that iconic chuck-it-on and pull-it-together French mentality. I can only describe it as an art. 

So when the opportunity arose for me to finally sit down with Violette a couple of weeks ago, I cleared my schedule. For half an hour, we chatted all things makeup and discussed the art of French-girl beauty. As I left, I realized that, for one of the first times in my career, I felt truly schooled on makeup. I left feeling as though I could actually give some of her makeup tips a go (so much so that I actually executed a blue winged liner on my friend the following weekend after Violette showed me exactly what to do). So if like me you can't get enough of that effortlessly chic look, without further ado, these are the only French-makeup-artist-tips that really matter.

1. Embrace What Mother Nature Gave You

I have known that this is a key part of makeup application for some time but I have never been able to put it quite as eloquently as Violette does. The most crucial thing when applying makeup is to embrace your natural features. "Makeup isn't here to fix you because you don't need fixing. Once you've anchored that in yourself, you'll find yourself naturally reaching for less," she says. "French women do the same with our hair, too. It's always about taking care of what mother nature gave us."

It is, I have learned, a key part of French life that simply works its way into their beauty choices. "Even in terms of food—we have a balanced way of living. It's about being happy in your life. If I use makeup to please you, I'm going to chase that and never be happy," she adds.

2. Use SPF To Your Advantage

It's no secret that French women champion skincare. In fact, every French person that I speak to says that skincare always comes before makeup. When trying to nail a natural makeup look, it's important to treat them one and the same. "French women are educated and brought up to take care of our skin. We're in a dermatologist's office from 15 years old. We're not the sort of people to watch a skincare 'expert' online and be influenced by them—take us to a doctor, give us a routine, and we'll follow it. We're very educated on skin," says Violette.

When it comes to looking after skin, Violette informs me that the concept of 'skin types' in French skincare doesn't exist—and she considers this an advantage. "We have skin tendencies, instead. Our skin changes based on diet, age, and hormones. It's far more important to follow expert opinion," she says. And when it comes to products they choose? The French pharmacy is key. "French pharmacies never use the term 'clean', but it's the same mentality. It's great skincare for a minimal routine—the more you put on, the more chance of reaction," she adds.

One hidden skincare secret, however, did surprise me. Violette says that SPF is a non-negotiable product, not just for skin (which we already know, of course), but for makeup application. "It gives a glow, making it a really nice base for makeup. It gives a stickiness to the skin that really helps," she says.

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3. Skip Foundation

Going without foundation might seem a little daunting, but Violette says you can still get your coverage. "You can use concealer as a foundation. Apply it over pimples and use a little bit (or in my case, a lot) to hide dark circles," she says. When it comes to French-girl makeup, it's important to let your natural skin shine through (which goes back to that first point). "Skin is always first. That's why we don't use foundation so much. There's nothing sexier than naked skin."

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4. Pick One Battle

If there's one point Violette wants to get over, it's that you can really be as creative as you like with your makeup and still keep things minimal. "It's like fashion. You don't want to put on your earrings, hat, and heels all at once. You pick one battle, one statement," she advises. "If you fancy a red lipstick, maybe leave mascara and keep the rest of the face low-key. That's one of the main rules."

When it comes to incorporating color into your makeup look, the rule of one is key. "I might do a color-block look on my eyes and it will still seem very 'French' because the rest is easy and toned-down. If you're scared of color, just start with an eyeliner. Liquid liners are tricky to use so just wet a brush and use a shadow to create the liner. It's easier and looks much softer," she says.

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5. Use Bronzer The Right Way

"I use bronzer as bronzer," says Violette. "I've never contoured before. I don't need to. "And by this she doesn't necessarily mean that she believes her face to be chiselled to the nines, but the statement is instead an example of her belief that no one needs fixing. "It's awkward. How do you know what shadows to put where? This is the face I have and it's how I was born," she adds.

She reveals that she uses Guerlain Terracotta (which I believe to be the single best true bronzer of all time). "I apply it over my nose and cheeks for a sun-kissed effect. If I didn't have bangs I'd put it over my forehead, too."

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6. Embrace A Boyish Brow

Besides contour, Violette also says that heavily shaped brows don't sit well with her beauty mentality. "I would love for people to stop with their super-sharp, shaped eyebrows. I want to see you. Drop the Instagram brow," she says confidently.

Instead, she reveals a natural, "boyish" brow is the way to keep your makeup looking soft but polished. "I love boyish eyebrows. If you do color on your eye, for example, you have to pair it with a boyish brow. I don’t remove the hair, I just use a brow gel. It's like I said, if you add color, leave the rest true to you."

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7. Limit Your Time

I'll be honest, this candid tip shocked me. Not because it's particularly controversial, but because it's so simple I can't believe I hadn't thought of it before. "I have a kid and two jobs, I don't have the time to spend on my makeup in the morning. I find when you do have the time though, you do too much. Actually, if you give yourself no time to do your makeup, you look more effortless," she says.

The reasoning is that, when you're short on time, you reach for products that do the most with the least amount of effort—some concealer to cover-up, perhaps some mascara (although Violette says this really isn't a necessity if you're going to put a bold lipstick on), and a swipe of lipstick. "I always have a red lipstick in case of emergency. For me, red lipstick makes me feel more empowered. There are so many times throughout the day when I need a pick-me-up, and a red lipstick is the quickest way to get it. You can swipe it across your lips and finish off by tapping it into cheeks as a blush," she says.

Up Next: The 5 "Anti-Aging" Skincare Truths That Everyone Needs to Hear

This post originally appeared on Who What Wear UK.