How to Achieve French Holiday Makeup in 5 Easy Steps
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1. Chanel Les Beiges Healthy Glow Foundation / 2. Guerlain Lip Pencil / 3. Lancôme Hypnôse Mascara / 4. Chanel Les 4 Ombres Eyeshadow Quad / 5. Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Setting Powder / 6. Guerlain Rouge G Velvet Matte Lipstick / 7. Dior Backstage Glow Face Palette / 8. YSL Touche Éclat Awakening Concealer Click Pen / 9. Guerlain Terracotta Sunkissed Natural Bronzer / 10. Guerlain Terracotta Powder Brush / 11. Chanel Joues Contraste Powder Blush
The holidays call for a little extra glamour in your makeup routine. If you want to keep it festive without going overboard, French women are the ultimate inspiration for makeup that's seasonal yet effortlessly understated.
Consider this blog post your step-by-step guide on how to master French girl holiday makeup. I’m taking a cue from French actress Léa Seydoux and this stunning makeup look she wore at Cannes a few years ago. We'll focus on luminous skin, a bold red lip, and a subtle yet defined eye. It’s Hollywood glam with a modern twist, perfect for a cozy Christmas feast or a New Year’s Eve soirée.
Along with tips and tricks, I’m sharing my favorite French beauty products to help you achieve this French girl glam with ease. Try out this holiday makeup look at your next party and be the chicest guest in the room.
Discover more French girl winter beauty tips with these must-read posts:
French Holiday Makeup
1. Create a Radiant Base
For this French holiday makeup look, the complexion is all about soft, natural radiance—nothing too glitzy, just even skin with a subtle glow. The secret lies in prepping your skin the right way. Start by giving your face some hydration with a rich moisturizer like the Embryolisse Lait-Crème Concentré. This cult-favorite French moisturizer is a go-to in many makeup artists' kits, and for good reason: it creates the perfect dewy base. For me, it’s an essential during the winter months when my skin tends to be dry and patchy. Something we definitely want to avoid before applying makeup.
To achieve flawless skin with a natural finish, use a lightweight foundation like the Chanel Les Beiges Healthy Glow Foundation. This foundation gives your skin a luminous, dewy finish while providing sheer to medium coverage, perfect for this glowing French girl glam. If you need extra coverage, I’d recommend you try the Dior Forever Skin Glow Foundation. It offers the same radiant finish, but with medium to full coverage to even everything out. And with 24h wear, it will last you all night long.
Next, we want to brighten under the eyes with the YSL Touche Éclat Awakening Concealer Click Pen. Tap the product under the eyes, along the bridge of your nose, and on the chin to instantly illuminate the skin. If you’re dealing with any acne or dark spots that you want to hide, try a full-coverage concealer like the Lancôme Teint Idole Ultra Wear All Over Full Coverage Concealer. It will conceal any imperfections—no creasing or caking involved.
Apply a light, translucent powder to keep everything in place without losing that glow. Lightly dust the Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Setting Powder on the areas where you get the most shine. For a natural, soft finish, use a fluffy brush and tap off the excess powder before gently pressing it onto your skin. Try not to go too heavy—you want just enough to lock in your makeup while keeping your complexion looking fresh and radiant.
2. Sculpt and Highlight
To get the subtle sculpting and highlighting seen in this makeup look, you want to go for soft dimension without harsh contouring. This is one aspect of French beauty that I love—enhancing what you have over transforming your natural features. So, skip the dark contour stick and instead, apply the Guerlain Terracotta Sunkissed Natural Bronzer. This iconic bronzing powder is a French favorite for a naturally sun-kissed glow, and it’s one product that’s in my own makeup bag year-round. Sweep it on the cheekbones, the bridge of the nose, and around the perimeter of your face to add structure and get that natural golden tan (even when sunny days are out of sight).
Bring back some color to your face using the Chanel Joues Contraste Powder Blush in a soft pink shade. I personally love Rose Pétale for my warm, light complexion, but depending on your skin tone, you might experiment with a different shade. Another fave is the Sisley Paris Le Phyto-Blush in Golden Rose for a natural, radiant finish. Whichever shade you choose, focus it on the apples of your cheeks, blending upwards toward the temples for a fresh, flushed look that won’t overpower the bold lip.
For a holiday glow à la française, you don’t want to tap on anything too glittery. Instead, reach for the Dior Backstage Glow Face Palette in Universal. Use the lightest shades in the palette to highlight the tops of your cheekbones, down the bridge of your nose, and on your cupid’s bow. It’ll give you that natural, lit-from-within radiance—just like Léa’s dewy, glowing complexion.
3. Softly Define the Eyes
This French holiday glam features a soft, defined eye to balance out the bold red lip. And while a smoky eye is always a showstopper, we’re keeping things much simpler so you can get ready for the holidays in less time.
To get Léa’s subtle eye look for the holidays, reach for the Chanel Les 4 Ombres Eyeshadow Quad in neutral shades like Tissé Rivoli or Clair-Obscur, and apply the lightest shade to your lid. Lightly blend it onto your lid with your finger or a small eyeshadow brush. Next, add a soft brown or taupe shade to the crease for depth using a blending brush to softly diffuse the shadow. So easy, but these two simple steps will really enhance your eyes!
Now, something a bit more tricky—eyeliner. To define the lash line, use a black liquid liner such as the Lancôme Idôle Ultra-Precise Felt Tip Liquid Eyeliner. Draw a thin line as close to the lashes as possible to make the shape of your eyes stand out. You’ll want to avoid a dramatic wing, and instead, go for a slight flick. It’s timeless and elegant—just right for the holidays.
Finish the eyes with the Lancôme Hypnôse Mascara. This mascara adds length and volume without the need for false lashes (although you could definitely apply some individual falsies if you wanted to). Apply two coats to the top lashes and a light coat to the bottom lashes. The long-wearing formula lasts up to 24 hours, so your eyes look gorgeous all day and night.
4. Add a Bold Red Lip
The bold and bright red lip is the standout feature of this French makeup look, taking it from naturally defined to festively glam. To mimic Léa’s gorgeous Parisian pout, begin by lining your lips with the Guerlain Lip Pencil in a shade that matches your lipstick. This helps define your lips and keeps the color from feathering. A little tip, slightly overdraw your cupid’s bow for a fuller lip. Just be careful not to overdo it—we want to highlight our natural features, not exaggerate them.
Lips are lined, now it’s time to apply the Guerlain Rouge G Velvet Matte Lipstick in a classic red, such as Le Rouge Rubis. This stunning shade was made for the holiday season. It has a slightly bluish undertone, a lovely option for cooler skin tones. If your skin leans warmer, however, I’d recommend you test out Le Rouge Kiss—this fiery red has the same vibrancy as Le Rouge Rubis but is better suited toward warmer complexions. The key to nailing any makeup look is to try out a lot of different shades to find one that works for you!
I also have to mention the beautiful packaging of this Guerlain lipstick. You can even choose your own case—such a chic detail! You’ll actually look forward to pulling it out for a quick touch-up during your holiday party. I love this personal touch so much that I even included this lipstick in my Francophile gift guide!
Now, to apply, use a lip brush for precision. Blot and reapply for long-lasting color. The perfect red lip, all set for a little bisou under the mistletoe!
5. Set the Look
To make sure your makeup stays in place through all the holiday fun, finish with a setting spray. Time and time again, I go back to the Caudalie Beauty Elixir to set my makeup in place while adding a dewy glow to the skin. This French pharmacy favorite is a staple in many French women’s beauty routines. And I can see why—it’s a major multitasker that you can also use to prep your skin and tighten pores.
Final Touches
In just easy five steps, this French girl holiday makeup is already incredibly stunning! But if you want to take it up a notch, I love dusting on the Guerlain Météorites Pearls of Powder over my makeup for an extra radiant finish. These finishing powder pearls set makeup and color-correct all while adding a subtle shimmer to your skin—and who doesn’t love a little extra glow during the holidays?
For eyes that are extra sparkly, use the Laura Mercier Caviar Stick Cream Eyeshadow to highlight below the brow bone and the inner corners of your eyes. You can even layer it under your powder eyeshadow to really amp up the shimmer and shine.
I’m seriously obsessed with Léa’s look, and it’s not just the makeup—her hair and accessories really pull everything together. For the holidays, you could go for soft, voluminous curls or a sleek, retro bob to achieve the same glamorous vibe. Pair some shimmering statement earrings for the ultimate French girl holiday look.
Be sure to check back for my upcoming post on French holiday outfits, where I'll be sharing chic ideas on what to wear this holiday season!
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Bold and bright, this French girl holiday makeup look is perfect for all the festive events on your calendar this season. Whether it’s a cocktail party, family dinner or New Year’s Eve celebration, this combination of glowing skin, subtly defined eyes and a vibrant red lip will make you feel oh-so-glamourous. I know I can’t wait to recreate this look throughout the holiday season!
Will you be trying this French holiday makeup look? Let me know in the comments below.
