Parisian Beauty Secrets | French Women style seen by Expats

There's a lot of hype about French women beauty secrets... Do we expats believe the hype?

There's a lot of hype about French women beauty secrets, French women style, French women hairstyles, makeup and fashion. Do we expats believe the hype?

In this video an English and a New Zealand expat living in Paris, we focus in on Paris fashion and Parisian beauty secrets - the haircut, the hairstyle, the make up, the nails, the fashion, the body shape and more.

Are you French? Do you have any French women style secrets to share? French style tips? Or do you have an opinion on the French beauty rituals? Let us know down below!

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[alysonj]

I'm English and moved to the South of France several years ago. When I first moved here I would wear the full works - foundation, lip liner, eyeliner, mascara - just to leave the house. I also used to straighten my hair. Now, I very rarely wear make up and never use heated appliances on my hair. To sum it up - I've learned to accept my natural self and don't feel I need to modify myself to face the world anymore. I find American and English beauty culture very toxic psychologically now I'm seperated from it. There are lots of things I don't like about France, but this part, I love!

[carola-lifeinparis]

Dominique looks so french. The high waisted Jeans is something I recently saw on french friends and the hair and lipstick are so parisian ... Before she started to talk I was sure you had a French coworker there. :)

[elim]

I like the fact you chose "Parisian" instead of "French" because Parisians do not represent all French (even if I did recognise in some things you said).

[Ranaounawa]

The fact that we all dress very similarly is very true. I'm in the U.S. right now and I can spot other French students from miles away on my campus and I'm never wrong hahaha

[annabelle]

just from the screenshot: French don't dress up too fancy but they NEVER dress DOWN like Americans (hoodies and trainers!) either lol

i thought Parisian hair looked too messy before but that natural look which look so effortless actually needed lots of efforts put in to look that way!

[MayWanderer]

It's "funny" how people would justify their "fat shaming" attitude by saying "it's not healthy to be overweight!"but then wouldn't have the same attitude at all towards smoking ...
Nice video as always btw :)

[pine_needle]

I'm a French girl but I definitely don't see myself as a part of this whole culture lol. I never wear pants (I think that's why people aren't surprised when I show up at parties all dressed up, French people think I look like I'm partying everyday tbh), I love bold makeup and I try to avoid those dark colors people usually wear.
People tend to think I am superficial and materialistic because I like expressing myself through my own personal style. I think you've mentioned this but people also think women who put a lot of effort in their appearance do it for men, or just for attention. yeah sure lime green eyeshadow is gonna attract all them boyz
Like... French people need to chill. Wearing pink overalls means I want to wear pink overalls. Whenever they ask me about my clothes or my makeup they seem offended, ATTACKED by the fact that I decided to wear something other than jeans with a white top. And there's nothing wrong with wearing the most basic stuff you find at Pimkie or Jennyfer if that's what makes you happy. I don't understand that thing about France, the belief that ANYTHING that doesn't make you invisible is bad and that you're seeking for attention. That's it.
The fact that the only socially acceptable colors are navy blue, white and grey is pretty sad. 🙃

I also feel like women are very hostile towards very feminine stuff. I think you've mentioned this in another video but there's a belief that wearing a skirt or too much makeup is not caring about the women who have fought and are fighting for our rights. do I even need to explain how stupid that is?
Life in France is great but these stupid social rules are truly depressing

[Helenemonblogdefille]

You are so right (I'm french, borned and always lived in Paris) : weight is not acceptable here, and people will rudely comment about it.
That's why I love the UK so much : none stares at you, ever.
And you're right, everybody is trying to look the same (plus the fact that desirable fashion brands don't go over size 10 doesn't help).
I loved this video a lot, it's culturazlly so intereseting ! Tank you for that !

[MonaMachinassou]

Being a french girl who grew up in south of france, in a little village, i can totally relate to your experience in paris... parisians are so normative when it comes to fashion and it s so hard to fit into the one and only ideal of the effortless stylish skinny red lips parisian girl... oh and i totally went through the same experience at a countryside family house party, wearing small heels and too much make up while people all wore wool pull overs and slippers. Really like your videos girls !

[KarinLynnBates]

I think this video is really true, but with a qualification: it definitely is Parisian (I lived there for four years), but not necessarily true for all of France. Additionally, I think the information is true for Caucasian young women, but not at all for Parisian women of age or of African descent. It’s a fairly narrow group that does these things: middle and upper-middle class white women from 18-50. Maybe one could argue that’s the demographic of most women in “Paris Proper, ” the 60 sq km of the center of the city. I don’t think it’s necessarily true for the other millions of women outside of the strict center, but still in Paris or Île de France. Our older and women of color sisters in Paris sure do break the “rules” of what’s “acceptable” and I love them for it! 😊

[MissMovinOn]

It’s interesting that French people seem to care so much about overweight people because it’s unhealthy when the percentage of smokers in France is much higher than most places in the western world

[MyLittleThommy]

As a French person who's travelled a bit I totally agree with the fact that what's acceptable in France is really reduced compared to other countries. I grew up in this context and I just thought that's the way things are but then I went abroad and I discovered a whole new world where people can be extra and nobody cares. I think French people have a lot to learn from other countries on that topic

[ameliemelo]

About the dress code it is true there is a huge difference especially when it comes to dress up. I was shocked when I arrive in the uk to see how girls dress up just for a night out. Even for small events they will put a lot effort. From a French person perspective it is perceived as to be too much, it is just a night out we are not in a red carpet in Hollywood and at the met gala. But for the British girls it simply feels great to dress up like the star we see in the magazine, it is a way to sparkle their life. The thing in France is that girl will never allow themselves to do it even if they want to because of the fear to look ridiculous.

[fotolynn]

Great video! I lived in Paris for 14 years and I agree with almost everything you say about Parisian norms, especially the reduced range of what is acceptable. I never missed dressing up and found Parisian women always to be impeccably presented, even in jeans and a T-shirt.

Three things I would like to add: elegance is the general rule; poise and being perfectly coiffed add greatly to a woman's beauty (a Parisian woman can be stunning but if you look closely, she may not have a beautiful or even average face); and mature women -- 40s, 50s and even older -- are seen as sexual, sensual beings. ...Oh, a fourth thing -- Parisians *never* step out in anything like sweat pants, not even on a Sunday morning dash to the boulangerie.

It may seem like snobbery (and sometimes can be), but Parisian standards are often guided by an aesthetic idea of what is "beau" and "pas beau." There is a high, quasi-moral value placed on "la beauté, " including for objects. That was my experience, in any case.

[soazigcolin]

I think you nailed it girls !
And this is coming from a French woman 😉
Just wanted to add when you break this very restrictive mould and you own your look, people are very supportive coz you are daring what others wouldn't ☺️

[ashankamara]

I always found it funny that Paris was considered the fashion capital of the world and yet the general population seem to stray from the trends that are on the runways. Whereas in London I feel we are much more free and individual within our style and there honestly are no rules, or not any rules that anyone follows religiously.

[gaiab]

I'm French and this summer I was in London for the first time in my life. I was shocked how much people don't care how you dress! You have more freedom, people do not judge you, it's awesome! it's a pity that in France we are not the same mentality.

[missananas]

Hi Rosie, i'm French and i like your videos. Just, i disagree with the point of vue you have on "La mode" in France. For party my friends and I and so many personn that i know (i'm 26), they wear dresses and heels (not 15cm but between 7-10cm). Depending on the season and the context (Escarpin pour un gala, un mariage, compensées/ espadrilles l'été / bottines-bottes souvent). So i'm very surprised about what you say in the video. When we have a doubt about the outfit, we take 2 differents looks (in case of).
For the rest of the day, i agree with the fact that we are dressed with many black, white, blue clothes. I think it's because in France we are in the judgement and we try to choose our clothes carefully for not be vulgar and also because all details are important (you can be in a black dress among other girls in black dress but you have THE detail ! You are confused in the crowd but by the time you are different among the others.)
And i think it's for that you won't see many french girls with a "mini jupe" but with a lovely dress or skirt (i don't say that a mini jupe is vulgar but it depends with what you put it whith and the context). All is an affair of judgement =)

Sorry for my english

[inescusable]

I'm french and sometimes I look around myself and I think everybody is really dressed all the same and it's sad.
Also I LOVE wearing dress, it's not an effort to do so, but each time I do it's seems like I really care about my apparence... No! I like to wear dresses, it's confortable

[DaLionessGirl]

What's funny to me is that, from where I'm standing (as someone who's been born and raised in the West Parisian suburbs), you're describing a very particular and distinctive category of Parisian women : white, middle or upper middle class, between age 25 and 50. For younger Parisian women, or from different cultural backgrounds, who have other references (even in pop culture), the codes have changed a bit or in some cases, were always a bit different :)
It's always super interesting to have your opinions on the matter