My favourite place in the world to people-watch is undoubtedly Paris. From their effortless style to their tousled cool-girl hair, I’ve observed just how well French women put themselves together. It’s never too “done” yet always looks polished and impossibly chic. And the same goes for French makeup. They’ve mastered the art of “no-makeup” makeup, but aren’t afraid to make a beauty statement, like wearing bold red lipstick with totally bare skin and not a scrap of other makeup. No wonder many of us want to replicate this low-maintenance French beauty aesthetic.
On a recent trip to Paris, I was seated next to an incredibly chic French woman at dinner. Naturally, I pounced at the opportunity to ask her what beauty products she was wearing and the first thing she pulled out from her handbag was Violette_FR’s Bisou Balm (£30). She told me this sheer, matte lipstick gives lips a “bouche mordue” look. En anglais, this translates as “just bitten” lips. Upon swiping, it bestows a sheer, blurry suede-like veil of colour that looks like you’ve just been kissed. Of course, I immediately went and bought one the next day.
Since being let in on some of the makeup secrets of French women, this led me to try more of the best Violette_FR products—and now they’ve become daily staples in my beauty routine. Founded by award-winning French makeup artist, Violette Serrat, each and every product captures and imparts the French beauty philosophy into your makeup. The products are minimalist, easy to use and, of course, delightfully chic. Rather than masking or concealing, the brand’s ethos is about enhancing your natural beauty and encouraging fun in your makeup choices, too.
Having studied painting at École de Louvre, it’s clear to see Serrat’s painterly influences in her products. Her marbled blushers are inspired by the “sfumato” technique, creating a hazy, soft blend of colours that results in the most natural, watercolour flush on your cheeks. Meanwhile, the colours of her Petal Bouche liquid lipsticks ought to be studied. They’re the most universally flattering reds I’ve ever tried and feel like a velvety rose petal to the touch once on the lips. These products make you feel like you’re wearing art.
Having tried lots of Violette_FR now, I’ve compiled and reviewed my favourites below that deserve a spot in your makeup bag. Scroll ahead for everything you need to tap into a little French beauty.
Best Violette_FR Products, Tried & Tested
1. Violette_FR Bisou Balm
Think of this as your shortcut to that impossibly cool, just-bitten French-girl pout. This moisturising matte lipstick–balm hybrid glides on like silk, imparting a sheer veil of colour with the softest blurring effect. The formula melts into lips, delivering that “bouche mordue” finish that’s more low-key than a traditional lipstick. One swipe gives you that perfect lived-in flush, while a few more layers build into a more defined, softly sculpted lip moment. Très chic. My favourite shade is Bonbon Myrtille, a muted raspberry hue.
2. Violette_FR Petal Bouche
Inspired by the velvet-soft petals of a rose, this matte liquid lipstick glides on like second skin, building in drama with every swipe. Whether you’re after a soft-focus blur, a petal-like ombré or full-throttle glamour, this does it all. In fact, Serratt tells me that French women treat their lipstick like an accessory, so they like to opt for statement shades—often worn with minimal to no other makeup. “I think because we think of it as a statement, we don’t necessarily go for a natural colour,” she says. “We go for bold red or bold berry, and we look at it almost like it’s a beauty accessory. It’s very engraved in the French beauty culture.” In the photo above, I’m wearing Cerise Désir, a deep red rose shade that suits everyone.
3. Violett_ FR Bisou Jelly
If you favour a glossy finish, then the Bisou Jelly is for you. This is not your average tinted lip balm, however. This lipstick–balm hybrid delivers a sheer veil of colour and a kiss of natural shine, all while treating your lips to a hit of antioxidant-rich nourishment. The genius lies in the dual-layer design: a pigmented core infused with vitamin E blurs colour seamlessly into your lips, while the outer jelly layer drenches them in emollient-rich moisture for a juicy, plumped finish.
4. Violette_FR Bisou Blush
The Bisou Blush is one of my favourite Violette_FR products. These cream stick blushers are marbled, inspired by Serratt’s art school days. The two shades in the blusher—one sheerer, the other more pigmented—swirl together to create a multi-dimensional yet natural flush on your cheeks. On the other end of the blush is a hidden brush which makes it easy to buff into your skin even if you’re on the go. Plus, you can remove it and wash it, which is really convenient. My favourite shade is Maryam, a vibrant raspberry hue that imparts such a beautiful flush to the cheeks.
5. Violette_FR Baume Shine
(Image credit: @eleanorvousden for Who What Wear UK)
After studying how neoclassical painters used light in their artwork, Serratt set about creating a highlighter that would mimic the way they caught the light, and Baume Shine was born. This isn’t your traditional, glittery highlighter. Instead, the glossy stick bestows a dewy sheen wherever you apply it. It has a subtle shimmer to it, but it’s incredibly sheer, so you truly look lit from within. Glide onto cheekbones, the inner corners of the eyes, or even on the cupid’s bow for a glossy look. This is truly glass skin in a tube.
6. Violette_FR Yeux Paint
These cream eyeshadows are so stunning, and they’ve inspired me to try going bolder with my eyeshadow colours—these shades are too beautiful not to try. With a luxe selection of matte neutrals and jewel-toned shimmers alongside brights, it offers endless possibilities for different eye looks. You can wear them all over as an eyeshadow, or use the brush as a precision liner too. These buildable formulas glide on effortlessly and stay put all day—no smudging, creasing or fading in sight. You can apply a small amount for a sheer, sultry smoky eye, or go bold with a graphic liner in a bright hue.
7. Violette_FR C’est La Cream
Violette_FR
C’est La Cream
The brand also boasts some brilliant French skincare. With the French’s focus on good skincare, they often forgo foundation and concealer altogether. “[When it comes to the skin] not everything is in your face, so we wear very natural skin, even if we have breakouts,” says Serratt. “I have very dark circles and it’s not very French of me to hide them completely, because we also think dark circles are cool,” she says. With the emphasis on looking after the skin first, Serrat created C’est La Cream. This prebiotic moisturiser has a milky gel texture that sinks in immediately and gives instant relief to the skin.
8. Violette_FR Invisible Bandage
Violette_FR
Invisible Bandage
I wish I had this genius product in my skincare routine a long time ago. Think of it as a liquid first-aid plaster to treat blemishes while also providing a protective barrier. It kind of acts like a primer so that if you do want to conceal a spot, your makeup will glide on more seamlessly without emphasizing the blemish. It also works great when worn alone as a targeted spot treatment to help hurry along the healing process overnight.
9. Violette_FR Boum Boum Milk
Violette_FR
Boum-Boum Milk
Last, but certainly not least, we have Boum-Boum Milk. I often experience eczema flares, so after hearing that this particular product had earned the seal of acceptance from the National Eczema Association, I knew I had to try it myself. Miraculously, it really helped to clear up a recent flare, and the spray makes it so easy to spritz anywhere on the body. The magic comes from the barrier-restoring ingredients such as fermented birch sap, glacial water, squalane and olive leaf extract that work in tandem to calm, soothe and support the skin’s microbiome.
