What French Beauty Standards Really Look Like
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The phrase “French beauty” gets tossed around constantly online, but what does it really mean? On the blog, I talk about everything from French pharmacy essentials to le no-makeup makeup. But at some point, I started asking myself: where do these French beauty standards come from? And, are they actually healthy?
French women have long been admired for their chic sensibilities and effortless beauty. We can all imagine the stereotypical French girl who rolls out of bed, spends all but 10 minutes getting ready and still manages to look flawless. On top of that, she might indulge in all of the pastries, cheeses, wines and incredibly decadent French foods, and yet somehow, remains a size 34.
These stereotypes give us outsiders some clues, but the reality goes much deeper than that. So let’s talk about what French beauty standards actually look like, and what I’ve come to understand from living in France as an American experiencing it all myself.
It’s All About Looking Natural
Looking natural is everything in France. When it comes to beauty, this means that the skin is glowing, but not contoured or glittery, lashes are long and full, but never glued on, and the perfect pout isn’t drawn on with lip liner, it’s a tint of color.
Instead of fake tanning, there are tanning pills, sun drops, and good old-fashioned sunshine. Bleach blonde highlights and bouncy blowouts aren’t a thing, but accepting your natural hair texture and color is.
On the whole, it’s more about enhancing what you’ve got over completely changing the way you look. It’s much less demanding than American beauty standards.
When I first moved to France, I felt a sense of relief when I realized that I didn’t need to walk out with a full face of makeup on each time I left the house. I could just be myself and no one would give me a weird glance.
Read More: A Day in the Life of an American in France
The Myth of Effortlessness
But here’s the paradox: the “natural” French look takes effort. Even if it’s less maintenance than the beauty routines we are used to in the States, that doesn’t mean French women just wake up looking glowing and gorgeous.
Influencers and models might make it seem that way, but it takes work. It’s good skincare, eating well, knowing how to apply makeup, and sometimes just really good genes.
French women do try, they just don’t let is show. The goal is to appear effortless, even if it took you some time to get there. We know celebrities wear makeup, get treatments, and use filters, but in France, the work is more discreet, more subtle, and that can make it harder to tell what’s real and what’s just incredibly well done.
In the U.S., we’ve started to see this mindset more with the “clean girl” aesthetic. More and more, makeup brands are focusing less on artistry and more on natural finishes and skincare-based formulas.
But even so, makeup remains a form of expression. Most of my American friends who swear by a minimal makeup routine still love a full beat for a night out or treat themselves to colorful manicures on the regular.
Read More: How French Women Always Have Elegant Nails
French Beauty is a Lifestyle, Not a Quick Fix
French beauty isn’t something you can achieve with a single product (even if we wish we could). It’s about slow beauty, aka quiet, consistent habits that are part of your everyday lifestyle.
That’s why you won’t find as many flashy gimmicks at the French pharmacies that promise a quick fix. Unlike in the U.S., where instant results are everything (whitening strips, fillers, overnight peels), beauty standards in France aren’t as much about a big reveal as they are about consistency.
This mindset extends beyond your bathroom sink too. Diet, movement, and rest are just as important in the French beauty equation. Eating unprocessed foods, walking daily, and getting 8 hours of sleep are all just as important for looking and feeling good.
If I were to sum up the average French lifestyle, I would say: everything in moderation. In general, French women rarely swing between extremes. Instead of denying herself dessert (which leads to a sugar binge), she has a few bites and moves on. If she stays out too late, she might skip parts of her morning beauty routine to sleep instead. She’s not scheduling intense workout classes every day of the week, but definitely getting in some daily movement, even if it’s just walking outside.
Of course, it’s not all perfect. French women sometimes have some not-so-pretty habits. Smoking, for one, is still way too common in France (and one that I’ve thankfully never picked up).
Aging à la Française
French women don’t chase youth in the same way Americans do. They’d rather age slowly than stop aging completely.
A woman in her 50s isn’t trying to look 25 forever. As she gets older and wiser, she’s choosing better quality clothing, a lip color she knows flatters, and perfume she’s worn for decades. Aging doesn’t mean fading but refining, and there is a certain confidence that comes with that.
For many French women that I’ve met, there is much less urgency. And honestly, not stressing about aging might be the best anti-aging secret of all.
Don’t get me wrong, there are plenty of anti-aging creams, retinols and serums (I see advertisements for these types of products all the time). Almost no woman is immune to the pressures placed on her by society. In France, that means you’re expected to age, but age well (all while staying thin and stylish). However, from my perspective, it’s less intense than in the U.S.
Also, many French women do go to the esthéticienne, and some even get Botox or surgery. But it’s a lot less common (and far more taboo) than it is in America. I could never imagine a French woman throwing a Botox party.
Aging à la française is far from perfect, but it’s rooted in the belief that beauty doesn’t vanish with time, it just changes shape.
Thin Is In
Let’s talk about bodies. The ideal body in France still leans heavily toward slimness.
This beauty standard exists in the U.S. too, but we are also used to seeing a wider range of body types. If you fall outside of the norm in France, it’s a lot more noticeable, and people judge you much more harshly if you are overweight than they do in the U.S.
What’s interesting, though, is how different the fitness culture is. In the U.S., the ideal body is thin and toned. We love our hot Pilates sessions, protein powders, and daily 10,000-step walks. And there is nothing wrong with that. It’s one of those weird paradoxes about the U.S.: on the whole, we are unhealthy, but at the same time, obsessed with wellness.
But in France, it’s not the same standard. A glass of wine and a cigarette still seem more on-brand. I don’t meet as many women here who are obsessed with fitness and eating clean. Of course, looking toned isn’t a bad thing, but it’s not as important to the French.
Yet, there is still a pressure to stay slim. A standard that hides behind phrases like bien dans sa peau (comfortable in your skin), while still maintaining that only a certain kind of skin is acceptable.
Read More: 7 French Diet Tips to Eat Like the French and Stay Healthy
How Paris Beauty Standards Differ
It’s easy to talk about French beauty standards like they apply everywhere equally, but if you’ve spent any time in France, you know that’s not the case.
In Paris, for example, I’ve noticed that French women are held to higher standards than women in other parts of France. It’s not that surprising since cities in general tend to demand more when it comes to just about everything.
And even that depends on where you are in Paris. In certain arrondissements, especially the wealthier ones, you will see women who appear much more put together (and probably have the means to afford more pricy beauty treatments).
Here in Strasbourg, I’ve noticed that the standards are a bit more relaxed, and if you go to smaller villages, even more.
Final Thoughts on French Beauty Standards
The truth is, French beauty standards are just that: standards. They come with expectations, contradictions, and unspoken rules. While there’s no single right way to look, the French remind us that there is joy in doing less and in owning your flaws.
If you’ve watched my series on TikTok, you know that I still maintain many of my American beauty habits. I love my press-on nails, whitening toothpastes and voluminous blowouts, but living in France has also allowed me to embrace my uniqueness more.
What do you think about these French beauty standards? Let me know in the comments below.
