French makeup brands open a world of beauty – from luxurious, high-end products to affordable French pharmacy makeup.
France is as notorious for its exclusive cosmetics as its fashion. This article walks you through the humble beginnings of the most iconic French beauty brands through to their latest and best-selling products.
Whether you’re a makeup lover on the next flight to Paris to stock up on Parisian beauty staples or browsing the internet for the best online French makeup products, this article is a must-read.
We will discuss the top French cosmetic brands and their must-have beauty staples that never fail to deliver.
19 Best French Makeup Brands
Here are some of the best French brands beauty experts swear by to achieve that classy French girl’s look.
1. Dior
Dior is known for more than its timeless fashion and coveted perfume range.
Dior Beauty is also one of the largest French makeup brands, offering an exquisite range of beauty products.
Christian Dior, one of the most famous French people, started Dior in 1946. However, the French brand only claimed its beginning in 1947, after the first fashion collection debuted.
Years later, in 1953, Rouge Dior lipstick was launched, offering eight unique lip shades.
Top Dior makeup products:
Diorshow Iconic Overcurl Mascara – French girls’ favorite
Dior Forever Clean Matt Foundation
Dior Addict Set – lip balm and gloss
2. Lancôme
Lancôme, named after the remains of the historical French castle “château de Lancosme” was founded by Armand Petitjean back in 1935.
Lancôme initially started as a fragrance house that quickly expanded to skincare in 1936 with Nutrix, a multi-tasking repair cream.
Two years later, Lancôme introduced its cosmetic range with rose-scented pink-red lipstick.
After over 80 years and two Nobel Prizes, Lancôme remains a world-leading luxury cosmetic and the epitome of makeup brands in France.
Lancôme’s success did not go unnoticed by L’Oréal. The brand added Lancôme to its luxury beauty range in 1964.
Top Lancôme makeup products:
L’absolu Rouge Intimatte Lipstick
Teint Idole Ultra Wear Care & Glow Serum Foundation – a liquid foundation that enhances your natural glow
Hypnose 5-Color Eyeshadow Palette
Le 8 Hypnose Instant Full Body Volume Mascara
3. Chanel
Chanel is a one-of-a-kind French makeup brand that needs no introduction!
While it all started in a tiny hat boutique on Malesherbes Boulevard in Paris in 1909, it quickly unleashed into an industry-changing French fashion, fragrance, and cosmetics brand.
In 1924, French designer Gabrielle Coco Chanel ventured into cosmetics, launching a face powder and highly pigmented lipstick collection, which became a favorite brand among French models and actresses.
If you’ve ever wanted to invest in makeup from Paris, here’s your chance. The signature interlocking C’s will take you straight to “the city of light.”
Top Chanel makeup products:
Le Rouge Duo Ultra Tenue liquid lip color
Vitalumiere Aqua Skin Perfecting SPF 15
Stylo Yeux Waterproof Eyeliner
4. Givenchy
Hubert de Givenchy’s ascent to fame began in 1952 after opening the doors of his self-named Parisian couture house.
In the following year, Givenchy met Audrey Hepburn.
Instantly allured by her charm and youthful spirit, he created L’Interdit, his first fragrance. However, the fragrance was only released in 1957.
In 1989, Givenchy debuted luxury French skincare and makeup lines.
Le Prisme Visage was the first makeup product launched, offering women full sculpting freedom with his innovative four-in-one face powder.
Today, Givenchy beauty remains on the front line of cutting-edge makeup brands in France.
Top Givenchy makeup products:
Teint Couture Embellishing Concealer
Prisme Libre Loose 4-in-1 Powder
Le Rouge Interdit Satin Lipstick
Mister Light Instant Corrective Pen
5. Sisley Paris
Sisley Paris is formed on over 80 years of research and experience. In 1976, Hubert d’Ornano and his wife Isabelle launched the independent French luxury brand.
Today, this French makeup brand develops products based on phytocosmetology – cosmetics made from botanical extracts for all skin types.
The company is renowned for its exceptional French makeup products, including essentials like foundation, lipstick, and mascara.
Top Sisley Paris makeup products:
Le Phyto Rouge PHYTO care lipstick
Phyto-Teint Ultra Eclat fluid foundation
6. T.LeClerc
In 1881, Théophile LeClerc, a visionary chemist, created his first Dermophile rice face powder at his pharmacy in Paris.
The soft, lightweight powder effectively enhances and corrects one’s complexion, evening out skin tone. So, he proceeded to make 12 different shades.
As a complexion-correcting pioneer, LeClerc now offers a broad range of skin-friendly cosmetics and skin care products under the company name T.LeClerc.
Top T.LeClerc makeup products:
7. Talika
The unique history of Talika started during World War II when specialized eye nurse Danielle Roches formulated a healing balm to treat burn victims in Paris hospitals.
She soon noticed that the plant-derived balm dramatically stimulated eyelash and eyebrow growth, leading to the discovery of the now iconic LIPOCILS.
Since its creation, it hasn’t fallen short of combining innovative technologies, natural ingredients, and age-old traditions to create skincare and makeup products that unleash an array of benefits.
If you have the opportunity to explore makeup brands in France, Talika’s is a hidden gem worth visiting.
The headquarters are in Paris, hiding between boutiques and patisseries near the Eiffel Tower.
Top Talika makeup products:
Bio Enzymes Anti-Aging Neck Mask
8. Yves Saint Laurent
“I wanted a face for the woman I dress” – Yves Saint Laurent.
Yves Saint Laurent started working for Christian Dior in the 1950s and went on to launch his namesake fashion house in 1961.
In 1978, Saint Laurent finally introduced his Yves Saint Laurent beauty line to the world with a striking red lip.
And a year later, the Rouge Pur Lipstick No. 19 debut was made. The blue-toned fuchsia lipstick remains YSL’s best-selling lipstick.
Take yourself to the Paris Runways with Yves Saint Laurent’s bold beauty makeup products.
Top Yves Saint Laurent makeup products:
YSL Touche Éclat All-Over Brightening Pen
Rouge Pur Couture Pigmented Lipstick
Yves Saint All Hours Foundation
9. By Terry
Terry de Gunzburg left her first mark in the beauty industry by creating countless French makeup products for Yves Saint Laurent cosmetics for 15 years, including the iconic Touche Éclat concealer mentioned earlier.
In 1998, Terry decided to launch her own cosmetic line – By Terry.
Then, in 2004, an accidental lab mix-up where double the rose butter was added to her lip balm led to her most successful product – Baume de Rose.
Beauty designer—that’s how she refers to herself, hinting her inspiration and approach to makeup comes from luxury fashion.
Terry also created the Hyaluronic Hydra-Powder, the very first clean mattifying setting powder. This kicked off into Terry’s one-of-a-kind Hyaluronic Range.
Investing in French makeup brands like By Terry will leave you with a radiant, healthy, and invisible complexion.
Top By Terry makeup products:
Brightening CC Serum – celebrity makeup artist Nikki DeRoest’s favorite for an extra glow
Hyaluronic Hydra-Foundation – full-coverage foundation
Terrybly Growth Booster Mascara
10. Guerlain
Guerlain is a French luxury brand with a history that dates back to 1828.
The Guerlain beauty empire started when Pierre-François Pascal Guerlain opened the first Guerlain Parfumerie in Paris.
Soon after, Guerlain had his hand in Parisian skincare and cosmetics. His brand was one of the first commercial lipstick brands (before then, lip color was a homemade product made with beeswax and plant dyes).
Few French makeup brands get to claim nearly 200 years of history and success! So do yourself a favor and give Guerlain’s luxury cosmetics a try.
Top Guerlain makeup products:
Rouge Shine Automatique Lipstick
Noir Maxi Lash Volume Creating Curl Sculpting Mascara
Meteorites Light Revealing Pearls of Powder
11. Laura Mercier
Laura Mercier enrolled in Carita Beauty Institute at age 17 and soon became a world-renowned makeup artist and teacher.
In 1996, Laura launched Laura Mercier Cosmetics to help all woman attain their full beauty potential.
During its short heritage, Laura has changed the makeup industry with her iconic makeup products.
Top Laura Mercier makeup products:
RoseGlow Caviar Stick Eye Color
Translucent Loose Setting Powder Glow
Tinted Moisturizer Natural Skin Perfector SPF 30
Secret Camouflage Concealer Duo
12. Bourjois
In Paris, 1863, Alexandre Napoleon Bourjois founded Bourjois. After being uninspired and aloof with theatre stage makeup, he founded the very first powder blush.
Little did Bourjois know that his lightweight alternative would remain a best-seller after almost 150 years.
In 1956, Bourjois started a lipstick revolution by releasing the famous Rouge Fidèle 12-shade makeup collection.
Bourjois is one of the affordable yet reliable French makeup brands. You won’t regret filling your makeup bag with these essentials.
Top Bourjois makeup products:
Bourjois Rouge Edition Velvet Liquid Lipstick
Healthy Mix Anti-Fatigue Foundation
Twist Up The Volume Black Mascara
13. Make Up For Ever
Make Up For Ever is a collective group of makeup artists that co-create innovative and supreme-quality cosmetics.
Makeup artist Dany Sanz initially created the company. After starting a successful makeup school in Europe in the 70s, Dany began to formulate her own products.
In Paris, she first launched the Make Up For Ever cosmetics in 1984. The French brand was later owned by LVMH in 1999, where it accelerated in growth.
Make Up For Ever is one of many iconic French makeup brands. However, Make Up For Ever allows you to unleash your personal edge with highly pigmented and high-performance products.
Top Make Up For Ever makeup products:
HD Skin Undetectable Longwear Foundation
Rouge Artist Intense Color Beautifying Lipstick
Mist & Fix Makeup Setting Spray
14. Yves Rocher
In 1959, Yves Rocher launched the Yves Rocher brand to make beauty accessible to all women.
His vision was for women to reconnect with nature and stay true to themselves regardless of age or status.
He opened his first Yves Rocher boutique at 43 Boulevard Haussmann in Paris.
Despite constant change and development, the Yves Rocher brand stands firm on the foundations of respecting the world and maintaining a unique vision of beauty.
Yves Rocher is one of the few iconic French makeup brands that remain affordable, high-quality, and natural.
Top Yves Rocher makeup products:
15. L’Oréal Paris
In 1909, Eugène Schueller, the young chemist, founded the L’Oréal company after formulating and selling one of the first hair dyes to Parisian hairdressers.
In the eighties, more women started taking on public and work roles. In turn, L’Oréal Paris launched a makeup and skincare range with the vision of helping women face the world when feeling good and looking young.
Today, L’Oréal Paris is a multinational French makeup brand that offers high-quality drugstore makeup products at affordable prices.
Top L’Oréal Paris makeup products:
Infallible Pro Last 2 Step Lipstick
Voluminous Lash Paradise Mascara
16. Les Filles en Rouje
Rouje has a young history. However, this brand may just be the upcoming cult French cosmetics brand.
In 2016, the influencer Jeanne Damas turned idealized French beauty into an inspiring business.
She came about the name by marrying her signature rouge lipstick with the first letter of her name, creating Rouje.
Rouje has made its unique mark among all the timeless French makeup brands.
You will experience a free and colorful take on beauty when using the classic lip palettes applied with your finger.
Top Rouje makeup products:
17. 1944 Paris
1944 Paris is a new Parisian cosmetics brand. The Delrieu family founded 1944 Paris in 2017, giving it its iconic name in remembrance of the year France women obtained freedom and the right to vote.
This French beauty brand, 1944 Paris, aims to renew the vision of beauty by providing innovative products with high-quality, responsible ingredients.
At the same time, 1944 Paris strives to portray femininity through softness, grace, strength, and assertiveness.
Top 1944 Paris makeup products:
La Base Levres Universelle Primer
La Couleur Levres Et Joues Ariel All-in-One Lipstick, Lip Contour Pencil, and Blush
18. Clarins
“Beauty has become an important element in a woman’s psychological makeup.” – Jacques Courtin-Clarins.
In 1954, Jacques Courtin started Clarins, a French luxury skincare brand. Monsieur Courtin made skin-firming treatment oils that he sold from his salon at 35 Rue Tronchée, Paris.
Clarins hit the best-selling French luxury skincare by 1980, expanding to the US in 1981.
Along with Sisley Paris, Clarins was one of the first skincare brands to experiment with phyto-cosmetology and to stop testing on animals.
Then, in 1991, Clarins launched an anti-pollution cosmetics line that revealed the natural beauty of every woman.
Top Clarins makeup products:
Skin Illusion Hydrating Foundation
19. Violette
Violette Serrat is a Paris-born visionary that started studying fine arts at the prestigious Paris’ École du Louvre.
She soon discovered that she preferred painting faces to canvases but credited her training to her deep understanding of color.
In 2012, Violette was recruited as the international makeup designer for Dior Beauty. Then, in 2017, she became Estée Lauder’s global beauty director.
In March, Violette launched her eponymous Violette cosmetics brand.
She partnered with Guerlain to continue to empower all women to embrace their authenticity without feeling pressured to ascribe to unrealistic standards.
Top Violette makeup products:
Yeux Paint Liquid Eyeshadow & Liner
Baume Shine Universal Highlighter
Final Words on French Beauty Brands
We hope these products can enhance your French makeup routine.
From high-end makeup brands, such as YSL and Dior, to affordable makeup brands, like Yves Rocher and L’Oreal, these companies offer excellent products for every woman, from sensitive skin to oily skin.
19 Best French Makeup Brands
1. Dior
2. Lancôme
3. Chanel
4. Givenchy
5. Sisley Paris
6. T.LeClerc
7. Talika
8. Yves Saint Laurent
9. By Terry
10. Guerlain
11. Laura Mercier
12. Bourjois
13. Make Up For Ever
14. Yves Rocher
15. L’Oréal Paris
16. Rouje
17. 1944 Paris
18. Clarins
19. Violette
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