- My beauty routine has changed significantly since moving from Boston to Paris about six years ago.
- French women tend to wear less makeup, so I no longer use foundation or eye shadow every day.
- I’ve learned to embrace my natural brows and less elaborate hairstyles.
As an American who’s lived in France for about six years, I’ve made some dramatic changes to my beauty regimen.
Though I regularly wore several makeup products back in Boston, I’ve since narrowed my routine down to four things: a tinted serum, a blush stick, clear brow gel, and mascara.
Here are nine ways I changed my beauty routine throughout my years in Paris.
I no longer wear full-coverage foundation
I’ve never been the type to wear a full face of makeup, but a mid-coverage option like a BB cream was always a staple in my makeup routine in the US.
Since moving to Paris, I’ve worn a tinted base (sometimes mixed with moisturizer) on my face five times a month at the most.
One of the first things I noticed in Paris was how little makeup most French women wear.
In Boston, you’d be hard-pressed to find a woman with a bare face at a bar on a Friday night. But in Paris, it’s the norm.
In France, I felt I had permission to go natural for the first time. It might sound silly, but seeing so many women embrace their natural beauty motivated me to join the bare-faced party.
I’ve learned to embrace natural brows
Filling my thin, blonde eyebrows with a pencil was part of my makeup routine in the US.
Because my hair is so light and fine, I felt it necessary to draw on my eyebrows to fit in with the thick, defined-brow trend that’s popular in the US.
Since moving to Paris, I simply use a clear Benefit gel to create a laminated look that stays in place.
I no longer use as much product on my lips
I always thought French girls wore red lipstick, but one of the first things I noticed when I moved to Paris was the lack of bright lips.
Though some women will rock a red lip, it’s much less common than I expected.
I always wore lipstick or a stain on a night out in the US, but since moving to Paris, I either go bare-lipped or wear a lip oil.
I don’t go for super noticeable highlighters anymore
In the US, it wasn’t uncommon to see people wearing a shimmery, glowy highlight on a night out.
But now, I can’t remember the last time I used a highlighter.
In France, I typically opt for a shimmery face oil, like the one from NUXE Paris, or a multipurpose balm for a subtle but natural glow.
These oils and lotions double as skincare while providing a nice shine.
Mascara is the only product I use on my eyes
Most women I meet in Paris don’t wear eyeshadow or eyeliner. Instead, they typically only wear mascara on their top lashes.
Back in Boston, I would attempt heavier eye looks because I was surrounded by women with gorgeous smoky eyes.
Now, I stick to just mascara. Getting ready is much faster, and I have less makeup to remove at the end of the night.
Plus, I can finally stop pretending I know how to do eyeliner.
I prioritize skincare over makeup
Since being bare-faced is the vibe in Pairs, French women seem to prioritize skincare over makeup, and I’ve followed suit.
My skincare now includes a multistep morning routine and a separate nighttime regimen.
When I lived in the US, my skincare routine included an under-eye caffeine roller, a serum from whatever random brand I found at T.J. Maxx that week, moisturizer, and the occasional sheet mask.
Now, I invest in lots of products from brands I love (my favorites are Typology and La Roche-Posay), and getting ready is focused more on skincare and less on makeup.
I believe my skincare routine has completely improved my complexion, as my face seems plumper, more radiant, and brighter.
I get more high-maintenance treatments than I did before
I’m not sure if it’s a direct result of moving to France or a byproduct of aging, but I started doing preventive treatments throughout the last five years.
I get Botox on my forehead twice a year, lip filler every two years or so, Hydrafacials (microdermabrasion-like treatments) every few months, and my eyebrows laminated regularly.
I’ve found that the French woman’s approach to preventive medicine is subtle and discreet and enhances the features you already have.
The work I’ve had done is very minimal, to the point where most people in my life don’t notice a difference.
I hardly ever wear a set of false lashes
Wearing a set of false lashes in the US seems like the most normal thing in the world, as some people wear a set each time they go out.
I’d throw on a set of lashes if I felt spicy on a Friday night and always had a few pairs stocked at home.
Since moving to Paris, I’ve worn false lashes a total of five times. Natural looks reign king over here, so false lashes aren’t common.
I rarely style my hair
Though I’ve always loved self-care, I’m a big fan of how much time I save doing my hair in France.
In the US, I spent hours curling, straightening, and styling my hair. Here in France, however, a more natural, messy hair look is the go-to.
Now, doing my hair takes about one-quarter of the time it used to.
I either air-dry my hair or put waves in it with the Shark FlexStyle curling-wand attachment and brush my fingers through it.
I’ve embraced messy hair, and I love it.
This story was originally published on January 8, 2024, and most recently updated on November 19, 2024.
