\n
Few aesthetics sing a beautiful song as quietly as the beauty of the French girl. The bobs are almost choppy and fall around her face, her clay skin is free of heavy foundations, with rosy pink cheeks, cool glasses, bare lashes and a classic red lip. A dominant theme that ties French elegance together in a neat bow? A laissez-faire approach to cool self-care.<\/p>\n
And while it’s no doubt fanciful, French girl beauty has proven to be cookie-cutter for nearly a decade. When Polish hairdresser Antoine Cierplikowski first cut the gar\u00e7one bob on Coco Chanel in the 1920s, the gold standard for French beauty was set. And now, 100 years later, the house of Chanel is redefining the beauty of the French girl with the launch of its Rouge Noir cosmetics collection.<\/p>\n\nTaking perhaps one of the most iconic French beauty products ever created, Chanel’s Rouge Noir nail polish and its dark, almost crimson color, has come to symbolize chic Francominimalism\u2014deep yet refined, statement-making yet understated. And now, Rouge Noir is redefining the codes of French makeup.<\/p>\n
In 2026, the year in which maximalist makeup is seeing a resurgence (a movement that has long been considered the antithesis of the minimalism of French girls), we welcome a new era of French makeup beauty. Chanel UK makeup artist Anna Payne <\/strong>it shows us how the French girl has a new look: young, sweet and very brave.<\/p>\n\n\n
\n
<\/picture><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n(Photo credit: Lulu McArdle; Beauty: No.1 de CHANEL Serum-In-Mist, CHANEL Baume Essentiel Rouge Noir in Cute, CHANEL Stylo Sourcils Haute Pr\u00e9cision in 160 \u00c9b\u00e8ne, CHANEL Noir Allure in 67 Rouge Noir, CHANEL 1 Flavet de CHANEL 4 All Chanel Rouge Body Serum-In-Mist, CHANEL Rouge Allure Laque in 167 Rouge Noir)<\/p>\n<\/figure>\n
Pink cheeks and “bouche mordue” lips? A French-girl classic. But in 2026, this looks funnier and fresher than ever. While the blush is still lightly dusted on the cheeks and the red lipstick is brushed on the lips from the bullet to the finger, the placement creates a modern effect. Blush is placed high on the cheek towards the hairline, and finished with dabs of glow, while a cool lipstick is spread beyond the lip line.<\/p>\n\n\n
\n
(Photo credit: Lulu McArdle; Beauty: No.1 de CHANEL Serum-In-Mist, CHANEL Baume Essentiel Rouge Noir in Cute, CHANEL Stylo Sourcils Haute Pr\u00e9cision in 160 \u00c9b\u00e8ne, CHANEL Noir Allure in 67 Rouge Noir, CHANEL 1 Flavet de CHANEL 4 All Chanel Rouge Body Serum-In-Mist)<\/p>\n<\/figure>\n
The finishing touch? Dirty eyeliners and deep taupes are considered the French uniform, but this season, things are going gray. A cool-toned gray wash is swept over the lids to keep things light, bright and breezy.<\/p>\n\n\n
\n
(Photo credit: Lulu McArdle; Beauty: No.1 de CHANEL Serum-In-Mist, CHANEL Baume Essentiel Rouge Noir in Cute, CHANEL Stylo Sourcils Haute Pr\u00e9cision in 160 \u00c9b\u00e8ne, CHANEL Noir Allure in 67 Rouge Noir, CHANEL Noir 8 in All Rouge in All Novet. CHANEL Body Serum-In-Mist, CHANEL La Cr\u00e8me Main)<\/p>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n
\n
(Photo credit: Lulu McArdle; Beauty: No.1 de CHANEL Serum-In-Mist, CHANEL Baume Essentiel Rouge Noir in Cute, CHANEL Stylo Sourcils Haute Pr\u00e9cision in 160 \u00c9b\u00e8ne, CHANEL Noir Allure in 67 Rouge Noir, CHANEL Noir 8 in All Rouge in All Novet. CHANEL Body Serum-In-Mist Nails: CHANEL La Base Cam\u00e9lia, CHANEL Le Vernis in 397 Rouge Noir, CHANEL Le Gel Coat, CHANEL La Cr\u00e8me Main)<\/p>\n<\/figure>\n
While a bare face, with red lips has long been synonymous with French girl beauty, this year, we’re seeing a change. The red of the pillar-box is replaced by deeper moodier shades. The premise is always the same: make a statement with one color while everything else stays fixed.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\nKeeping skin plump, matte and natural-looking, the texture of the color is also yours to play with\u2014whether you’re looking for a matte, split finish or a glossy sheen added to a sharp, stenciled lip.<\/p>\n\n\n
\n
(Photo credit: Lulu McArdle; Beauty: No.1 de CHANEL Serum-In-Mist, CHANEL Les Beiges Bronzing Cream in Soleil Tan Bronze, CHANEL Rouge Noir Confidence Eyeshadow and Blush Palette, CHANEL Stylo Sourcils Haute Pr\u00e9cision in 160 Conlomb e School in 160, O0\u00c9b8 Rouge Noir, CHANEL Noir Allure in 67 Rouge Noir, CHANEL Rouge Allure Velvet in 357 Irr\u00e9v\u00e9rente)<\/p>\n<\/figure>\n
A smoky French eye is the stuff of sultry perfection; Dirty taupe kohl and misty gray extending below the lower lash line have proved a staple since Jane Birkin dominated the look in the 1960s, paired with a muted cut of liner. The high level of 2026 resides entirely in the color selection. Instead of the usual browns, we’re going for plummy burgundies with a sheeny finish.<\/p>\n\n\n
\n
(Photo credit: Lulu McArdle; Beauty: No.1 de CHANEL Serum-In-Mist, CHANEL Les Beiges Bronzing Cream in Soleil Tan Bronze, CHANEL Rouge Noir Confidence Eyeshadow and Blush Palette, CHANEL Stylo Sourcils Haute Pr\u00e9cision in 160 Conlomb e School in 160, O0\u00c9b8 Rouge Noir, CHANEL Noir Allure in 67 Rouge Noir, CHANEL Rouge Allure Velvet in 357 Irr\u00e9v\u00e9rente)<\/p>\n<\/figure>\n
This new smoky eye proves to be more versatile than ever. The color can be dabbed onto the lids with fingers for a wearable daytime look, or paired with a Birkin-esque cut-crease and more defined edges for an after-dark option. The doll-like lashes also take on a softer look as we swap black mascara for a darker shade of burgundy.<\/p>\n\n\n
\n
(Photo credit: Lulu McArdle; Beauty: No.1 de CHANEL Serum-In-Mist, CHANEL Baume Essentiel Rouge Noir in Cute, CHANEL Ombre Essentielle in 267 Brun Rose, CHANEL Stylo Sourcils Haute Pr\u00e9cision in 160 \u00c9b\u00e8ne, Ob\u00e8ne Conumb CHANEL in Noirt 08 in Noir-Essentielle CHANEL Noir Allure in 67 Rouge Noir, CHANEL Rouge Allure Velvet in 387 Rouge Noir)<\/p>\n<\/figure>\n
While French girl wonder beauty may call to mind baguette-clad, jean-and-T-shirt-wearing women roaming the streets of Le Marais, a little French girl may walk home down the Champs-\u00c9lys\u00e9es at 3 a.m. with her heels swinging in her hand\u2014and she’s not afraid to play. Bright purple, chrome finish, winged liner and full coverage bases are never out of the question.<\/p>\n