I spent $400 chasing the French girl fantasy...

[@becominghumanagain]

Actually french women, like, barely wear any makeup. just thought i'd get ahead of this one for you lmao

[@kackie]

Hahahahahahaha

[@rachellopez8357]

But what’s also true is that they spend a lot of time thinking about their aesthetic, and I wouldn’t be surprised if it took the average Parisian lady half an hour to apply all that low-key makeup

[@lindsaykill1702]

@@rachellopez8357came to the comments to say this. My experience in France was both lovely/magical/life changing AND the homogeneous fashion was fucking lame, the blatant racism was disturbing, and everyone’s obsession with the pop of color on the lips (whatever color that may be but obviously many French women bent toward that Chanel red) was just… uninteresting. Don’t get me started on diet culture there. Are French women stunning? You betcha. But I don’t think Kackie is totally off base when she says she has to work REALLY HARD to pull off this “effortlessness”.

[@lindsaykill1702]

Also, Kackie, keep practicing! My experience was that French people love when people make the effort to try to speak the language. And they are really willing to help you learn! Again, just my experience. As always, your content is wonderful. Thank you for all the knowledge you impart! ❤

[@disney.daze.55]

Like everyone says with these looks…I think you’re doing too much lol. Anytime I see the look you aspire to, like Violette, she focuses on one thing. For the products you have, if you used shadow and liner, no lip. Maybe clear balm. If you want the contrast lip, no shadow. Minimal mascara. No liner, or maybe just tight line. As far as I can tell, with French makeup it is not about balance. One thing sticks out. Lips. Eyes. Brows. Whatever…but it’s the one thing. Even if it’s a nude shadow, as soon as you add in the second one to add in the socket contrast you’ve already done too much. Oh, and with the blush, maybe it’s the placement more than the shade. If it was less on the cheeks and higher up on the cheekbones towards the temples. For the boyish essence, I’d just balance the complexion, find a lip color that works, do brows and mascara. And literally nothing else.

[@eugeniedenardis8956]

Here are my 2 cents. By the way, I'm French: The point of difference in the analysis of your face is that you described your skin as "messy" when I saw it as natural and radiant. I would have only used the concealer, not the shiny stuff, the first blush, not the second. Transparency is allowing your skin to shine. As my mum used to tell me, enhance your best features, choose something that makes you feel like a million bucks and you will radiate. It's about finding your signature makeup style for you, yourself. Not the trend or fad. That only helps you access the best hues and tones that complement you. As you focus on contrast, or lack of, again, a bit of tension adds the "je ne sais quoi". In conclusion, french women wear make-up to enhance, suggest more than to highlight. Hence why you will never find highly pigmented and glittery eye shadows. As for the red lipstick, again it's about finding the hue, tone, and chroma that suits you. Lastly, the answer is in your title: fantasy. It's an illusion! Only foreigners describe the French style as being effortless. We, French women, know that it is a journey of self-acceptance and self-assurance that takes time, research, and mistakes along the way. So my advice to you is to find your uniqueness, to embrace it and to enjoy the process and to stop trying to be something you're not. All this is said with love and compassion, by the way. We are all perfect in out imperfections!

[@lolal-t2027]

Si bien dit💜

[@eugeniedenardis8956]

@@lolal-t2027 merci

[@ira_herself997]

You didn’t mention anything about the blush on the nose which is something I personally believe it’s to be avoided as it gives “my skin is burning from the sun since I never heard of SPF” vibes. I used to work for a luxury makeup French brand and I feel it’s not classy. I might be wrong.

[@lolal-t2027]

@@ira_herself997 no you are totally right. I am french and I wear it all the time, but I dont feel as though it fits the « classy » vibe the americans call the french girl aesthetic

[@AmberSpecter1999]

In conclusion, the true french girl makeup is the friends we made along the way

[@gardenia77]

American here who lived in France. I think what you are missing is that you are trying to emulate "a girl with the perfect features for high contrast and perfect skin that looks like it has no makeup". And then you try to create the illusion of that with your artistic skills. You have the idea wrong. Maybe it is because you are relying on a very few examples of "the French girl" look from social media. French girls do not try to look perfect. French girls embrace "flaws" and actually value them as individual beauty. Seriously. They also do not see some things as flaws at all. No French girl would EVER try to hide your beautiful freckles. So, you have to start by shifting your incorrect vision of the French girl look. Also, it is not true that every French girl wears high contrast. I was friends with a woman with coloring almost identical to you and she also had a "boy" essence about her. When she did wear red lips, it was a warmer color, and she did not worry about trying to put another color on her face so that it came across as "French girl red". Also, since she was low contrast, she only put a small amount and smudged it, so that there were no definite outlines and the color was a low contrast, not defined smudge of color on her lips. She would also smudge a bit onto her cheeks. A bit! A tiny amount. And she was done. Usually not even mascara. And she also didn't wear red on the regular. Usually it would be a different shade altogether that she found complimentary. Probably smegma she vent enhanced the cult of her own lips. French girls do not wear full eyes, lips, and blush. Ever. And none are multiple layers of several colors. They may do a TINY bit of blush aling with lips OR eyes, bu it depends. They are not going to do a toned eyeshadow with liner and mascara and then add bronzer to balance out the lip color. No. French girls do not try to hide the flaws in their skin with foundation and concealer. They may use a bit if concealer to take emphasis off if dark circles or hide a pimple. But it will be a more translucent one that can easily blend in with their bare skin. Yes, French girls are very careful about their skincare, but when blemishes happen, they do not prefer a heavier masking Mateo effect over just having a blemish. I am no artist, but my mother is a master artist and watching you apply your makeup reminds me of watching the steps in her portraits. I am ignorant to art terms, so forgive me. You are obviously a talented artist and so you are approaching your face the same. You are using your expertise on color theory and you start with a base to create a canvas. But French girls don't do that. You'll never achieve it trying to start with a perfect canvas. Then you use your skills to build contrast and contour back in. Like you're painting a portrait of a French girl. It's just never going to work. So, ditch the idea of high contrast. Ditch the idea of covering your freckles or concealing to the point you have to build color back in. Pick eyes OR lips. I say start with lips. Smudge a lipstick on in a color and contrast level that matches YOU. Smudge a TINY bit into your cheeks. No brushes. No two colors trying to build contour. No eyeshadow. Try no mascara. Maybe just a swipe. No eyeliner. That will be the French girl look. And, yes, French girls use bronzer, but not with full eyeshadow and full lips and heavy blush. So, just because a product is sold with other makeup doesn't mean they use it all together. And not heavily. They would swipe it on the right places messily with their smudge of lipstick for example. But they would not use it as contour or be precise like Americans do. I love these chatty videos. It's fun to experiment "with" you

[@rebekkakhigson]

Wow, what a great comment! I was also thinking while watching that it is all very analytical. And that exactly is NOT the french vibe. Don’t think too much, feel more if it feels right or not.

[@notjustirene]

100% when do this kind of undone look, I do a smudged red matte lip (so it becomes more translucent) a little concealer to hide some imperfections and then some bronzer. I skip brows, blush… It’s as Coco Chanel said: always take away one thing when you think you’re done to make it look effortless.

[@laurenceapitz1678]

this is 100% correct, in France women don’t have a perfect canvas, and we love freckles. people would just stare at you if you had a full face of makeup and colored eyeshadow, especially in Paris.

[@jibberjabber3477]

❤ 100%

[@amyherrick6772]

100% this as someone who lived in france for almost a decade, No Parisian girl ever wears all these products or puts this much effort in it.. it looks effortless because it's .. effortless. Only a red lip or lip gloss with mascara. Never all these products at once. Also I agree with everyone who said "stop!" at around the 8 minute mark.. I thought you looked so good there. Just add some lip balm and call it a day; the first blush was perfect. Absolutely love your channel and content but the French Girl look perhaps isn't great for youtube bc it's really like "put on 2 or 3 products and go" .. watch how Violette Fr does her GRWM videos; she uses very little. I think you could look great like that too.. it's just different than what you normally do. Also agree with the other post on here regarding your inner artist who cannot stop applying. But I LOVE your content! :)

[@annetteprice]

It’s the eye shadow, that’s your downfall here. I have smaller eyes too, and fuller lips, so I get it. But the biggest part of this aesthetic is embracing our natural beauty, not leaning on makeup to “balance” things out. I agree with the others saying that if you simply evened out your complexion and then chose to emphasize *one* thing only, you’d have nailed this aesthetic. You looked great between 8-9 minutes. Just add one more thing - mascara, lips, whatever - and then 🛑!

[@rinwesley3092]

I was just thinking the same thing! She didn't need the eyeshadow.

[@tdreamer25]

@@rinwesley3092 I think they follow the rule of wearing just eyeshadow or just lips. you are right though after minute 9 if she wore a red lip that would be it

[@elizabethshittu3275]

Yes. Agreed the eyes and cheeks and lips killed the French look. Especially since they were all the same color palette.

[@PlugInKali]

If you're low contrast and want a French girl look, just do your brows and mascara, conceal where needed, use bronzer or blush if you want to and apply some lip balm. Done. (Oh, and if you're feeling extra fancy, add a winged eyeliner)

[@samjames9298]

Yeah, all that eyeshadow looks lovely but it isn’t giving effortless French girl.

[@Kelly-pp1et]

@@samjames9298it doesn’t look lovely at all. Just put tiny bit of bronzer on your eyelids to warm it up and that’s it.

[@halesbellss]

I think the wing is Americans doing French makeup and still not losing the wing.

[@whybekwhy]

I honestly think the artist in you gets in your way--speaking as another artist. You know how it takes a while to learn when to step back from a painting? Until you do, everything you produce looks... overworked. There's no other way to phrase it. The makeup at the end of the video was LOVELY, but from the "effortless" standpoint, it was overworked. In pursuit of fine gradients and filled in colors and perfect undertones and your cosmetically-based celebration of color theory... the face becomes overworked--again, not in and of itself, but in relationship to this particular aesthetic you're breaking down in this video. I think this might be as relevant as the femme/boyish aspect, simply because I watch you reach the point of what (to me) looks both effortless and chic, in every video.. and then move past it as you tinker with the artistic nuances of the makeup. I say this with FULL AWARENESS that there is a gap between how something presents on camera, and how it presents in the real world. Now, don't get me wrong, I LOVE your artistic approach to your makeup, and that perspective is partially what sets your content apart. I personally love the looks you end up with. However, that nuanced and detail-oriented artistic take is somewhat opposed to that sense of effortlessness you're chasing. In order to seem effortless, the gradient needs to be imperfect. The edges need to be slightly unblended and messy. The balance needs to be off. It's those FLAWS that create that sense of effortlessness, and I think your artistic sensibilities just snatch you away from that every single time. At 8:39 where you're saying "This blush is too high contrast" all I could think is "No, it's perfect. Stop there. Stop. Add some mascara, maybe some tinted lip balm. You're DONE." The blush was too high contrast in the way cheeks actually tend to be when flushing rather than cosmetically accentuated. Imperfect, yes. Artistically off-center, yes. But not overworked. However, I think the nuance you value artistically prevents you from enjoying that look on YOUR face. I think Sam from Ye Olde Pixiwoo was fantastic at this... the messy, "I slapped it on in the back of an uber" type of makeup, and knowing when to stop in order to capture that sense of effortless chic.. something that I think those of us who see the world in terms of color, contrast, and composition... we have a hard time reconciling ourselves to a cosmetic aesthetic that's deliberately slightly "wrong." P.S. I think a huge part of the "French Girl" aesthetic (at least viewed from an American perspective) that we don't often talk about is the hair... that messy "can't be bothered" look always seems to extend to the hair as well, and I think that really matters. Most styles of makeup will look instantly more effortless with hair worn down, and with a bit of messy/air-dried texture. You'll be hard-pressed to find a good example of this French Girl aesthetic with hair either pulled back, the way you tend to prefer yours, or overly "done."

[@skiergirl4753]

If you had stopped at the first blush and added lipstick, you would have been there - you like to be more made up than is called for by the aesthetic

[@Monicalala]

This reminds me of John Maclean: trends are for the anxious

[@ZijnShayatanica]

I absolutely love that quote, especially as I'm only in the beginning of the video, hearing her agonize about how sorely she wants to belong & how she's tried tirelessly to force it to work, hahahah. Sounds anxious to me!!

[@ZijnShayatanica]

Not that I'm being condescending - I've hopped aboard the hype train only to find things that have definitively worked AND not worked for me. It's been a helpful artistic exercise now & again.

[@ottercat7]

It's so funny because I have French cousins and their French girlfriends happen to wear pretty heavy makeup. I'm talking like 2016 instagram baddie style makeup. So for people to say french women barely wear any is hilarious. As if an entire country of women are just a monolith LOL

[@kackie]

TRUE.

[@ferrulebeauty]

Piggybacking off of this! So true! I follow a bunch of French women influencers and makeup artists and they all have a full beat face. But I completely get and LOVE the idea of that cliche French girl aesthetic and use it on myself all of the time ❤

[@emmanuellecolombani]

Well, I'm french and always the only one wearing makeup in the room, that's so sad because I looove makeup and would enjoy seeing beautiful makeups... 😅

[@The_Viking_Highlander]

Exactement!

[@jessicad1953]

The majority of french women wears one or two makeup thing : mascara and lipstick / mascara and one eyeshadow / mascara and eyeliner or mascara and blush. But some of us like makeup like I do and I wear so much more 😅

[@angelicahorsman5439]

I feel like this look could be so FrenchGirl™️ if you did no eyeshadow and just did your usual brown kitten flick and mascara. Also your French Girl outfit is definitely a flowy button up instead of a frilly dress

[@jodieguess3002]

Oh, or even a soft Bambi eye all over the lid with what you mentioned! And her striped button up tops. ❤

[@kackie]

Interesting!!

[@fbmbassist]

Yes, I mentioned this in her previous video. Shouldn't use eye shadow, unless it's just a swipe of iridescent champagne. I know it's been joked already on this video, but it's true that less is better for this look.

[@trishhykes5574]

Ooo please try this Kackie!!

[@Rumpsterpup]

Agree. And I think she'll also look great in loose boyfriend blazer jacket aesthetic since she has that boyish essence.

[@izeruu]

girl if you wore just a little bit of red lipstick, you would have been done. you look like those beautiful effortless french girls tbh. love u

[@kackie]

With all due respect, I disagree 😂

[@giantcupofcoffee]

The French girl look is something I just don’t think I have an eye for. I feel like so much of it is about being thin and having bangs. And also it’s something that only seems to exist in stylized photos. (I say this as if I’m not currently wearing a free tshirt I got at work.)

[@kackie]

🤣🤣 omg bangs. Another thing I realized after trying so many times...don't. Work. For me.

[@Uhohlisa]

@@kackiegirl me too. I’ve wanted Bridget Bardot hair and bangs since 2004 and I just don’t have the face for the bangs :(

[@catherinemicheleadams1608]

So many people are giving you good perspective on angling for the French look. The thing I can offer, based on decades with French men and French families, is that neither brand is quintessentially French girl. There are so many French girls. For your form, think A.P.C. Think Saint James if you’re into nautical. Both would look great on you. And for makeup: it’s covering the “spots”, not covering the other things (dark circles, freckles), maybe a dusting of bronzer and slip of eyeliner, then either much mascara or a lip. It doesn’t need to be red. Hanging out with a group of Frenchies in NYC at a club, one woman said to me in astonishment: You don’t look American. I asked what she meant. She meant that I didn’t try to be perfect and put on so much makeup. You’re really beautiful; you could pull off the non-American look very well.

[@zoilalulu3798]

As a woman with huge boobs, I often yearn and fanaticize about how it would be to have small boobs, especially in the summer. Honestly, they're more of a nuisance than anything, especially because they are sexualized if I wear dresses. I don't even have to try to show cleavage. I will never be a mother so I don't even need them, lol.

[@thejulietocean]

Literally get “finally bras for small boobs” ads all the time and I’m like girl I wish 😭😂 I would love to experience zero boob sweat summers

[@erinnswan7063]

I always wished my breasts were removable. I hate the boob sweat, the pain my neck and back pain. I would get them reduced if I had the money.

[@nenjaboots]

@@thejulietoceanSAME!

[@annamoehagen3447]

I feel this so much

[@The_Viking_Highlander]

Oh yes. I feel this so much. Big boobs and heat do not mix. It's absolutely awful having a river running under there. Plus I always have to get two sizes larger in clothes that look ridiculous on my tiny frame. And the sexualisation of them causes such discomfort and anxiety. I love my boobs, but I wish I could wear what I want without being constantly harrassed or lasciviously glared at. I absolutely despise the male gaze. I just wanna punch them in the face! lol.

[@MusingOnBeauty]

My observations, as someone who lives near France and interacts with French women in professional settings (like, on trade shows for example) : red lipstick is indeed a thing, but for the rest, I often notice they wear a heavy matte base (think EL Double Wear), some bronzer, mascara and sometimes eyeliner. What I feeli like I don't see is eyeshadow, neither do I see a lot of (colorful) blush. I absolutely agree that this type of makeup works best on what Kibbe would call « dramatic essence » (think Sofia Loren bodytype). I never manage to look that effortless neither, I tend to overpolish and add too much eyeshadow :)

[@kackie]

Heavy. Matte. Base. Curveball 😳

[@PlanningNerd]

@@kackie I think it's an attempt to have flawless skin when they don't - Jeanne or Violette just have natural perfect skin, it's hard to compete :)

[@jenniferwilkins4349]

What about french tomboy?

[@annotherme7954]

It's not that deep. It's just a matter of accepting how good you look naturally. You started of with no makeup. Your skin already looked perfect and lovely, so the base was overkill. Next thing are your brows. They look too polished, too "done" for you to look natural. But even so, the overall issue is looking for perfection instead of a discreet enhancement. I'd recommend, no base, blush if you want (a translucent one) keeping it like a natural flush, choose eyes or lips as a focal point, and embrace the casual approach. Every "issue" you've spoken of when it comes to things that don't look good on you was invisible to my eyes. I think being in the makeup world sometimes alters your view so much that it changes your perception of reality. Try thinking "5 minute makeup to look fresh and healthy". Also, the whole "essence" and "contrast of complexion" trendy terms seem like traps to make beauty standards even more tricky.

[@gracenurse3365]

I think the real secret to French Girl makeup is to be born beautiful. (Oh yes, and naturally clear skin.)

[@kackie]

The clear skin thing geez

[@gracenurse3365]

@@kackie”We do not erase our flaws! These are what make us individual!” WTF, Frenchie?? That’s okay if you have, like, 1 cute, little scar/break running through an eyebrow… but what if you’re a normal person with about… 5 flaws??

[@gardenia77]

@gracenurse3365 French women really do don't put emphasis on hiding flaws. They do not strive to all have a singular "it" girl look. They do pay attention to skincare, but you will see much more diversity in features in France and women focus on highlighting whatever part of their body or face they really like and they like individuality. Noone is trying to place blush or contour to have certain shaped features. Now, weight is anther thing all together lol. I was chunky for France lol. But people still treated me like I was gorgeous. My French family members would make remarks when I ate outside of regular meals because they don't do that there and their culture is to say something if they think you are doing something unhealthy to yourself. It didn't bother me because I knew their intent. And it is a healthier lifestyle.

[@rachelsnow127]

Kackie is beautiful, not that you said she wasn't.

[@jessicad1953]

That's a myth :)

[@AyshaA-ml2rd]

When I think of french girl makeup, I think of sun kissed very pale olive skin, and a warm red lip. Marilyn cottilard for example. Alexa chung (though she’s not French). You can pull that off better than some natives. The bold red lip against the very pale complexion looks so flat and Dracula-like unless you actually have no makeup on whatsoever and you have a near flawless complexion, giving the no makeup makeup look.

[@cbeghin0514]

Grew up going to France to see my family over there and the “French girl” effortlessness is for sure from lack of effort relative to American standards. Like many comments have said, this is doing too much. Simple is the key-just like 2-3 discernible alterations allowed, no perfecting, no smoothing, no art project of the face. Think mascara + brushed brows + blush exclusively, or like lipstick and mascara and only a spot or two of concealer. I hung out with a girl who only wore a sheer wash of eye glitter and some mascara. No “base” with blending and smooth under eyes and no acne scars. She looked cool asf and it made sense with her overall look. It’s just hard to do so little if you A) enjoy doing a lot (like the process of make up) or B) are not used to seeing your made-up face looking still “imperfect” as a natural stopping point

[@AllezVous222]

There was an article on a now - defunct site called XOJane, entitled “What if I Don’t Want to be French Chic?” and it was so good, I wish I could share it with you. In it, the author talked about why the whole “French chic” thing just didn’t work for her, as an American. A few memorable parts: “I’m a peacock, a motherfuckin’ peacock.” “I know that our country is guilty for Tommy Bahamas, but we also have Tom Ford, Tom Fucking Ford.” Basically, the gist of the article was that as somebody who enjoyed being glamorous and pinup culture, the author felt that our country has just as much to be proud of when it comes to culture, fashion, etc.

[@racingrachel]

God I miss XOJane

[@llkoolbean4935]

Great point. I just came back from Paris and they all wear Levi's.😂

[@lunamcnally2062]

As someone who works from home, but when I leave the sanctum is wearing Micheline Pitt and PinupGirl dresses, and generally OVERDRESSED for any occasion, I love this post so much. People who work in airports get so happy when they see me. Tom Fucking Ford INDEED. Huzzah.

[@emiliesan2184]

thank you so much for your videos :) it's so interesting to get your point of view as an artist in makeup products and looks ;) the french girl aesthetic is just a myth really of a brunette with a red lip. I'm from Paris and this does not exist irl ;)

[@kackie]

Thank you for this. Seriously.

[@sebumpostmortem]

Aaaaaaaamen, ma cousine du nord😚.

[@SarahCoppin]

French women just really don't spend time/energy on makeup and they really love skincare. My mom is french and her and her whole family don't get excited about makeup but will enthusiastically talk about skincare and the perfect SPF for hours. When is comes to make up she owns a total of 5 products (3 everyday and 2 for "special occasion"). She wears mascara, a bit of brow pencil, and lip gloss everyday and if she's getting really fancy she uses bronzer - as an actual bronzer and an eyeshadow - and the tiniest bit of concealer. I feel like the not thinking about it/not caring is where the french-ness comes from? Who's to say!

[@smellyskin]

I think you need to get your makeup done by someone else to see that you can probably pull off a lot of looks that you think you cant. I think you have a lot of knowledge in color theory and art, etc, that it causes you to be too analytical. Just slap on some makeup and dont think too much about it. Thats the french girl makeup i think.

[@smallnwise1]

Kackie, you are elite level & I'm novice. But if I'm going for French girl chic, I choose only one thing (for me it's the lips) and leave the rest of the color out of it. (For me: No blush, no eye make-up. Just bronzer/mascara.) I also keep jewelry minimal. You're the best & I love the color analysis.

[@Little.MissDiagnosed]

… You are trying to try… you must not try to not try. Then! you vill achieve en Francais.

[@kackie]

Dear god 🤣🤣🤣 I'm so screwed

[@Little.MissDiagnosed]

@@kackie don’t worry. So am I. Worked in Montreal. Grew up in a place called Sain Boniface. And even if my French was perfect I would be snubbed as “anglee-phon”. But when I don’t care my horrible French days are better accepted as eff it vibe. Perhaps if you simply stop caring you’ll achieve great French makeup. LMBO!

[@pb_and_nutella]

As an American who learned French in middle school/ high school and does pass for a native French speaker in France, and who is also not white, it’s very interesting to observe the strong us/ them culture and mentality in France, in one aspect I am “us”, when I speak, I am French enough to be somewhat accepted, but the racism generally prevents me from reaching that point, the idea that they are just making makeup for themselves is imo very aligned with the culture-I like the LFenR lip palette and face palette, and the concealer is actually nice imo, but I bought shades 2 and 3 and they are almost the same, I bought the bronzer to use as a face powder lol; great timing on this video, no one has done a very wide ranging review of LFenR and I wanted to know about the new eye palette but didn’t want to drop the additional $24 on shipping just to see if it was anything special

[@PurelyCoincidental]

Hi, I'm pretty new to your channel, but I just wanted to mention that I completely understand the relief of returning to a smaller chest. I used to be about 30 lbs heavier than what is "normal" for me, and one of the things that made me most uncomfortable was how large my chest was. I was a DD, and objectively I had a great figure, but I never felt like it fit me at all, like I was in the wrong body. I lost the weight a couple years ago and returned to a small C, and only realized then how I'm vastly more comfortable with a more androgenous figure. It's been hard to explain to people, because I'm afraid of coming across as bragging or fat-shaming.

[@Kelly-pp1et]

There is nothing wrong with fat shaming. We need shame back.

[@Rachel-ws8bc]

French women LOVE skincare - makeup, not so much. I feel like Merit encapsulates the French makeup esthetic: the basics (a red lip, mascara) A Natasha Denona eyeshadow palette seems so American in comparison.

[@mixchixbeauty2492]

Ok hear me out, as an American who has spent much time in France. I think you actually had it down pretty early in the video. Right before the bronzer. So 1) I know you like to extend your eye but try jumping headfirst into the one and done lid shade smudge. 2) Same goes for blush, I know you think it feels wrong when your freckles show through but that’s the look! 😅 (also a bit less blush in general). Which brings me to my biggest point; when you had it down perfect you thought it looked messy. I personally don’t think it did at all but French girl makeup is a bit carefree and messy maybe it’s not that it doesn’t look good on you but 3) I think maybe you really just don’t like it. 😂

[@linnearoyale]

boy essence + french = caroline de maigret? I love these videos and getting people to change their perspective. lil’ make up cubism lessons.

[@MA-iu5hu]

There are tons of androgynous/boyish French girls with that same fresh effortless vibe; the problem is that what’s being sold as the “French aesthetic” to Americans by these brands only covers the romantic flowery femme side. It’s equally appropriate for French style to wear an oversized men’s buttondown, boxy black pants, and sneakers

[@lyndaplancarte4895]

I see the French as being minimalist so I could see some basic skin prep, a little concealer if needed, and a color on thd lips. After that I feel that the majority of the "French look" comes from how they carry themselves and their posturing...their affect seems to exude effortlessness...nothing over the top, a calmness, no over the top behavior or chaos. Your video went off track when you started applying everything to your skin and once you applied too much blush I realized you had missed the boat. Accept yourself for how you are and how YOU prefer to wear make-up...learn the language if you desire but leave the French girl look for others...and do YOU!!

[@makeupeclectic]

no kidding, I saw the thumbnail and thought "Kackie's white whale" and when you said it I was like Leo pointing at the TV gif. I have this struggle too and excited for another discussion of contrast and effortlessness and color theory.

[@kackie]

HAHAHAHAHA omg

[@shireads2954]

I spent this whole video going, "OK stop. Stop. Kackie, stop! Nooo too much! More?!! Pick one!!! Why?!!!" You don't look French, but you do look lovely.

[@kackie]

My eye wants balance! 😂😂😂 maybe that's the problem

[@shireads2954]

​@@kackie the eye wants what the eye wants

[@SandraSallin]

Yes, it's lie searching for the White Unicorn. Can't wait to see if you found it. I've been searching for years, (I'm 83) still on the hunt.

[@kackie]

YOU GET MEEEE 😭😭😭

[@SandraSallin]

@@kackie Yes, I'm an artist also, so I understand your color theory craziness.

[@eceweishaar]

I think many of us would love if you did a follow up with some suggestions from comments bc many of us want this look! I think it’s worth trying not covering the freckles at all. I don’t have freckles (I love them) but it seems like having them show a little is actually showing that they were covered (and not effortless?). Also the most effortless lipstick colors on me are semi matte versions of my own lip color but my lips are naturally pigmented so idk 😂

[@sibylle.t]

Yep, your French will never be good enough for French people 😂 I am Belgian, we are neighbors to France and we speak French but we have a different accent and some ways to say things are not the same (just like English in the US is different from the UK or Australia). French people make fun of us because of that. But you know, Belgian style is so much more fun and friendly. You would be perfect as a French speaking Belgian, maybe that is the secret 😂

[@deniseballard4593]

One of my doctors is French-Canadian, and she has talked about being in France, speaking French and being answered in English. She was not pleased!

[@emmanuellecolombani]

​@@deniseballard4593the problem with French language is that it is very difficult to understand the words when they are mispronounced or said with a strong accent. It's a nightmare for me to speak with people from english speaking or spanish speaking countries as I sometimes don't understand them at all and feel really bad 🙁... Same thing with French Canadian people, WE have a hard time understanding them, it's not their fault nor ours...

[@maureyberdoy428]

I love this video and this subject! My thoughts- 1. Your French friend is being really snobby. My experience has been that French people are thrilled when you speak in French. 2. I think the blush in your final look really suits you but is def not French. They’re just not that into obvious rouge. 3. Boy essence is a total French trope- think Jean Seberg in Breathless. More French videos please!

[@maynel6252]

Garçonne is a very french girl esthetics... Maybe it would suit you better.

[@friv_0881]

Your videos are giving me the Art school education that my medical student mind has always yearned for! P.S. from one low contrast, melanin deprived female to another, your in depth explanations make SO MUCH SENSE and are SO HELPFUL!!! Thank you!

[@thelidiaedit]

Hi, your makeup is truly beautiful, but having lived in France for years I can tell you that on a daily basis, French style is tinted powder, blush, mascara and a very thin liner OR red lipstick. Switching from day to night, they’d add a flick to their liner and red lipstick. That’s really it. Only if they’re makeup addict, they’d do eyeshadow. They’re very minimamistic :)

[@jbs42891]

I think it would be helpful if you didn’t adjust/fix the makeup as you go! While I love that when you are trying new releases, it’s a bit more challenging during your educational videos. I find it harder to understand the concepts because I don’t see a true before/after visual. So maybe showing us the “effortless” French girl makeup - red lip, soft brown wing, mascara. THEN, show us what you would do to fix it. Love your videos and am constantly learning from you.

[@conkat]

That was so cool! I could really see how you started from "the French girl" and how you transformed it into "the kackie"

[@alja_jo]

Les Filles En Rouge offers amazing packaging and products… are super underwhelming. I tried a few things and never touch them after. I don’t think the brand is worth it all.

[@kackie]

This is my experience too.

[@AmandaHastin-p3z]

Oh wow, I totally agree with what you said about the contrast on your lips calling out the flaws in your eye shadow. As soon as you said that I was like EXACTLY 💯. I love the depth of your videos. Your energy is amazing. ❤😊

[@kackie]

I'm so glad I don't sound crazy and you can see what I'm talking about 😂

[@Lowriaa]

I think Clemence Poesy has a low contrast, but has worn a muted red lip with barely any blush and a slick of mascara on the red carpet, and looked amazing. I don’t think it’s just a low/high contrast thing - I think it’s about being strategic in what you do. Years ago, Lisa Eldridge did a video on how to wear a dark lip, and talks about how to make it not look messy - I often go back to that one if I want a simple “French” look, as a guide as to where to target my efforts without tipping into clown territory.

[@carolineerickson3419]

Every time you go off on one of ur color theory/contrast rants I realize how completely untrained by eye is for these things. At this point I just take ur word for it 😂

[@elise2914]

I’m not a makeup expert or a talented artist like you, but based on my experience in France and with French people I know, the problem seems to be not your essense but that you are using too many products at once so it looks overdone and almost airbrushed. I think if you just do skin prep (the moisturizing spray), some tinted undereye serum, a very sheer cream blush, a sweep of mascara, maybe fill in the brows, and then a red lip, it will be perfect imperfection. Let your freckles and natural skin texture and colour show. Don’t do eyeshadow or even liner. I actually think you look very French ITO your essence! Bonne chance!

[@fiammag84]

I've watched this video so many times! Beyond the whole french woman makeup I think this video is a great lesson in how shades saturation and texture change things! I love it.

[@BeholdenProductions]

Less saturated “French girl” makeup might be a good description of a lot of K-beauty. Maybe stop chasing the French girl fantasy and start looking for K beauty options instead… just a thought!

[@Corvaracha]

Hi! Im Spanish but wear the typical French makeup everyday... I think the key is to forget to perfect the skin so much (I just dab a bit of concealer, no foundation, 30 seconds max) and to wear the red in a more intense shade. If you see yourself with it for a while you get used to the brightness and will start loving it! It is that brightness that distracts from everything else not being perfect!

[@tiffshorse13]

Surrat only has two bronzers and you love them. I can’t say shit though, as I ordered it yesterday. 😂

[@tiffshorse13]

I so agree with your vibe. I was a little tomboy, who rode horses and played in the dirt. I’ve always loved being small chested because it makes sports easier. I still feel like I have a masculine,I’ve vibe, I love being in sporty or rock wife clothes, a sparkly tux sounds better than a gown, you know? I do love hair and makeup though. My husband would love me to wear floral dresses, but I feel like a clown 🤡 in stuff like that.

[@kackie]

To be fair I reviewed them to call out the shades and never spoke about them again.

[@briyee-sandoval1071]

I love that you're talking about contrast because whe discovered on my own that I'm high contrast, it made everything make sense to me! Its why I have the opposite problem from you and I struggle with soft nude lips. I already naturally have so much contrast in the rest of my face that downplaying my lips just looks off and unbalanced. On other hand, I think without knowing it I've been doing french girl makeup because sometimes when I'm in a hurry I just throw on a bold lip and litterally nothing else and that actually looks more natural on me in a way because it creates more balance in my face.

[@Amanda-yd2ey]

So true. I want all ,y money and time back trying to find a perfect nude when my lips are friggin pink. And the days of MAC peaches blush so wasted when I naturally flush fushia. We really need to work with what we’ve got.

[@amydocia8895]

Violette fr has a lovely perfume.. oil based.. also she is a creative director for Guerlain… weirdo random info of the day 😉❤

[@mariasophiafranco9747]

Interesting, maybe it's because I have read Le parisienne from Ines de la Fressange really young, but I always saw the quintessential French girl as this classic boyish woman, the small boobs and androgeny silhouette sounds very French chic ❤

[@katebainbridge]

I genuinely think the only difference between you and the typical “French girl “ makeup is your (sorry) neuroticism about it 🙈 I think if you saw this makeup with freckles showing/“messiness” on violette etc you would think it looked perfect and undone! I actually think this is one of the prettiest looks I’ve seen before you put the powder bits on!! ❤❤

[@alicerussell5193]

I've seen similar comments and I think the thing thats spoiling the vibe for you is that there's just too much going on. French makeup in my brain is minimal product, maximum effect. I always think about Lisa Eldridge especially in her "no makeup" looks where she's using the TINIESY bit of product and you don't notice that change happening until you look at the side by side. And then add one feature to "pop" or focus on. I think you probably would have felt the vibe more had you not used the shimmery CT (I haven't noticed shimmer in french makeup apart from on the eyes, any highlights are more balmy or wet), stuck with the other spray, a smidge of concealer, used bronzer instead of blush, maybe used that instead of eyeshadow, and did the lip with mascara and brushed your brows. Just some thoughts! ☺️

[@Contessa_Savannah]

Id say you nailed the French look very beginning. I think it is whatever is unassuming. I think there is a French girl style for everyone. The Rouje French girl may be a no, but I could see you as the Isabel Marant french girl.

[@kkmarzipan]

“French girl” doesn’t work on me either because I’m blessed with an incredibly round, bone-structure less face from my Lithuanian ancestors. Jeanne Damas and Violette are almost twins and have that incredibly strong chin/jaw structure as well. I feel like it’s not that sad to not fit it, like finding your “boy” essence, make your own thing!

[@angeliarossett5934]

I suck at the Parisian makeup. I m greasy. I have to have copious amounts of powder. The second one grain of powder goes on I’m instantly over done. I can be barefaced but dab powder on boom over done. I can pull the dresses off effortlessly so that’s something

[@annetteprice]

I’m greasy too. Try Danessa Myrick’s blurring balm. It’s so nice for people with skin like ours.

[@xqueenfrostine]

Ah! Loved your explanation for how finish affects the contrast of of color against your skin. While I’ve long known that throwing a gloss on top of a lipstick that was way too saturated or too dark for my coloring was the key to making it work, I never understood why. To me, it seemed counterintuitive because add gloss to something is to literally highlight it, which to make brain would make it stand out more not less. I didn’t consider how the light absorption of a matte color would intensify the color.

[@belerinah]

As an actual french girl : the french girl makeup is for some parisians only (meaning the rich and beautiful). Most french woman wear barely makeup at all, if they even do. I wear glittery multichromes on the daily and I am the crazy one. I know of one woman in real life that regularly wears red lipstick, but definitely not every day. I have been told, when i was younger : you even do lips, or eyes, but never both.

[@aliceinwonderland5070]

I feel like you looked great in what you considered “messy”. I think when we look at ourselves we focus on the imperfections which means we need to have the confidence to see past those to pull off a “French girl” look. I think that’s why you like the look on other people but not yourself.

[@lindsaykar5477]

I think the key is just less everything. less makeup, less fussing, less balancing, less optimizing for what's "flattering" - would love to see a take 2 with just skin tint, mascara, and a lip. it seems the French Girls wear what they want and aren't so concerned about making their eyes look bigger or sculpting the face, etc. but maybe that's all an illusion, idk I'm also a dumb American LOL

[@selliott89]

Similar skin tone and boyish essence here - thank you for explaining something I’ve known and yet had no words for yet!!

[@indigocarra2762]

French girl makeup either makes me look washed out or old hollywood glam. Hollywood glam is my ideal makeup look, so i dont mind that, but i never look both effortless AND chic. It's either one or the other 😂

[@laurencool9926]

These videos have been super helpful, Kackie! I also have low contrast in my skin and easily look super made up, so I keep my makeup to a minimum. These videos are helping bridge the gap some.

[@oruga9737]

I think there are better examples of low contrast french girls for inspiration like Camille Yolaine, Clémence Poésy or Léa Seydoux

[@phantomthread4385]

As a brown sri lankan woman now all i do is red lipstick and that's it. Now in mh 50s i still look young but a skin tint and red lip is the only compromise.

[@helenr5]

I think the secret to French girl effortless make up is to use what works on you and looks effortless... So you use the colors that look that way on you, you dont have to buy from french brands and try to make those shades work.

[@caithenry8429]

Just wanted to thank you for sticking to your morals and not trying brands/ products that aren't inclusive- especially since you tend to try SO MUCH we see in the tepid takes

[@somyaaaaaa]

I think the boyish essence is called "Gamine" in many of those systems.

[@Christinamariae]

I learn so much from you! We are opposites in contrast, coloring, essence, etc. but you explain things so well in ways that I miss out from other creators with similar attributes to me! Thanks for all your beauty wisdom!

[@mariaseliavko3483]

Kackie, have you heard about the Kibbe system? He divides different types of appearance depending on the ratio of yin and yang. It helped me a lot in finding what suits me best. And what you said about boyish features, reminded me of one of Kibbe’s types named Flamboyant gamine. Also: love your channel, greetings from Belarus❤

[@sea_g0at]

i adoooooooooore thisssss. do the sabrina carpenter lewk next 👀 i wanna know how to adapt it to different undertones and contrasts etc. that might be a fun series like. how to achieve xyz for every undertone etc

[@joannemercier9957]

I am french and a girl and let me tell you that this “french girl effortless” thing is a scam 😁 my effort is a definitely a lot!

[@emmanuellecolombani]

​@@creativefierceI'm French and I love using as many makeup produits as possible 😅 but I feel very alone in this, noone I know/meet uses makeup actually 😢

[@Bakerygo]

Ok try this : avoid all glitter and shimmer, minimal foundation (like BB cream), fill in brows, very light concealer, mascara. Don't bother with lipstick (the French girl wearing red lips every day is just a myth).

[@amyherrick6772]

Love your content and color theory. Violette FR boum boum milk and her blushes are so amazing- been a long time purchaser of all her products. I recommend using the boum boum milk with her "la creme" or as a hydrating spray toner underneath a heavier moisturizer if you need it. I also use it during the day. Thanks for reviewing all these! Violette Rouje candles are amazing and so are their hair clips.

[@rachellopez8357]

Yeesssss. It has its chokehold on ALL of us. So psyched to watch.

[@kackie]

🥰🥰 you get me

[@annamoehagen3447]

I’ll never forget getting lost in France as an 18-year-old and trying to ask for help in French and being totally ignored. I’ve been unimpressed ever since, but I’ll keep eating the croissants.

[@cora.ann.s]

The more products you use, the less it's French.

[@FedericaFeliciangeli]

I lived with a French girl (being Italian, but still it was a challenge to understand their way of doing things)... I think in your case: no Charlotte foundation, just spot concelear, make your freckles and moles show! blush, yes but almost invisible layer, mascara yes of course but not without whiping half of it with a spoolie. no harsh lines with eyeliner and on the mouth. so yes to lipstick but applied with fingers, tapping! perfect brows

[@stephanietruax948]

Your content is always so helpful. You don’t just say use this product, but this works because XYZ. I would love a video on how to fix makeup that has gone awry like eyeshadow getting out of control?

[@MenchieExtrakt]

So relatable! As an Asian person I have more flat features, and so using my fingers to apply especially powder eyeshadow just doesn’t work. And it definitely doesn’t allow me to wear opaque shadows. I need very specific brushes to create structure.

[@sabrinaa8948]

Lisa Eldridge Velvet Ribbon turns that crazy blue-pink on me. It was described as a neutral red but boy it's not on me. I think I'm low contrast, fair, and maybe a touch olive. It's a mess

[@amandae7896]

I know you aren’t into Kibbe, (which is totally fine!), but I think your modifier of “boy” makes a lot of sense in the context of Kibbe as well! Since I think you’re most likely a flamboyant gamine 😊

[@celinag9968]

I cannot get the Violette lippies to work on me. I’m too old and dry I guess. It looks so amazing for like, 10 minutes and then my lips become prunes. I guess I could skin prep and lip prep and apply gloss throughout the day, but that’s… Not the french girl aesthetic… at all.

[@kackie]

So effortFUL

[@ogletesting3207]

I'm right there with you! The "classic red lip" turns a hideous pinky-blue on me. C'est la vie! You're beautiful, and I enjoy your videos! FYI- I just watched makeup artist Leslie Dumeix on Vogue France; she's got a low contrast complexion, and she wears a low contrast lip.

[@ageofgrifter]

❤ ya, but never understand in what world you are a low contrast gal :) compared to you I am a blank sheet of slightly beige paper 😂

[@kackie]

🤣

[@rhondamullins6192]

I truly appreciated this review of "French girl" look. What you said makes sense to me. Thank you for diving in! ❤

[@tbear8839]

I just like watching your process! It makes me think about mine. ❤

[@Gingersnaps1978]

With your cheekbones and freckles?! Woman, all you have to do is throw on a little red lipstick, and you’re walking out of a Godard film. I am PISSED

[@racingrachel]

Also, a word of support on speaking french in France: a young man working at a patisserie on the Champs Élysée once told me my French was "pretty good", and to this day, that is the most meaningful compliment I've ever received. And i am by NO MEANS fluent. So. Your dreams are ✨possible✨🇫🇷

[@emilyal-zeibak7862]

Thanks for your review! I love your chatty style 😊 ❤ I find the whole contrast thing interesting but also extremely confusing to understand 😅 I'm ash blonde with porcelain skin and blue eyes but I really love a liquid winged liner and a lipstick in pinks/reds/purples (but I don't wear eyeshadow). My style is more of a vintage punk vibe. I look really washed out with nude colours and find it all a bit boring for me and don't really feel like myself in makeup like that but it seems like those are the colours to wear if you are low contrast? It also feels like most eyeshadow palettes and blushers at the moment are peach or orange tones which look like I've dipped my face in mud so that's been a fail for me recently! 🙈🙉 If I'm low contrast does this mean that I shouldn't be wearing brighter lipstick and winged liner? I'm also confused why nude lipstick would look so corpse like on me too. Every time I go to an event where I try to do a nude lip (like for a wedding) I cringe so much at the photos 😂 I love hearing you talk about colour from a painter's perspective and I find that fascinating. I feel like you could do an amazing tutorial on how to contour/highlight from an artist's viewpoint. Also pretty please can you do a tutorial on colour correcting - nobody explains why different colour corrector tones work with different skin tones and how to help brighten or help with redness. I feel like your explanation would be amazing on this! Love from the UK 🇬🇧

[@thoughtfulimpulse5244]

I think a lot of people skipped right past 1:35 part of the video 😂

[@lauren3259]

Kackie, you consistently make the best beauty content. I would love a series about why X trend/aesthetic/make-up style looks bad on you…you being anyone. Also, I can’t do the French girl style either. My hair needs to be done neatly to look right and red lips make me look like a clown.

[@kjosephine70]

Hahahaha I just bought that damn Rouje eye palette on Friday 😅 I love the Boum Boum milk and Violette’s red lip stain. Such a fun video! And yes to the stubborn Aries trait from another fellow Aries ♈️

[@nataliek3717]

I really understand where your coming from with French make-up!! I want to embrace the French Girl look but it's just not my best look!!!! I look much prittier with a Amercan women asthetic!!!

[@JustBeingAwesome]

Way too much makup to be French: - sunscreen - eyeliner - mascara - lipstick - and maybe a tiny bit of blush done. No bronzer, no concealer, no highlighter, no foundation, no powder.