I’m a sucker for French beauty. So, when I heard about a makeup brand called VIOLETTE FR by French makeup artist Violette Serrat, I was intrigued.
France is known for its affordable, effective French pharmacy products, and every French girl I’ve seen has a subtle makeup look. Never overdone, maybe a red lip here or there, and glowing skin. And while surely you can achieve this look without using French beauty products, it does make it more fun when it’s direct from the source. Nobody knows the French girl beauty aesthetic better than their own!
I recently tried several VIOLETTE FR makeup products, and here are my thoughts and favorite items.
Violette FR Review
VIOLETTE FR is a new-to-the-scene beauty brand. Founded in 2021 by French makeup artist Violette Serrat, it aims to take the stance that beauty products should enhance, not conceal your skin. And although you can find bold pinks and reds, and bright blues and purples, there’s also a solid collection of fundamental nude tones that suit multiple skin tones. VIOLETTE FR is also vegan and cruelty-free.
Each product page on the VIOLETTE FR website features notes on Violette’s inspiration on why she created each item. From the flush on her daughter’s cheeks to the memory of a rose she saw as a child, there’s a deeply personal story and reason for every innovation with her namesake brand. For all color products, VIOLETTE FR offers a digital “try it” option so you can find the right shade for your skin tone.
I found a few things in common with the products I tried from VIOLETTE FR:
- They’re all lightweight formulas, and feel practically invisible, even when highly pigmented
- Nothing is over fragranced, but the items that do have a scent smell amazing
- The products are easy to blend, even if you’re using just your fingers
And if the aesthetic of your makeup is just as important to you as the formulas, then you’ll love VIOLETTE FR’s clean ivory and gold packaging with minimalist, to the point text.
Best Violette FR Products: Everything I’ve Tried
Boum-Boum Milk
I love skincare, so I couldn’t try VIOLETTE FR without trying at least one skin care product.
Boum-Boum Milk is a 3-in-1 multi-purpose product that’s a toner, serum, and lightweight moisturizer all in a single spray. This is the first product I tried from the brand.
Boum-Boum Milk is probiotic-based, dermatologist tested, non-comedogenic, and made with 99% naturally derived ingredients. It’s made to hydrate and soften skin while also helping to reduce inflammation and redness.
Although Boum-Boum Milk hasn’t replaced my other serums, the milky mist feels nice on the skin and is definitely more hydrating than facial water spray. I use Boum-Boum Milk just before applying my standalone moisturizer. For me, I use it for added hydration as an extra step rather than it replacing my products.
My only complaint is that my spray nozzle must be a little clogged because it sprays a bit inconsistently. But I do love how it feels on my skin and it’s not heavy or greasy.
wearing yeux paint in tout doux, bisou blush in melanie, and bisou balm in calisson
Bisou Blush
Bisou Blush is a lightweight cream blush. But it’s not just any blush, it actually contains two shades swirled into one stick (one sheer and one richer) for natural, multi-dimensional color that mimics the natural flush of your cheeks. This is probably my favorite makeup item from the brand.
I love this blush; it’s so pretty on and you don’t need to use a lot to get a beautiful glow. It also has a brush on the other side to blend it in. But what’s really cool is that the custom brush is actually detachable from the stick so that you can wash it without getting the actual product wet. Genius!
Bisou Blush comes in a few shades. I have Mélanie, a very pretty peach meets pink color that’s not too orange or too rosy. I think it would be beautiful on any skin tone, and it’s a nice, buildable color.
If you’re looking for a highlighter rather than blush, try Baume Shine instead. It’s a universal color that provides a sheer glow and glass skin effect.
Petal Bouche Matte Liquid Lipstick
I have naturally dry lips, so I tend to stay away from matte lipstick. But out of all the matte formulas I’ve tried, Petal Bouche from VIOLETTE FR is one of my favorites.
For me, this product is surprisingly comfortable to wear and doesn’t leave a chalkiness on your lips (something that I feel often with other matte lipsticks, including Kylie Lip Kit).
Typically, within minutes of applying matte lipstick, my lips feel tight, and that isn’t the case with this. There’s a super subtle velvet finish that you can barely feel on your lips. And although sure, this doesn’t have the hydrating properties of a non-matte formula, my lips also don’t feel like they’re going to crack the second I move them.
You can easily blend color on the edges of your lips for more of a lived-in French girl vibe. This isn’t an ultra long wear lipstick that stays on from dawn to dusk, but I do find that the formula stays put for a few hours, even after drinking and eating. And for me, that’s plenty.
If you have dry lips like me and gave up hope on finding a comfortable matte lipstick, Petal Bouche Matte liquid lipstick is definitely worth a try.
Cœur Infidèle is the perfect deep magenta shade.
Bisou Balm
VIOLETTE FR Bisou Balm is touted as sheer lipstick meets lip balm. The finish is on the matte side, and I’d maybe even call it a little velvety. I wouldn’t go so far to say that it’s ultra hydrating, but it does feel a smidge more comfortable than the Petal Bouche liquid lipstick, ironically when I layer more product.
The biggest difference between the two products outside of the subtle comfort factor is that Bisou Balm is sheer, and Petal Bouche is opaque, big color.
Bisou Balms are meant to provide a subtle wash of color to give the appearance of just-bitten lips. They go on sheer, you can build them up if you want a little more color, but they’ll never give you a full opaque appearance (which I like). The overall color looks like a lip stain but removes easily at the end of the day.
Since this is a traditional tube lipstick, you can also moisturize your lips prior to applying Bisou Balm if you need it. If you’re looking for a true hydrating lip product with natural shine, try Bisou Jelly instead.
Yeux Paint
Yeux Paints from VIOLETTE FR are fun – they apply as a liquid but dry quickly with an almost powder-like finish that stays put without creasing. You only need a little bit, as these are quite pigmented.
You can Yeux Paint as an eye shadow or as an eyeliner. The brush is soft and paddle-shaped; use the flat side of the applicator if you’re using it as liquid eyeshadow and the narrow side if you want a more precise application as eye liner. Be sure not to blink for a few seconds to give the formula a chance to dry.
These are highly pigmented, so you don’t need a lot of product. I even like to scrape some off my brush before applying to my eyelids. So long as you can work fairly quickly, it’s easy to blend as eyeshadow using your fingers. This product is so light, I can’t even tell I’m wearing anything on my lids.
So far, my favorite color is Tout Doux, a matte nude shade. It adds subtle color and natural-looking depth to my eyes without looking like I’m wearing eyeshadow.
Where To Buy Violette FR in USA
Currently in the US, VIOLETTE FR is sold directly through the brand’s site, with free shipping over $50.
Although VIOLETTE FR is a French brand, you don’t have to worry about paying additional taxes or duties. These are already included are included in checkout.
