Violette FR Review: Luxury Beauty Products Inspired by French Simplicity
Have you ever wished you could master that effortless French-girl beauty look? You know, the one where you look perfectly imperfect with just-rolled-out-of-bed hair and a bold lip? Well, the secret is out, and it‘s Violette FR.
Launched in 2021 by French makeup artist Violette Serrat (@violette_fr on Instagram), Violette FR is a luxury beauty brand that embodies the French philosophy of less is more. As Violette told Vogue, "French beauty is about finding what makes you feel good…and not doing much else."
That ethos permeates every aspect of the brand, from the curated product selection to the clean, sustainable formulas. If you‘re intrigued by the idea of a simplified routine that still feels indulgent, keep reading for my honest Violette FR review.
The Violette FR Difference
What sets Violette FR apart from the dozens of other beauty brands out there? I‘d say it comes down to three key things:
1. The French Beauty Philosophy
French skincare is all about nourishing and enhancing your natural beauty, not masking it. That means gentle formulas, streamlined routines, and products that work with your skin, not against it. Violette FR takes this approach and runs with it.
The brand offers a "capsule collection" of makeup, skincare, and fragrance essentials. Just like a capsule wardrobe, the idea is that with a few versatile, high-quality products, you can create endless looks. It‘s about owning less but loving everything you have.
2. Clean, Sustainable Luxury
Violette FR describes itself as a "consciously luxurious" beauty brand. But what does that mean exactly? In a nutshell, it‘s luxe formulas and packaging minus the questionable ingredients and environmental impact.
All Violette FR products are vegan and cruelty-free. They‘re also formulated without parabens, phthalates, sulfates, mineral oil, and a whole host of other potential nasties. The brand opts for eco-friendly packaging like glass bottles and refillable compacts. Basically, it‘s luxury beauty you can feel good about using.
3. Multitasking Products
In keeping with the less-is-more theme, most Violette FR products are designed to do more than one thing. For example, the Boum-Boum Milk is a toner, serum, and moisturizer all in one. The Yeux Paint doubles as an eyeshadow and liner.
Even the Petal Bouche lipstick is versatile – it can be applied sheer for a just-bitten look or built up for opaque coverage. The beauty of a multitasker is that it not only saves time and money but also space in your makeup bag.
The Products
Okay, let‘s dig into the products themselves. Violette FR launched with five core products – a complexion mist, lipstick, eyeshadow, dry shampoo, and fragrance. Each one is meant to be a workhorse in your routine. Here are my thoughts after trying them all:
Boum-Boum Milk
This was the first product I tried from the brand, and it made me an instant convert. Described as a "3-in-1 elixir," the Boum-Boum Milk is a toner, serum, and moisturizer in one sleek spray bottle.
The bi-phase formula contains nourishing ingredients like olive leaf water, birch sap, and shea butter. But the real magic is in the probiotics, which help strengthen the skin barrier. I love how refreshing and hydrating it feels, and that it absorbs quickly without any residue.
After cleansing, I just shake the bottle to combine the phases, mist it all over my face and neck, and let it work its magic. On days when I‘m rushing out the door, I can skip the rest of my skincare routine and still feel like I did something good for my skin.
Petal Bouche Matte
As a self-proclaimed lipstick connoisseur, I was eager to try Violette‘s take on the classic French red lip. The Petal Bouche Matte is a rich, velvety lipstick that comes in a single shade: Petal Bouche Red.
Let me say, this is THE perfect red. It‘s not too blue or too orange, but a true neutral red that would flatter any skin tone. The formula is intensely pigmented yet feels featherlight and non-drying on my perpetually chapped lips. I love that I can dab it on with my finger for a soft, diffused look or swipe it straight from the bullet for a bold lip.
The staying power is also impressive – it lasted through coffee, lunch, and an afternoon of Zoom calls without budging or fading. Magnifique!
Yeux Paint
Cream eyeshadows are often hit or miss for me – they‘re either too stiff to blend or so slippery that they crease immediately. The Yeux Paint from Violette FR is neither of those things.
The whipped gel-cream shadow glides on smoothly with a doe-foot applicator and blends out easily with your fingertip or a brush. It comes in eight adorable shades, each named after a famous Parisian landmark or neighborhood.
I opted for Marais, a shimmery copper that makes my green eyes pop. Once it sets, it doesn‘t budge or crease all day. I found it very forgiving and easy to use, even for eyeshadow novices like myself. You can do a sheer wash of color or build it up for a more intense look.
The small tube and no-spill formula also make it perfect for travel and on-the-go touch-ups. I can definitely see myself collecting a few more shades.
Frange Puff
As someone with fine, color-treated hair, dry shampoo is a must-have in my routine. But I hate how most formulas leave a white, chalky cast on my dark roots. Enter the Frange Puff.
This innovative dry shampoo comes in a sleek, refillable compact with a soft brush applicator. The loose powder formula contains absorbing ingredients like rice and oat starch to sop up oil and sweat, plus mineral pigments that blend invisibly into your hair color.
To use, you just dip the brush into the powder, tap off the excess, and then brush it along your roots and hairline. I was amazed at how well it absorbed excess oil without leaving any telltale residue. It also added a bit of oomph and texture to my limp strands.
While the compact is pricey, I love that it‘s refillable and more eco-friendly than aerosol sprays. The brush feels luxe and makes the application process kinda fun, like a little scalp massage.
Avec Amour
The Avec Amour eau de parfum is Violette‘s ode to Paris in the springtime. Described as "an olfactory stroll through the City of Light," it features notes of bergamot, rose, and sandalwood.
When I first spritzed it on my wrist, I was surprised by how delicate and fresh it smelled. Most floral fragrances overwhelm me, but this one felt soft and airy. It‘s the perfect daytime scent that makes you smell like you, only better.
I also appreciate the chic, vintage-inspired glass bottle and the rollerball applicator. It allows you to apply the scent precisely where you want it, whether that‘s your pulse points or the ends of your hair.
While Avec Amour is lovely, I do wish the brand offered a discovery set or mini sizes to test the fragrance before committing to a full bottle.
The Bottom Line
So, is Violette FR worth the hype and the price tag? In my opinion, absolutely. The products are luxurious, high-performing, and make me feel like I‘m channeling my inner French girl.
I love that the brand takes a quality over quantity approach and truly delivers on its promise of simplified, effortless beauty. The formulas are clean and gentle yet still feel incredibly indulgent to use. And the packaging is both beautiful and eco-conscious.
Of course, no brand is perfect. I would love to see Violette FR expand its shade ranges, especially for complexion products. The products are definitely a splurge, although I believe the quality ingredients and formulas justify the price. And while I appreciate the minimalist approach, I selfishly wish there were a few more products to choose from!
Those minor quibbles aside, I‘m thoroughly impressed with Violette FR. In a crowded beauty market, it manages to feel fresh, modern, and authentically French. The products have earned a permanent place in my routine and on my vanity.
If you‘re someone who appreciates the ritual of beauty but doesn‘t want to spend hours fussing over your face, I think you‘ll adore Violette FR as much as I do. Simply put, it‘s luxury beauty simplified – and what could be more French than that?
