Between her red carpet appearances, film roles, and street style choices, Parisian Clémence Poésy has become the living embodiment of insouciant French charm. And, sitting with the longtime face of Chloé fragrances on a recent winter evening, it’s no surprise why. The 32-year-old actress’s easy, tousled blonde waves and tawny complexion, benefitted by little more than bronzer, have the healthful glow of someone who has never needed a stitch of makeup (much less a blowout). While discussing her dizzying schedule of projects (two films—The Ones Below and Le Grand Jeu, both due out later this year—a television series, The Tunnel, and her recently launched campaign for Chloé’s latest perfume, Love Story), the actress explains that the key to getting away with less-is-more beauty lies in a little forethought, a subtle fragrance, and the right hair color. Though she professes that when it comes to hair and makeup “there are no rules,” she does have a few tricks up her sleeve for getting away with not doing much of anything. Here, she shares them:
1. ENJOY THE FACE YOU HAVE
My mom was very good at teaching us that there are so many years of your life when you will have to wear makeup, so it’s important to enjoy the years of your life when you don’t. Enjoy the face you have. She always said she didn’t understand concealer—dark circles under the eyes can be one of the most moving things on a human face. When you’re an actress, you get wonderful lighting and professionals doing your makeup and retouching you, so you can lose track of what you [actually] look like, which isn’t perfect—no one is. I try not to wear makeup when I’m not working so that I can see my face. I’m not interested in a world where everyone looks glamorous all the time. I find that quite boring.
2. SPEND TIME ON YOUR SKIN
It’s a good idea to try [to take care of your skin]. I wash my face at night and moisturize it in the morning. Anything from La Roche-Posay and Avène is good and does the job. I also like Nuxe a lot because the scent makes me happy.
3. FIND A SIGNATURE SCENT
I can leave the house without makeup, but I can’t leave without fragrance. I love having a very distinctive smell that I keep on all the time. If I’m going to visit a friend, I want to leave the smell of it in the stairwell or I want to find it on a scarf at the end of the summer. I like fresh fragrances, never too sweet—sensual but simple. The smell of basil makes me so happy, for example. I don’t like perfume to try too hard. I’ll put it on in the morning, in the middle of the day, and again at night on my wrists, my neck, my temples, and sometimes on clothes as well. I always have a little bit with me.
4. TAKE CALCULATED BEAUTY RISKS
I cut my hair really short when I was 18—it was almost shaved. But since then I’d had it long. [Getting my bob last year] was a good change. I just wish I had done it in the summer and not in the winter because I was very cold! David Mallett cuts my hair—he’s a very good listener and knows how to make things happen. When I do wear makeup, I like very red lips and almost nothing else.
5. PERFECT YOUR HAIR COLOR
I look for the hair color that’s going to allow me to not wear makeup—one that makes it so there is enough light around my face. I’ve had to have my hair darker for films so I know that the minute it gets darker, my face needs an extra something to balance it. Rémy Faure [at David Mallett] colors it—he doesn’t try to force a trend on you. Then to style it, I don’t like it to look too done. I wash my hair every day. Sometimes I use a little bit of Bumble and Bumble Surf Spray. But I never blow-dry it—even if that means putting it under a big hat in the morning.
