A certain je ne sais quoi is needed to capture the right vibe when red-carpeting at Cannes. The legendary film festival is at once done-up and laid-back (much like the French themselves), so the classic Hollywood, turnt-to-10 beauty looks don’t quite fly. Instead, the best looks land somewhere between just-stepped-off-the-yacht and born-with-it golden girl, which is precisely why the festival produces some of our favorite beauty moments of the year.
Here, a red-carpet gala or a daytime photo call can turn out equally inspiring looks, because at Cannes, the name of the game is effortless glam. That means only wearing mascara on the eyes so your bright lips can pop. Or allowing hair to look a little lived-in. The results are always chic and never overdone, inspiring us to step off the glam gas pedal a bit when thinking spring beauty. Ahead, some of our favorite looks from the film fest so far.
Aishwarya Rai
Probably a first on the Cannes red carpet: purple lips. We're totally here for this daring pastel pout Indian actress and former Miss World Aishwarya Rai wore. Go hard or go home, right?
Photo: NIVIERE/SIPA/REX/Shutterstock.
Kirsten Dunst
Kirsten went for classic red lips and completed the look with natural browns and soft eyes. It's simple, but elegant.
Photo: George Pimentel/Getty Images.
Marion Cotillard
Going for a dressed-down look, Marion Cotillard kept it classy with a natural-looking face and free-flowing hair.
Photo: Venturelli/WireImage.
Riley Keough
This intricate braid is absolutely stunning. It's not overdone, so it appears natural on Riley. Her eyebrows are a tad bit darker than her hair, which provides a nice contrast.
Photo: Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images. Photo: Stephane Cardinale/Corbis/Getty Images.
Freida Pinto
There's an understated elegance to this look: It may be the red lips or the elegant bob, but Freida nails this one.
Photo: Tristan Fewings/Getty Images.
Chloë Sevigny
Apparently, the barer the face, the chicer the look! Sevigny keeps it simple by nontouring and adding a red lip stain.
Photo: George Pimentel/Getty Images.
Lily Rose Depp
The model-actress, who also happens to be the daughter of Johnny Depp, went for a gold smoky eye that went perfectly with her understated nude lips and beachy waves.
Photo: James Gourley/REX/Shutterstock.
Amal Clooney
Matching statement jewelry to makeup can be a dicey game, but Amal Clooney wins by pairing bright-poppy lips with earrings of the same shade.
Photo: Stephane Cardinale/ Corbis/ Getty Images.
Julia Roberts
We always picture Julia Roberts with reddish-brown curls. But the star with a megawatt smile has sneakily been wearing various shades of blond for years: These dimension-creating highlights, paired with a perfectly layered cut, may just be our favorite look yet.
Photo: Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images.
Caitriona Balfe
Caitriona Balfe is right on-point with the mascara-only trend at Cannes. The actress' look is a standout thanks to summer-ready fuchsia lips and halo braids with a deep part.
Photo: Epsilon/Getty Images.
Maisa Abd Elhadi
Actress Maisa Abd Elhadi brings A-game beauty to laid-back Cannes with bold, matte lips, flowing tresses, and perfectly imperfect brows.
Photo: Samir Hussein/WireImage.
Jessica Chastain
Jessica Chastain's vibe has all the elements of vampy, flapper beauty, but is gorgeously reimagined for Cannes — the deep part and finger curls look modern on shorter hair, while the lip stain and lightly smoked eye lighten up a dramatic look.
Photo: Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images.
Caroline De Maigret
Why is Caroline de Maigret smiling so widely? Maybe it’s because she knows that with wind-swept bangs, a smoky eye, and seemingly naked lips, this photo will never look dated.
Photo: Tony Barson/FilmMagic/ Getty Images.
Vanessa Paradis
With no-makeup makeup accented by rosy cheeks and light coral lips, who better to epitomize French-girl glamour than Cannes feature film jury member — and national treasure — Vanessa Paradis?
Photo: Tony Barson/FilmMagic/Getty Images.
Eva Longoria
The Telenovela star is one of the few to have worn a full eye — smoky shadow, full lashes, and strong brows — on the Cannes opening gala red carpet. But pairing it with sun-kissed skin and a simple hairstyle put a fresh spin on the glam red-carpet staple.
Photo: Ian Gavan/Getty Images.
Kirsten Dunst
We’ve said it before: You can’t go wrong with a yellow dress and bright red lips. Cannes feature film jury member Kirsten Dunst keeps the combo fresh with minimal eye makeup, complete with natural-looking lashes.
Photo: Tony Barson/FilmMagic/Getty Images.
Kristen Stewart
We love a dark and brooding look on Kristen Stewart just as much as the next girl. But lighter makeup, framed with nude lips, and our favorite summer coupling — bleached hair and dark brows — feels just right for flirty Cannes.
Photo: Mike Marsland/WireImage.
Gong Li
We love Gong Li’s graphic, winged eye, and glossy lips.
Photo: Dominique Charriau/WireImage.
Blake Lively
Fact: Blake Lively’s hair can do no wrong. But she’s also winning in the makeup department. We love how she kept things from going over-the-top by pairing her brightred jumpsuit with clean lashes and soft, glossy lips.
Photo: Mike Marsland/WireImage.
Bella Hadid
The best way to attune the monochromatic-beauty trend for black tie on the laid-back Riviera? Wear barely-there shades that allow an inner glow to shine though.
Photo: Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images.
Naomi Watts
Naomi Watts nails easygoing sophistication with complexion-brightening pink lips and a perfectly bent lob tucked casually behind one ear.
Photo: Stephane Cardinale/Corbis/Getty Images.
Doutzen Kroes
The mega model balances a super-structured dress with minimal makeup and a lived-in, half-back hairstyle.
Photo: Stephane Cardinale/Corbis/Getty Images.
Lily Donaldson
The model’s vampy red lips command major attention, thanks to her understated eyes and hairstyle.
Photo: Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images.
Rebecca Hall
This Brit went very au natural. Her Cannes look had the actress keeping her hair lightly tousled, the lips lightly colored, and her eyes highlighted with just the right combo of mascara and brown liner.
Photo: David Fisher/REX/Shutterstock.
Juliette Binoche
The French actress went for a dark and sexy look, with her smoky eyes becoming the main attraction of her minimalist look — not to mention that gorgeous middle part in her slicked-back hair.
Photo: David Fisher/REX/Shutterstock.
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