You know that specific look. It’s a mix of high-fashion pout, slightly widened eyes, and a sense of "I just woke up looking like a French cinema star." People call them ooh la la faces. It isn't just one expression. It’s a whole vibe that has migrated from 1960s Parisian street photography straight into the TikTok and Instagram era. Honestly, if you’ve spent more than five minutes scrolling through lifestyle influencers lately, you’ve seen it a thousand times. But where did it actually come from?
The term "ooh la la" itself is a cliché, sure. Yet, the aesthetic it describes is incredibly specific. It’s the "je ne sais quoi" of facial expressions. It’s less about being "perfect" and more about being evocative.
The Anatomy of Ooh La La Faces
What makes a face fit this category? It isn't just genetics. It’s about movement and styling. Think of Jane Birkin or Brigitte Bardot. Their expressions were never stagnant. They had this way of looking surprised and bored at the exact same time.
Today, makeup artists like Violette Serrat—the quintessential French beauty expert—have popularized this look for a modern audience. She often talks about "effortless" beauty. That means no heavy contour. No "Instagram brow." Instead, ooh la la faces focus on:
- Diffused lips: Usually a red or berry stain blotted at the edges to look like you’ve been kissing or drinking wine.
- Natural skin: Freckles are in. Heavy foundation is out.
- The "Gaze": A slightly heavy-lidded look that feels relaxed.
It’s about looking human. We’ve spent so many years looking at filtered, plastic-smooth faces that the sudden shift toward a more expressive, "living" face feels revolutionary. It’s a reaction against the "Cyborg Look" popularized by the Kardashians. People are tired of looking like dolls. They want to look like they have a story.
Why the Internet is Obsessed with the French Aesthetic
Social media algorithms love contrast. When everyone was doing heavy "Baddie" makeup, the ooh la la faces stood out because they were messy.
The trend caught fire because it’s achievable. Not everyone can afford a nose job or 5ml of lip filler. But anyone can smudge a bit of lipstick and mess up their hair. It’s an accessible form of luxury. You’re selling a lifestyle. A lifestyle where you spend your mornings at a cafe in Montmartre, even if you’re actually in a studio apartment in Ohio.
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Psychologically, this expression signals high status through "low effort." It’s the ultimate flex. It says, "I didn’t even try, and I still look this magnetic."
The Evolution from Cinema to Selfie
In the 1950s and 60s, New Wave cinema changed how we looked at faces. Directors like Jean-Luc Godard didn't want polished actors. He wanted faces that reacted. Anna Karina, with her blunt bangs and expressive eyes, is arguably the original blueprint for ooh la la faces.
Fast forward to 2026. We see this translated into "Clean Girl" aesthetics and "Old Money" trends. But those feel a bit sterile. The ooh la la face adds a layer of playfulness that those trends lack. It’s the difference between a museum and a home. One is for looking; the other is for living.
Common Misconceptions About the Look
A lot of people think you need a specific face shape. That’s wrong.
The beauty of this trend is that it’s about the expression, not the bone structure. I’ve seen creators with completely different features pull this off perfectly. It’s a theatrical trick. It’s about how you hold your mouth and where you focus your eyes.
Another mistake? Thinking it requires expensive French products. You don’t need a $50 lipstick from a boutique in Paris. You can get the same effect with a $6 drugstore tint if you apply it with your fingers. The "ooh la la" comes from the technique, not the price tag.
- The Myth: You need to be thin or have certain features.
- The Reality: It’s an attitude-based aesthetic.
- The Myth: It’s only for "young" people.
- The Reality: The most iconic examples are women who have aged with grace and character.
How to Master the Expression Without Looking Silly
If you try too hard, it fails. That’s the paradox. If you’re standing in front of your ring light trying to force a "French" face, it’s going to look like you have a toothache.
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Try this instead:
Relax your jaw.
Exhale through your mouth.
Look just slightly past the camera lens.
This creates that "dreamy" look. It’s about being present but detached. It’s a vibe.
The Role of Fashion in Framing the Face
You can't talk about the face without talking about the hair. A fringe (or bangs, if you're American) is almost mandatory. It frames the eyes. It adds to that "messy but intentional" look.
Think about the "French Girl Hair" trend that has dominated Pinterest for a decade. It’s never perfectly brushed. It has texture. When your hair is a bit wild, your face doesn't need to be as perfect. The hair does the heavy lifting, allowing the ooh la la faces to shine through the chaos.
Accessories help too. A gold hoop or a silk scarf draws the eye toward the jawline. It’s all about creating a frame for the "ooh la la" moment.
Beyond the Surface: The Cultural Impact
Is this just another fleeting trend? Probably not. The fascination with the "European Look" has existed in the US and Asia for over a century. It represents a romanticized version of adulthood.
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In a world that feels increasingly digital and fake, ooh la la faces represent a yearning for something tactile. Something real. Even if it is a curated version of "real," it feels better than the alternative.
We are seeing a massive shift in the beauty industry. Brands like Glossier and Merit have built billion-dollar empires on the back of this "less is more" philosophy. They aren't selling makeup; they're selling the "ooh la la" feeling.
Practical Steps to Embrace the Aesthetic
If you want to incorporate this into your own style or content creation, start small.
- Ditch the heavy matte lipsticks. Switch to oils or balms that let your natural lip texture show through.
- Focus on "The Blink." In photography, capturing the moment just before or after a blink creates a much more "ooh la la" feel than a wide-eyed stare.
- Lighting matters. Harsh sunlight kills this look. You want soft, directional light—the kind you get sitting near a window on a cloudy day.
- Embrace "imperfections." If you have a stray hair or a bit of mascara smudge, leave it. It adds authenticity.
The goal isn't to look like a different person. The goal is to look like the most relaxed, confident version of yourself. That is the heart of ooh la la faces. It’s a celebration of the face in motion, not the face in a mask.
Take a photo today where you aren't smiling for the camera. Don't pose. Just look. See what happens when you let your face be still and expressive at the same time. You might find that the "ooh la la" was there all along, just waiting for you to stop trying so hard.