Francois Nars Makeup: The Artist Behind NARS Cosmetics

Francois Nars is the founder and creative director of NARS Cosmetics. He opened with twelve lipsticks at Barneys New York in November 1994, turning the concentrated edit into a full cosmetics and skincare line as demand grew.

He trained at Carita in Paris, then apprenticed with makeup artist Olivier Echaudemaison. After moving to New York in 1984, he worked with Harper's Bazaar, ELLE and Vogue, building an editorial eye that still shapes how NARS presents color.

Francois Nars has always treated makeup as a way to make a personal image. In a 1996 Harper's Bazaar shoot, he used one lipstick shade on cheeks, lips and eyes, and the idea became The Multiple, a multi-use stick for the face.

The lip lineup that began with twelve shades now includes Afterglow, Powermatte and Explicit, with Francois continuing to choose the shades. He received France's Legion d'Honneur in 2016 and has published six books, including X-Ray and Makeup Your Mind.

I would begin with Light Reflecting Foundation, then add just one note of color. Explicit Lipstick is a natural next step when I want the finish to feel more deliberate. The best part of Francois Nars's work is the permission to use color in a way that feels like your own.