When it comes to beauty (and diet, and fashion—damn them!) the French have figured out that less is fabulously more. Guest blogger Megan Hanson reports.
Women in Paris must be busy. Because in the three weeks I spent in the City of Lights, at least once a day I saw someone putting on her makeup while riding the Metro. Safer than applying lipstick while driving a car? Yes. But with all the twists and turns, no easy feat. Observing these mademoiselles on the go taught me how to simplify your makeup routine without sacrificing that certain je ne sais quoi:
- Skip the foundation (if you can). Rarely did I see a Parisian apply any sort of base, or even concealer. When I did, it was only a quick application of tinted moisturizer. Laura Mercier makes a great one, but I have also had luck with just mixing in my regular liquid foundation with a cheap drugstore moisturizer.
- Multi-task with makeup. I saw more than one woman throw some pink color on her eyelids after brushing it across her cheeks. One girl used her lipstick as a cream blush. Dual—or even triple—purpose makeup can not only save time, but money too. Try Stila Lip and Cheek Stain or Make Up For Ever Flash Color.
- Splurge on mascara. Makeup bags in Paris were filled with tubes of YSL, Dior, Chanel, and Guerlain— not a Covergirl or a Maybelline in sight! When you only have enough time (and balance) for a coat or two, they better be good. DiorShow is always reliable for full, lengthy lashes, but I tried Le 2 Guerlain at the luxury brand’s flagship store on the Champs-Elysees, and it kept my lashes flawless for days!
Filed Under: Diorshow mascara, Laura Mercier tinted moisturizer, le 2 guerlain mascara, make up for ever flash color, megan hanson, multi-tasking products, paris beauty secrets, stila lip and cheek stain
I have always loved good mascara~worth the money every time, I’ve found! ~Chris Ann
Ah, yes. Parisian women definitely exude elegance and natural beauty. NARS the multiple stick is a great product I’ve been using this spring&summer, because it is so versatile. You can use it on your eyelids, cheeks, and lips too. It leaves a gorgeous glow, that is light and extremely natural. The key is to blend it in with your finger tips.
Another tip I would like to share is to wear sunscreen on your face and drinks lots of water. Your skin texture will be lovely and you will eventually just skip foundation. Eating lots of fruits will help you too.
Timeless advice indeed! (As I drink my coffee . . .)
I think the high end mascara is because even what is cheap mascara in the States is horribly expensive in France. While you could spend between ten and fifteen euros for just any old mascara, you can spend just ten more and get a designer label.
best tips I’ve ever read about parisian style thanks