How to Know if Your Beauty Products Have Gone Bad

Welcome to the first post in our brand new series: Learn French phrases! Each post in this series will be centered around a different theme, so you can walk away a Parisian pro when it comes to French culture and cosmetics. Don’t worry; this isn’t going to be like the French classes you remember from your school days. Forget the boring phrases — we’re going to teach you everything you need to know about French beauty, from la crème solaire to les lingettes démaquillantes.  Next time you’re looking at a product and notice the label or tag is entirely in French, you won’t be phased. You’ll feel right in your comfort zone! This post is all about learning French phrases relating to morning and evening beauty routines.    Are you ready to learn some fabulous French with us? Learn French Phrases: Morning Skincare Routine What you put on your face first thing in the morning matters. The main focus? Protection and preservation. And while some skincare experts swear by 12-step routines, most of us just don’t have time for that.  The good news? Follow these steps, and you can say hello to a flawless face. La crème solaire: Sunscreen La crème solaire is a must, and no French woman leaves home without it. Try and find a sunscreen with at least an SPF of 15, but 30 is best. Make sure you apply it to your face, neck, and décolletage.  Un sérum: A lightweight moisturizer  A serum is a thin moisturizer that helps to smooth out imperfections and reduce the appearance of pores. This will protect your face from bacteria, pollution, and your dirty phone screen.  When it comes to un sérum, a little goes a long way.  L’huile: Oil L’huile helps hydrate your skin, replenish it with vital vitamins and nutrients, and leaves your skin glowing and firm.  Just a couple drops of oil will be more than enough. Une crème hydratante: Moisturizer There are so many moisturizers on the market, so your best bet is to pick one that works with your skin type (sensitive, dry, or combination). Moisturizer will keep your skin hydrated all day long. But remember, it’s not a replacement for drinking water! Une crème mains: Hand cream While we’re pampering our skin, let’s not forget our hands — they age as quickly as your face does.  Regularly applying hand cream throughout the day (after washing your hands) can improve elasticity and lock the moisture in.  We hope you’re enjoying learning French phrases with us! Ready for some more? Learn French Phrases: Nighttime Skincare Routine Your night skincare game is just as important as your daytime one. When you sleep, your skin has a chance to repair and recover from the damage done throughout the day.  So the products you put on your skin before bed matter. This is the optimum time for the ingredients to work their magic because your skin is most receptive at night.   Les lingettes démaquillantes: Makeup remover wipes L’huile démaquillante: Makeup remover Boules de coton: cotton balls Leaving your makeup on when you go to sleep is like committing a crime... against yourself.  No matter how tired or hungover you are, always remove your makeup! Remember to be gentle as you do it, especially around the eye area.  Une mousse nettoyante: Cleansing foam  Using a cleanser is vital for getting rid of dead cells and any residual damaging agents at the end of the day. Like most beauty products, the best cleanser for you will depend on your skin type.  Une lotion / Une crème de corps: Body lotion After you’ve showered, you want to lock in your skin's moisture with a nourishing body lotion. This will help your skin stay hydrated and elastic, and prevent it from becoming dry or flaky.  Une crème de nuit: Night cream Applying a night cream is a must before going to sleep. This is the one thing that will keep your skin barrier healthy, and keep your skin looking radiant.  Tip: use a special eye cream for your delicate eye area, and apply gently.    Une masque de nuit / une masque de sommeil: Night mask Sleep masks are a brilliant invention. You cover your face with the mask before bed, it absorbs into your skin, and the ingredients gradually release through the night.  The best part? All you have to do is pop the mask on, and your work is done. Do this once or twice a week instead of your regular crème de nuit. A night mask can reduce dullness and improve hydration, plus so much more! High five ladies — you are now a pro with French phrases about morning and evening beauty routines. 

Smokey eye makeup is up there with the most popular makeup looks of all time. One quick search for a smokey eye tutorial will field millions of how-tos in seconds. And for good reason. A smokey eye is sexy, sophisticated and the perfect makeup look for any party or celebration. And although it may seem complicated, when you know what to do, you’ll find it’s pretty simple.  That’s why we’ve put together this simple guide on how to get the sexiest smokey eye step by step. It should take around ten to fifteen minutes to complete, but a little longer if you’re a newbie. Remember, the more you practice your technique, the better the result.  So what are we waiting for? Let’s dive in.  Here’s what you’ll need to get started: Eyeshadow base (primer) Dark-colored kohl eyeliner Lighter eyeshadow (pearl or creams work well) Darker eyeshadow (see color recommendations below) Eyeshadow brush (a couple if possible, but you can wash between uses) Eyelash curler Mascara Which color should I go for? If you’re after a deep smokey eye then opt for a rich, matter color in black, brown, or deep gray. These colors will create an edgier look and make a bolder statement.  If you’re looking for a more natural smokey eye, choose something less harsh, like a plum color. For a jeweled tone, purples, blues, and greens are striking. You can also use a shimmery eyeshadow if you like, for extra sparkle. Don’t do any other makeup before your smokey eye  You might think that applying your foundation and concealer before working on your eyes is the natural thing to do. But the pros apply eye makeup first.  Why? Because no matter how careful you are, there are bound to be flecks of eyeshadow powder and mascara that fall down your face.  If you’ve already done the rest of your makeup, then you’ll have to touch it up. It’s much easier to fix mistakes like this without a full face of makeup.  So no matter how much you want to apply other makeup first, don’t do it! Trust us on this one.  Prime your eyelids Not everyone does, but if you have shiny lids, priming your eyelids first is a must. Without it, your eye makeup is bound to melt and smudge all over the place. And nobody wants that.  Primer will create a solid foundation for any layers of eyeshadow you apply on top and will help you build color that lasts. Plus, it will prevent it from creasing. Use a brush or cotton pad to sweep it over both lids. Leave it to dry before starting your smokey eye makeup. Begin with a kohl eyeliner Start with a kohl eyeliner as a base. This is what will anchor your eyeshadow, and keep it on all night. We recommend picking the same color as the eyeshadow you’re using, but feel free to mix things up and experiment with color combos. Concentrate the eyeliner on the inner and outer corners of your upper lid, leaving the space in the middle bare. Use a brush to blend this across your upper lash line. This is how you begin creating that smoldering, sexy look, and it stops it from looking too intense.  Next, use the same eyeliner on your lower lash line, blending it out with the same brush as before.  Apply a light base color Every smokey eye look tutorial will recommend contrasting a light eyeshadow with a dark one. This adds to the smokiness.  Using a clean brush (or washing the previous one), sweep the lighter color across the eyelid, following along to the brow bone. This is how you create the shadow for your smokey eye.   Apply dark eyeshadow Next, grab your chosen darker eyeshadow color, and apply to the eyelid with a clean brush. Use enough to coat the color on your lid, but make sure you stop below the brow bone this time.  Once you’re done, blend the color into your upper lash line (where the eyeliner is) as well as into the line between the dark and light shadow. Use a clean brush to do this, working small circular movements.  The most important thing when creating a smokey eye makeup look is to avoid harsh lines, and to blend... and blend again.  When you think you’re done, take a step back and check both eyes for symmetry. You’re looking for an even blend on both eyes.  Curl the eyelashes The next step is to use an eyelash curler to give your lashes a sexy curve. Heat it with a hairdryer for ten seconds, and test it on the back of your hand before putting it near your face. Hold the curler for 10 seconds on each eye.   Complete the look with a swoosh of mascara To complete your smokey eye, finish with as much or as little mascara as you like. If you’re going for a bolder look, amp up the volume here. If you’re going for a natural smokey eye, then stick to one or two layers.  We love our Classic French Mascara for voluminous lashes in just one coat. Start at the root of your upper lashes, and wiggle up to build length and volume. You can apply mascara to your lower lashes too, but keep it to a minimum to avoid a spidery look.  And that is your complete smokey eye look tutorial!  Remember: Let your smokey eye makeup stand out Even if you’ve opted for a natural smokey eye, it’s still a strong look. And you want it to stand out. So keep the rest of your makeup to a minimum, and stick to neutral colors.  A little bronzer, a neutral blush, and a nude lip will complete the look, but your eyes will remain the star of the show.   And that’s it! We now pronounce you ready to create the sexiest smokey eye look ever.    

When it comes to a simple makeup look that will work for your busy everyday life, no one does it quite like the French. The French look is all about classic beauty, which appears to be effortless and chic all at the same time.  A staple of the French look is minimalist makeup. For the French woman, less truly is more — they choose to enhance their natural features and embrace their imperfections rather than painting on a new face with excessive contouring.  Following the French philosophy and embracing a minimalist makeup routine leaves you with more time to enjoy life.    Read on for seven tips on how to find an everyday makeup routine that you can stick to.  1. Declutter  It’s safe to say that most women have more makeup than they need or even use. A cluttered vanity and makeup bag quietly eat your time as they cause you to search for the item you need or pause and think about what shade to use that day. Unless makeup is your profession, there is no need for a makeup arsenal fully stocked with every shade.  Decluttering your makeup bag will make your chic yet simple makeup look easier to achieve on a daily basis and will save you time each day.  If you find that you don’t need a full coverage foundation, switching to a tinted moisturizer or BB cream can simplify your makeup routine because it does double duty by acting as a moisturizer and providing light coverage.  Paring down your makeup arsenal can make applying your makeup less daunting, and you will find yourself becoming a master at using the cosmetics you keep.  So, where to start when you first decide to declutter? Following a few simple guidelines will get you set in the right direction. The first step to decluttering is an essential one: carefully check each product’s expiration date and dispose of anything that is past its expiration.  You should also throw out anything where the texture, consistency, or smell is off — old makeup is a notorious breeding ground for bacteria that can damage your skin and cause breakouts. Organizing Once you have disposed of your expired makeup, you can categorize everything and tackle each category separately.  Pick out the items you regularly use as well as the items that you love so much you can’t bear to get rid of — these items can go back into your makeup bag or drawer. Any remaining makeup can be given away or tossed.  2. Prep your skin To achieve the effortless French look, you must prep your skin! Prepping your skin will provide you with a clean palette and smooth complexion, which is a must for a natural look. A smooth complexion will allow you to use fewer cosmetics, eliminating the risk of a caked look.  Cleansing and moisturizing are the two most essential steps to any skincare routine. By taking the time to care for your skin with intentional, natural treatments, you’ll achieve a complexion and glow that may not need any help from foundation at all! Daily cleansing helps rid your face of dirt, oils, and other impurities and sets your skin up for success. Regular facial moisturizing gives your skin that extra boost it needs and can help bring a dewy and more youthful look.  3. Use lighting to your advantage When applying your makeup, it is best to use natural light. We’ve all been there — you find yourself in a poorly lit room or a bathroom with yellowish light, and you really take your time getting ready, only to find when you step outside that you have unblended patches, causing you to feel like a clown.  The best way to avoid this cringe-worthy scenario is to apply your makeup in natural lighting.  Both yellow and fluorescent lighting tend to make you look pale, which often results in the application of too much bronzer or blush. Lights with blue, green, or pink hues are also common culprits in makeup mishaps.  Natural light alternatives While a large, naturally lit bathroom or vanity table is ideal, that is not always possible. A good alternative to true natural light is “natural” white light bulbs placed on each side of your mirror to ensure that your face is evenly lit. The placement of lighting is nearly as important as the color of the bulbs. When investing in vanity lights, it is important to place lights on each side of the mirror and not just above. Lighting only above the mirror may save space but will cast shadows on your face and make it more difficult to apply your makeup evenly.  For best results, lights should be installed at a full 270° around your mirror – this will not only yield better results with your makeup, but you will also feel more glamorous, giving you a confidence boost that will follow you out the door! 4. Use the correct tools for the job It’s always so tempting to take shortcuts in life that may not provide the best outcome. This is especially true when it comes to makeup. Using the wrong tools to apply your makeup is like trying to file your taxes on your phone; it may get the job done but will leave you frustrated and with lackluster results.  For example, if you rely solely on your fingers to apply and blend your cosmetics, you will end up with uneven patches rather than achieving a finished and put-together look.  While it is true that you can go overboard on makeup brushes, they do have their place in your collection, and if you have not invested in a set of brushes, it may be time to do so. If you already have a brush set, make sure to take the time and get acquainted with it – learn each brush’s purpose and how to use it properly. If you use the wrong brush for the job, it won’t give you the result you are looking for. 5. Choose one star of the show  For an easy natural makeup look, choose one feature to emphasize with your makeup. The best way to highlight one element is to stick with your favorite facial feature. The most obvious choices are your eyes or lips.  Highlight your eyes To emphasize your eyes, do not go over the top with colored shadows and liners — stick to a nude or neutral shadow with a slight shimmer, and go with some simple eyeliner that can be smudged for a night-out look.  Most women tend to pass by the brown eyeliner in favor of black, but brown eyeliner is an excellent choice for a simple makeup look as it looks great on most skin tones and blends better with your lash line, giving the illusion of longer lashes.  Your lashes are equally important if you want your eyes to pop. Just a light coat of quality mascara, and you’re ready to go! When choosing mascara, don’t be afraid to go with brown over the traditional black. Brown mascara will provide a more natural look as it blends better with your lashes. Highlight your lips Lips are most easily emphasized by the use of a bold lip color, but it requires a little more than a quick swipe of your favorite shade.  To make your lips stand out, you should always start with a sharp line drawn with a lip pencil — just inside your natural lip line for a daytime look and just outside your lip line for an evening look.  Once you have your lips defined, you can apply and blend your favorite shade of lipstick, lip gloss, or even tinted lip balm! For some extra definition around your lips, you can use a little concealer or foundation powder to make your lip color appear bolder.  If you covet the confident red-lipped look of the French, don’t be afraid to try it out for yourself! There is no need to feel self-conscious about the color of your teeth; if you choose a red lipstick with a blue undertone, it can help cancel out any yellowness on your teeth. Whichever feature you choose to make the star of your face, it’s important that everything else be minimal. When choosing a blush color, pick one that most closely matches your face's natural flush after exercise.  If you choose to emphasize your eyes, go with a more natural look for your lips by using a nude lipstick or a color that is two shades darker than your natural lips. You should also avoid any temptation to overdo your eyebrows — leave them naturally full as it will give your eyes a more open look without any added makeup. 6. Don’t overdo it If you are aiming for a simple and natural makeup look, the biggest mistake you can make is being too heavy-handed. Too much foundation, blush, or even lipstick and eyeliner can make you look far from natural.  Applying too much foundation can also suck the moisture out of your face, leaving you with a cakey appearance, or worse yet, the appearance of crepe paper skin!  If you find yourself in a situation when you have applied too much foundation, first try blending again, and if that does not correct it, try wetting a beauty sponge and dabbing it on your face to remove some of the excess.  If you feel comfortable in your own skin, don’t be afraid to skip the foundation altogether or go with a BB cream or tinted moisturizer instead. You can also choose to use foundation in trouble areas only — be sure to thoroughly blend the edges if you go this route. When you sit down to do your makeup for the day, the most important thing to remember is that your makeup should not be used as a mask to cover yourself up. It should be about highlighting your individuality and uniqueness — an expression of yourself. A natural makeup look is timeless. Stick to neutral colors; with simple eyeliner and a neutral color palette, you cannot go wrong! However you choose to apply your makeup, take a step back, and look at yourself. You are beautiful as you are. Be confident! Believe in your own magic and beauty, and the rest of the world will too.