Learn French Phrases: French Makeup Terms

Have you ever wondered if all those French fashion clichés are actually true? Do French women roam Paris's streets in their Breton striped tops, trench coats, silk scarves, berets, and Chanel handbags? Or is this just one of those Paris stereotypes? If you research the term "French-style clothing," you'll often be met with a list of must-have items that the writer swears all French women have in their five-piece French wardrobe.  So, how do you know what French women actually wear, and what's a French fashion cliché?  French women are renowned worldwide for their effortless, chic, and timeless style. And if you want to perfect French chic, you have to know the difference between a French fashion favorite and a cliché.  Here are 11 items we're reviewing to give you the lowdown on what to add to your wardrobe and what you can cross off from your list. The beret The beret is the number one French fashion cliché out there! When you think of what French people wear, you might automatically envision them with a navy or red beret atop of their head.  Sorry to burst this bubble, but the truth is, most French women do not stroll around wearing a beret! You might see a beret on a trend-focused, stylish woman (if berets happen to be in that season) or on the head of an old man playing Pétanque. Apart from that, this is an age-old French stereotype that simply isn't that common anymore. The Breton striped top (marinière) A Breton striped top is a classic white top with horizontal navy stripes, known as the marinière in France. Coco Channel popularized the Breton top when she introduced the design in her nautical collection back in 1917. While it's true that most women will own at least one striped top, they're not as popular as you might think. In fact, tourists tend to wear Breton tops while visiting France more than local French women do! Neutral tees and graphic tees are far more popular today than stripes.  If you're set on rocking a striped top, pair it with a block-colored blazer, a pair of straight-leg jeans, and some white sneakers for a smart-casual daytime look. Ballerina flats The French fashion cliché of ballerina flats was initially started by Brigitte Bardot in the '60s. Most French women will own at least one pair of ballerina flats in a neutral color that works with most other things in their wardrobe. However, they don't wear them all the time! French women also love wearing white sneakers, loafers, slingbacks, and low block heels. It's all about comfort and style.  The silk scarf The silk scarf is such a versatile item and can add a pop of color or pattern to any look. You'll see images of French women wearing them around their necks, tied on their bags, and also in their hair. But is this a fashion staple for French women or just a cliché? French women do wear silk scarves, and a lot of them will own at least one. But they tend to be reserved for special occasions and not worn for a day-to-day look.  Bold red lipstick & voluminous lashes Do you imagine the streets of Paris filled with women with flawless skin, perfectly tousled hair, and rocking a bold red lip?  Some women will wear red lipstick as an everyday look, especially fashion-savvy women. But others will keep their daytime look a little more toned down and opt for a subtler pink lipstick instead. They'll save a bold red lip for special occasions like a girl's night out, a date, or a party. But every woman will own a classic red lipstick in their makeup collection. Day or night, French women will always give their lashes a coat of mascara for more length and volume. Good makeup is key to achieving that timeless, French chic look. The vintage cardigan Do you imagine Parisian women wearing cute vintage cardigans in an array of colors?  While some women do like the look, many prefer to keep their look more classic. This means sticking to neutral colors and tones and more timeless cardigan shapes.  One thing to note with vintage cardigans is they can quickly make you look dowdy if not worn the right way. To avoid this, opt for a finer-knit cardigan for a modern, chic look perfect for fall and winter.  The Birkin basket bag Yes, French women do love a basket bag, but they don't use it the way you might think they do! You'll spot basket bags all around the streets of Paris, but they're usually popular for carrying groceries, running errands, shopping, or packing a picnic during the summer.  Americans have been seen wearing smaller basket styles as handbags, which you'll rarely find French women doing.  The trench coat The trench coat truly is a French woman's fashion staple. Most women will own a good quality classic style in a neutral color.  Why? Because the trench coat is the perfect piece of outerwear for that unpredictable French weather!  Plus, it's a great lightweight transition to take you from late summer into fall when it's too warm for a pepper winter coat. Traditional French clothing is all about being practical and chic at the same time. Look for a trench coat in a neutral color like beige, light grey, or navy. And invest in a coat that is made well and will last you for many years—this is what French fashion is built on.  The floral wrap dress Floral wrap dresses have become increasingly popular over the past few years and are often associated with French women. But are they a true fashion staple or a cliché? During the spring/summer season, you will find many French women wearing wrap dresses. They're flattering for all figures, comfortable to wear, and can work well for holidays and weekends. However, this is a very feminine look, and French women are notorious for mixing and matching feminine and masculine silhouettes. You might want to add a blazer or a pair of sneakers to keep this look fresh and modern.  The white button-down shirt You'll always find the white button-down shirt making its way onto French fashion must-have lists!  But you won't find many French women wearing white shirts around the city. It tends to be kept for work and in business settings rather than day-to-day social life.  Although it might be a French fashion cliché, it's an incredibly versatile piece that can be dressed up or down and will never go out of style. The Chanel bag One of the biggest Paris stereotypes is that all French women own a black Chanel handbag which they never leave the house without.  While this might be all French women's dream handbag, not everyone can afford such a luxurious brand. If it's within your budget, it's a great, timeless piece to invest in that will make any outfit chic.  But there are so many great high street versions of the classic black leather handbag that will suit all budgets. Invest in a piece that is well made and looks expensive, but don't worry about the label.     And that's the truth about French fashion clichés! The number one rule with French style is to keep things classic, timeless, and effortless. Stick to this, and you'll perfect that French girl style in no time.    

  As the weather starts getting warmer, we’re ready to change up our look! For us, timeless summer looks have to be a little lighter and softer, as opposed to the darker colors we favored in the winter.  However, just because we prefer a more natural summer makeup look, doesn’t mean we’re giving up on any of the beauty or glamour. Makeup for hot weather shouldn’t feel heavy, but it can still pack a punch.  That’s why we’ve selected our favorite summer makeup looks for 2021. Have a look at the photos to get inspired, and then follow our tips so you can try these makeup looks for yourself.  Glowy and natural    To start, let’s talk about natural summer makeup looks that help you feel cool and refreshed no matter how hot it gets outside. This stunning look is ideal for daytime, with a focus on healthy, glowy skin and bright, vivacious eyes.  To achieve this look, start with a good canvas of well-prepped skin. Don’t skimp on moisturizer and sunscreen, especially if you’ll be spending any time under the sun. Use just a hint of tinted moisturizer to even out the skin tone, and then build up layers of bronzer and highlighter for that sunkissed, glowy look. If you don’t have a liquid highlighter on hand, a dab of shimmery gloss can totally do the trick!   To make the eyes pop, frame them with a lengthening Vivienne Sabó mascara. The newest addition to our mascara collection, the Polynésie Francaise is ideal, because it offers natural length with water-resistant and non-flaking formula. Finally, fill in your brows, and then brush them up for that fluffy look. Our Brow Arcade pencil comes with a comb on the end, so it’s perfect for the job.  Feeling pink    If you’d like to have a bit of fun with your eye makeup without necessarily spending ages on eyeshadow, get inspired by this makeup look! Pops of color are going to be everywhere in 2021. A swipe of pink along the lash line is a great way to rock the trend without feeling silly or overdone. This look isn’t quite as glowy as the previous one we showcased, but otherwise, the two are quite similar, with a more natural vibe. Just use a slightly more dramatic Vivienne Sabó mascara, like the volumizing Provocation. Finish things off with a dose of a more pigmented pink lip gloss, like our Le Grand Volume in Raspberry, to match the eyes.  Nude glam This is one of those timeless summer looks for the evening. It’s elegant and polished, with a refined glamour that’s never in danger of looking like too much. This kind of nude glam look is fitting for any occasion, including a day at the office or a night at the opera.  Because the colors used in this look are natural, it’s possible to slightly amp up the intensity of both the eyes and the lips. For the eyes, a shimmery champagne shade is ideal for the lids while brown eyeshadow helps to contour the crease. Finally, a soft Feutre Fin wing is essential for framing the eyes, along with a few coats of mascara.  To give the lips that glossy fullness, the secret is to first use a warm nude lip pencil to contour the lips. Then, a coating of our Polynesie Francais gloss in Tahiti completes the look with a radiant sheen.  Soft and smokey    If you want smoldering makeup for hot weather, a soft smokey eye is our favorite. It’s an alluring and irresistible look with a lot of sex appeal. Because it relies on brown eyeshadows, it doesn’t have the heaviness of a black smokey eye. As with all of our favorite summer makeup looks for 2021, the base here is also natural, soft, and incredibly glowy. The eyes are the focus, of course, so apply a soft, shimmery brown to bring out the lids.  Then, in the crease, apply a medium brown shade that’s just a little darker than your skin tone. Use that same color all along your lower lash line, to create that smokey effect. Finally, use a darker brown shade to deepen the outer corner of the eye and the crease.  To finish things off, apply your liquid liner in a very thin line, right along both the top and bottom lash lines. Finally, apply a generous coat of Vivienne Sabó mascara, and a light dab of nude gloss on the lips.  Peachy keen   A softer way of adding color to your summer eye makeup is to use peach! The vibrant color looks incredibly natural against the skin and adds a touch of warmth that’s perfect for the season. It’s universally flattering, and because of its orange base, it really makes blue eyes pop.  This monochrome look is a great way of making this color work! There’s no need for eyeliner—just a swipe of peach over the lids and across the cheekbones. A coat or two of mascara and a touch of warm lipstick like our Matte Constance in Warm Pink finish the look.  Summer night glam    Red lipstick fits every season. It’s elegant and eye-catching, so it’s perfect for a classy summer soirée or romantic dinner date. In true French beauty fashion, this timeless summer look also features a subtle black wing and perfectly groomed brows.  To make this work for you, choose a red lipstick with rich depth, like our Matte Constance in Classic Red. A dab of gloss only at the center of the lips adds a reflective touch that makes the lips look a little bigger and fits in well with summer 2021 trends.  Bringing the heat The best season of the year is just around the corner, and with these makeup looks, we’ll be bringing the heat! Sure, there’s no reason why you can’t wear these timeless summer looks during other seasons, but to us, they perfectly capture everything Vivienne Sabó loves about the warmest season. They’re light, fresh, and timelessly beautiful.     

When the Beauty Blender was first released, it shook the makeup world from top to bottom. Before it came around, we were using flat brushes and dry, triangle-shaped sponges. These tools worked, but applying foundation would take ages.  Nowadays, these egg-shaped makeup blenders are the ideal tool for applying a natural-looking layer of foundation or blending out concealer. Reusable makeup sponges give the skin a natural finish, and they’re oh so simple to use.  There are a few key tricks to making a Beauty Blender work, which we’ll explain in this post. The most important amongst them? You have to use your makeup sponge wet. Keep reading to learn why!  Why should you wet makeup sponges?    Using a wet makeup sponge makes a major difference, so here are the reasons why we recommend it so strongly.  Less product waste First of all, using a damp makeup sponge can save you a lot of time and money in the long term, because it wastes less product. When your sponge is dry, it absorbs a ton of foundation right into its center. If you’ve ever found yourself dispensing more and more foundation, but getting no coverage, that’s the reason why.  On the other hand, when the sponge is damp, the water takes up all of the space in the sponge, and there’s no room for the foundation to soak in. Instead, it stays on the surface, so you can stipple it over your skin with no product waste.  Flawless finish  The second reason to use a damp makeup sponge is that it makes your foundation or concealer look so much better. Some of the water in the sponge infuses with the foundation, which gives the skin a more luminous and healthy finish. Because the sponge is expanded, it also leaves less of an imprint on the skin, which leads to a much smoother and more blended finish.  How to use a wet makeup sponge  Whether you’re using a wet makeup sponge to apply or blend your foundation, here’s the most fool-proof way to prep and then use it.    First, run the tap and place your reusable makeup sponge under the stream.  Let the sponge get saturated with water, and then squeeze it a few times. As the sponge takes in the water, it’ll expand to twice or triple its original size.  Turn off the tap, and squeeze the sponge to remove excess water. It should be damp rather than soaking wet.  Then, you can use the sponge to either apply or blend your foundation. Applying your foundation directly with the sponge will give a more sheer application.  If you like full coverage, apply your foundation with a brush or fingers, and then use the sponge to blend it out.  Whether you’re blending or applying, the main trick is to bounce the sponge over your skin. The bouncing motion helps the foundation glide over pores and it blurs away any brush streaks.  Use the tip of the sponge for blending out or applying concealer under the eyes or along the side of the nose. Stick to the same bouncing motions as you apply it to those smaller areas.  Once your foundation is perfected, you can finish off the rest of your makeup!  More tips for using a makeup blender  Using a Beauty Blender the classic way is great, but we have a few more hacks that will allow you to get the most out of your reusable makeup sponge!  If you don’t like getting your hands dirty, you can use your Beauty Blender to apply moisturizer and primer before you do your makeup.  If your skin is especially dehydrated, you can saturate your Beauty Blender with a moisturizing toner, which will hydrate the skin even more dramatically.  For days when you really need your makeup to last, saturate your reusable makeup sponge with a setting spray, instead. It’ll help lock your foundation in place as you apply it.  If your skin is oily or you’d like to waterproof your makeup, you can use a damp makeup blender to press translucent powder into your skin to set your base. While this technique can make dry skin look drier, it works well for those with oily skin, helping to make your foundation incredibly budge-proof.  If you make any mistakes winging out your eyeliner or you want your eye makeup to have a sharper line, put a bit of foundation along the side of the pointy end of your sponge. Then use it to clean up the lines along the outer corner of the eye.  A Beauty Blender is perfect for applying and blending out cream blush, highlighter, or contour! Use the pointy end to add those contour lines, or blend out your blush with the rounded end for a very natural flush of color.   Don’t forget to wash it  Finally, once you finish your makeup, always remember to wash your sponge with soap and water! Otherwise, Beauty Blenders can harbor bacteria if they’re left dirty or damp.  To clean your sponge, hold it under the running tap, and then add some soap. Squeeze it a few times so it foams up well, and finally, rinse it clean. Squeeze it to get as much of the water out, and then place it somewhere clean and safe to air dry. This will keep your reusable makeup sponge in top shape for up to 6 months.  Flawless foundation every time Considering how simple of a trick it is, using a wet makeup sponge has an amazing impact! There is no better way to guarantee a seamless and natural-looking foundation application. Give this trick a try to stop wasting foundation and to perfect your base.