Life-Changing Skin Care Tips Inspired by French Beauty

The Baker and the Beauty might be over, but that doesn’t mean we can’t swoon over the gorgeous makeup and fashion from the show one last time! In case you haven’t seen it, the series is an adaptation of the Israeli romantic-comedy series Beauty and the Baker. It's a story of a Miami-based baker Daniel Garcia (Victor Rasuk) who falls in love with international superstar Noa Hamilton (Nathalie Kelley), and the pair are an unlikely match to say the least!  The show will make you laugh out loud, warm your heart, and have you hitting the rewind button, so you can pause to take in every single one of Noa’s breathtaking looks (trust us, there are plenty!). In this article we’re reminiscing on all the best makeup looks from the show and showing you how to recreate these fabulous looks yourself.  Pretty in pink Noa Hamilton (Nathalie Kelley) Noa Hamilton is a high-profile model living a jet-set glamorous life, which means the majority of her looks are red-carpet ready.  At times in the show, Noa rocks a matching pink printed set of pants and a short-sleeve shirt. Her hair is natural and relaxed, adding to the summery vacation vibe of this look. But did you know that actress Nathalie Kelley is the opposite of her character in real life? Yes! She is known for keeping her beauty routine simple and natural. “For me, beauty is health, beauty is how my internal organs are functioning,” explains the TV star. Get the look: A pinky-nude lip combined with a pop of pink blush highlight Noa’s pink outfit and create a super fun and feminine vibe.  Keep the brows natural (this is the best eyebrow pencil), swipe on some natural shimmery eyeshadow, and finish with a coat of mascara for fluttery lashes.  Classic French vibes Noa keeps things très chic throughout the show, especially in the airport scene, by pairing classic dark-wash jeans with a block color shirt and a versatile trench coat. Any French woman following the five-piece French wardrobe would be proud! She’s a frequent jet-setter known for hopping on a plane for international press trips, dodging the paparazzi, and attending glamorous events and parties. But no matter where she’s going, she always looks flawless.    Soft waves in Noa’s hair add a relaxed vibe to this look, while jewelry and accessories are kept to a minimum.  Get the look: This is one of Noa’s more natural, classic makeup looks. Minimal products are used on her skin to create a natural, radiant look. Her eyes are lightly lined for definition and finished with a couple of coats of mascara for extra length and volume.  Complete the look with lipstick in a neutral tone to complement your natural skin tone.  Sun-kissed skin  Before we break down this glamorous look, can we take a moment to talk about how Nathalie Kelley’s skin always looks like it’s GLOWING?! What’s her secret? She’s a big fan of natural beauty and body techniques including Abhyanga (an Ayurvedic hot oil massage), gua sha, and facial cupping. When she’s not working, she wears next to no makeup and uses her lip balm to soothe her lips and add a hint of color to her cheeks. That’s it! But back to this look. What’s Noa doing and how can you do it too? Get the look: This look is all about sun-kissed skin and a smokey eye. For glowing skin, it’s all about highlighting and contouring to emphasize the parts of your face that will catch the light.  Next, for the perfect smokey eye, you’ll need two eyeshadows (a darker shade and a lighter, shimmery one), some eyeliner, and your favorite mascara. Make sure you check your eyes are symmetrical when you’re done, and equally smoldering on both sides.  Finish with a swipe of lip gloss or a muted lip color and you’re good to go! Classical beauty Piper (Georgina Reilly) Piper has naturally pale, porcelain skin which adds to her classic, striking beauty throughout the show. This look is all about keeping things simple and elegant. Less is more ladies.  Get the look: Eyeliner and mascara add definition to Piper’s eyes here, which are accentuated by the way her fringe draws your attention right to them. A pop of pink blush creates the perfect, English rosy-cheeked look, while a pink-red lip keeps this look classic and feminine.  This is a perfect day-time look that can be amped up a notch with a bolder lip for the evening.  Casual glam Vanessa Sanchez (Michelle Veintimilla) Vanessa keeps things super sexy throughout the show with this look, but you’d be surprised how little makeup she actually wears.  Her brows are bold and defined and are the star of the show here. But how can you perfect your brow game? Get the look: The best eyebrow pencil for you will depend on the color of your eyebrows and hair. Light eyebrows should go for one shade darker than their hair, while women with dark brows should go one shade lighter than their hair. The key to beautiful-looking brows is all about gradually layering different products on top of each other. Vanessa pairs her brows with a striking lip in a dark pink tone. The secret to a long-lasting lip color is to always remember to line your lips first, then fill them in starting at the center and working outwards.   Complete your look with some eyeliner on the upper lash line and a coat of mascara. Less is more Natalie (Belissa Escobedo) You can’t help but love Natalie’s character—an awkward, lonely teen who’s trying to come to terms with her sexuality and figure out how her Catholic parents will react to her coming out. Although Natalie wears glasses throughout the show which may distract you from her makeup, she actually has some really strong makeup moments that are both natural and effortless.  Get the look: Natalie’s brows are kept bare and natural here, while her eyes are lightly lined then topped with a hint of mascara for extra oomph. Her voluminous lips are kept simple in a nude-pink shade of lipstick, while her hair is pulled back and accentuates her cheekbones and lengthens and frames her face.   Keeping it classy Mari Garcia (Lisa Vidal)   Daniel’s mother, Mari (Lisa Vidal), is the natural leader of the family, and tends to take over and be a little overbearing at times! What we love most about her is her natural glamour no matter where she’s going or what she’s doing. Her hair is always perfectly curled and never out of place. Her makeup is simple yet stunning. Style and class ooze out of this woman and you can’t help but wonder, how does she do it?! Get the look: Mari’s look is all about allowing your natural beauty to shine through. Her eyes are lightly defined here, while her face is lightly brushed with bronzer to create some definition and glow. Complete the look with your favorite nude lipstick and that’s a wrap! We have loved re-visiting the best makeup looks from The Baker and the Beauty show! The key message here is to work with your natural beauty. The less makeup you use, the more your natural features can shine and work their magic.      Some screenshots from Netflix were used for visual reference in this blog post

All around the world, many of us are still required to wear face masks in public places. There are no clear signs as to when this will end completely, which means we’ve had to accept that a mask has become a permanent accessory.  But what does this mean for your makeup? Anyone who has tried wearing a full face under their mask will be no stranger to smudges, smears, and mask transfers. And if it’s warm outside, it’s game over.  You’re left wondering "why did I even bother putting makeup on today?"  So, the golden question is: Do you know how to keep your makeup on when wearing a mask? We do; so keep reading to see how! What causes your makeup to rub off? There’s a couple of things going on underneath your mask. First off, wearing a mask causes humidity between the fabric and your skin. This, combined with the oil in your makeup, can cause your makeup to transfer or completely melt away.  Second, every time you breathe (which we do around 20,000 times each day!) you produce warm air which also causes your makeup to lift and transfer.  Third, the simple fact that most masks are in direct contact with your skin makes it likely that at least some of your makeup will rub off onto it. That might sound like a real challenge, but don’t panic. We’ve done a lot of research and figured out how to keep makeup from rubbing off under a mask.  Are you ready to say goodbye to the smudged look and dirty masks?  Give the natural look a try Okay, so this is kind of a cheat way to eliminate all that smudging and smearing.  But if no one’s going to see half your face anyway, why not take a break from makeup or keep things minimal? Less is more when it comes to classic French beauty. Plus, you’ll save money on makeup and so much time in the morning! Your skin will also get a much-needed break.  If you’ve ever thought about embracing a more natural look, there’s no better time to give it a try than right now. Embrace your natural beauty.  How to keep your makeup on when wearing a mask Okay, maybe the totally natural look just isn’t your thing. We get it. Putting your makeup on each morning might be a part of your everyday routine, and maybe it helps you feel a sense of normality during your week. So, although we would recommend skipping foundation and only wearing makeup on the visible parts of your face (your eye makeup), we get it. You might still want to wear a full face of makeup. It’s kind of like lingerie—although it’s not always seen, you know it’s there, and it makes you feel like a total Goddess.  That’s why we’ve rounded up expert tips to help you protect your makeup underneath your mask and keep it in place the whole day.  Use a moisturizer and primer The first step in your beauty routine is to cleanse and moisturize your skin. This will help combat some chafing or spots that masks are known to cause. Next step, follow up with a long-lasting primer. Primer is a great product to use because it’s oil-free, which means it will help keep all the other products you layer on top in place.  But don’t get too carried away and use an excessive amount of primer, because this will have the opposite effect!  Use it sparingly and add a light layer as you normally would.  A matte or waterproof foundation is best If you’re going to wear foundation, look for a matte or waterproof formula.  A waterproof formula will dry and lock onto your skin, without drying it out. On a good day, it can stay put for up to 24 hours!  A matte foundation will also stay put for longer than a glossy one because it’s water-based rather than oil-based.  Apply a thin layer of foundation onto the areas where you need it most, and blend using a brush, sponge, or your fingers.  Tips for applying concealer After you’ve applied your foundation, follow up by applying a long-wear concealer. Avoid overly creamy, luminous concealers as these tend to not set well and are likely to transfer onto your mask. Keep your concealer to your eye area (if you need it), but avoid the nose and chin to keep smudging at bay.  Set your base Now it’s time to set your base.  What you’re after here is a loose, translucent powder. Work it into your skin with a beauty blender or brush. This will allow your mask to slide over your skin without removing your foundation. Although it may be tempting to go all-out with the powder, too much of it will create a chalky effect. And you don’t want to end up looking like a ghost! Make your eyes and brows the star of the show Although wearing a mask can be a nausiance, the great news is your eyes are still very much on show! So, now is the time to upgrade your brow and lash game and make your beautiful eyes pop. This is the first area of your face that people will notice when you’re wearing a mask. In fact, this is usually the first area people normally notice anyway.  Embrace your natural-looking brows, and easily add definition with a good eyebrow pencil Experiment with eyeliner and keep your look as natural or dramatic as you like.  And the final step is to finish with your favorite mascara. This is what really makes your eyes pop! Use an eyelash curler to add lift, followed by an eyelash primer. Then finish with a couple of coats of lengthening and volumizing mascara. Swap bright lips for neutral shades You may have heard this strange myth going around that lipstick sales have plummeted since the pandemic, but this couldn’t be further from the truth! Women are still wearing lipstick for their video calls, as they go for a walk to the shops, or as they lounge at home for no other reason than it makes them feel beautiful. But if you are wearing a mask for most of the day, avoid anything sticky because you don’t want it to stick to your mask! Be wary of bright colors too, as if the color does end up rubbing, it will be very visible on your face. We recommend sticking to subtle, light or nude shades in a hydrating formula that nourishes your lips.  Don’t let your face mask ruin your makeup routine! And that’s how to keep your makeup on when wearing a mask.  We hope you’re feeling more confident about going for a more natural look or picking the right products to wear under your mask.    Here at Vivienne Sabó we’re making our eyes the star of the show and having a lot of fun trying out new eye makeup looks! So, remember to have fun with your makeup and don’t let wearing a mask get you down.

Eyeshadow is one of the most tricky parts of the makeup routine, but it allows you to get the most creative. There are a few common pitfalls beginners often make with their eyeshadow, from having the wrong technique to using the wrong eyeshadow palette.  We’ve collected our best eyeshadow tips to help you solve your eyeshadow woes. If you’ve ever found yourself wondering why your eyeshadow looks dull or why it keeps creasing, we've got some suggestions based on our effortless, beginner-friendly approach to makeup.  Here are seven reasons why your eyeshadow may not be working for you.  1. Trying to do too much   Complex eyeshadow can be beautiful to look at, but it takes a long time to create, especially if you’re new to makeup. In French beauty, the goal is maximum impact with minimal effort. This means that we like to use our eyeshadows sparingly to bring out what we already have.  There’s nothing wrong with getting creative and using unusual colors, but most days, it’s better to do a “quick look” with just a couple of eyeshadows — a lighter tone on the lid and a slightly deeper tone on the crease to make the eyes pop.   2. Lack of eyeshadow primer  If your eyeshadow fades away quickly, settles into creases, or looks dull, chances are you’re forgetting to use primer. Powder eyeshadows don’t like to stick to bare skin — they need a bit of help to look vibrant and to stay in place.  When doing your eye makeup, make sure to start with a thin layer of eyeshadow primer, and when you apply your eyeshadow on top, it’ll look brighter and last a lot longer.  If you don’t have an eyeshadow primer on hand, you can use a concealer or cream eyeshadow instead. Your eyeshadow may still crease a little more quickly than with a primer, especially if your lids are oily, but it will look much better than if you go without.   3. Poor eyeshadow shape  Eye makeup rarely looks great when you layer it on without an action plan, so before starting to put on your eyeshadow, it’s imperative to consider eyeshadow shapes. By keeping your eye and lid shape in mind, you can guarantee that you’ll apply your shadow in a shape that flatters.  Shapes to try out First, consider the basics: darker eyeshadow acts like contour, pushing features back and making them look more hollow, while lighter shadows bring features forward to make them seem larger and more prominent.  To open up the eye, opt for a classic look with a brighter lid and a darker shade in the outer corner and crease.  Keeping the lid darker will give you a smoky look that’s a little sultrier and also helps de-emphasize a prominent lid.  The angle of your shadow in the outer corner will also have an impact. You can angle it up more to give the eyes an upturned look or keep it rounded for a softer look.  4. Using the wrong colors  From trying to wear blue eyeshadow with blue eyes to attempting to make yellow-gold shadow work against your cool skin tone… it’s very possible that your eyeshadow isn’t looking good because you’re wearing shades that don’t flatter your natural coloring.  Here are some tips to help you choose the best shades of eyeshadow for different eye colors and skin undertones:   For pinkish, cool-toned skin, avoid very warm yellow or green-based shades, and instead opt for neutral, red-based, or cool tones.   If your skin is warm with a yellow undertone, skip the blue and indigo shades, and try to stick to warmer shades, instead.  For blue eyes, orange-based shades like peach, copper, and rose gold are going to have the most impact.  If your eyes are green, mauves, bronzes, and red-based browns will bring out your green tones most dramatically.  If your eyes are brown, you’re in luck! Your eyes are a neutral color, so you can combine them with just about anything.  Finally, no matter your eye color or skin tone, remember that everyone looks good in neutrals. Browns, smokes, and beige shades (and their metallic versions like gunmetal and champagne) can be used to add depth to the eye without necessarily adding color.  5. You’re “brushing” your eyeshadow on  Another reason why your eyeshadow looks dull or muddy might be that your application technique is a little off. Even though they’re called brushes, you’re not actually supposed to brush eyeshadow on to the eyes.  When you try to apply your eyeshadow with a wiping or blending motion, you end up smudging it as you apply it, which reduces color pay-off and looks messy. Instead, you should always press the eyeshadow on at first, using the side of a flat brush. This way, you can deposit a maximum amount of vibrant eyeshadow directly on your lid!  7. Not blending correctly If your eyeshadow looks too harsh or blunt, chances are you’re not blending it enough. After you’ve deposited your eyeshadow, you should always transition to a fluffy brush for blending. Use it only to blend the areas where you want the eyeshadow to look smokier and less intense, and make sure to take your time with it until everything looks soft and seamless.   If you want to combine a few different eyeshadow colors, it can help to first dip your blending brush into a transition shade that's somewhere in between the main colors you’re using. That middle shade will help the shadows blend easily, without looking muddy.  Finishing touches  There are no rules in makeup, only guidelines! Please take our best eyeshadow tips as intended, to make your life easier and help you problem-solve. Our suggestions will help you get the most out of your eyeshadow palettes, but what you create is totally up to you.