Queen’s Gambit Makeup and Fashion

Everyone looks forward to the summer, don’t they? It’s the time of ditching all those winter layers, heading off on vacation, lazing by the pool, soaking up the sunshine, eating ice cream, and watching the sunset in all its glorious colors.  But if there’s one thing we don’t love about the warmer weather, it’s what it does to our makeup! Finding the right makeup for hot weather can be a real struggle. If you don’t know what products to use, the high temperatures and humidity will make applying your makeup a challenge. To top things off, it can quickly melt off your face in minutes once you walk out the door.  While you can’t control the weather, you can control the makeup you put on your face. And there are plenty of tips to help you look your best during the warmer weather.  Here are some great summer makeup tips you need to know, so you can be ten steps ahead when the sunshine finally says hey. Prep is key When the weather is hot, it’s essential that you properly prep your skin before even thinking of putting makeup anywhere near it. This is because when you have the right base, your makeup will sit nicely on your skin and last longer. So, what do you need to do? Be sure to thoroughly cleanse your face and neck in the morning with your favorite cleanser. This will help remove any oil or perspiration before you start applying your skincare and makeup. And remember, prep really begins the night before. Make sure you’re removing your makeup at the end of the day, cleansing and toning your face, and applying a good night cream to replenish and nourish your skin while you sleep.  This way, you’ll wake up with less work to do and set yourself up for success.   Use an oil-free moisturizer There are two main types of moisturizers out there: 1. Water-based moisturizers2. Oil-based moisturizers Oil-based moisturizers are great for people who tend to suffer from dry skin. However, even if that’s you, when it’s warm, your body will perspire and produce more oils than it usually does. Chances are, you won’t need as much hydration as you do in the colder months.  This means you can swap out your oil-based moisturizer for a water-based one. This will reduce the amount of oil and shine on your face, and help your makeup stay firmly in place throughout the day.   Add SPF Of all the summer makeup tips on the list, this one is paramount.  Aside from sunburn, the sun can do real long-lasting damage to our skin over time if we don’t protect it properly. That means wearing SPF (at least factor 25) every day underneath your makeup is the best thing to do.  And try not to let this slide once the weather cools down again. Ideally, you should be wearing SPF every time your outside for long, because even if you can’t see the sun, it’s still there! Many women skip sunscreen because it adds another step to their already hectic morning routine. But the great news is, there are so many skincare products on the market today that have SPF added into them, so you can save time and protect your skin.  So if you’re looking to save time and create a simpler summer makeup routine, look out for products like this.  Invest in a primer Primer is a must for the warmer weather. It’s light, easy to apply, and will really help your makeup stay in place the whole day. Apply a thin layer of your favorite primer after your moisturizer, and before you add any makeup.  Wear less makeup If you want to completely avoid your makeup from creasing, caking, and sliding in the warmer weather, you’re better off wearing as little makeup as possible! We can give you all the tips in the world to help your makeup stay in place, but there’s only so much you can do to prevent this from happening. So if you want to avoid the hassle altogether, try stripping down your makeup routine to the bare essentials.  When it’s hot, you don’t want to cover your face in products because your skin will struggle to breathe. If you still want some coverage, try a BB or CC cream or a tinted moisturizer. If you have stubborn dark circles or pigmentation, and you just can’t ditch your concealer, opt for a waterproof version instead.  Less is more ladies! Use a waterproof version of your favorite mascara If there’s one thing we can’t leave the house without, it’s a coat of mascara. But the last thing you want is to have panda eyes by lunchtime! That’s why waterproof mascara is one of the makeup essentials for summer. It won’t smudge or budge an inch and will keep you looking fresh-faced and bright-eyed all day long. Plus, it’s the perfect companion if you enjoy swimming or dipping in the ocean while on vacay.  The only snag is it’s a little more difficult to remove at the end of the day, but the right makeup remover will do the trick, and if you ask us, it’s totally worth it!  Less shine, more glow When it’s hot and humid, your t-zone is likely to take the brunt of it. But a greasy, shiny forehead is not a look any of us want!  This is where blotting papers become your new best friend. They’re inexpensive and super simple to use. Keep a small pack of them in your handbag, so you can eliminate shine throughout the day. If you want to re-apply your makeup, blot your face first, then go for it.  Swap lipstick for a lighter lip gloss The summer months call for a more subtle, dewy look, so why not try swapping your regular matte lipstick for a lighter shaded gloss? This will add moisture and just a hint of color which you can layer up as you like.  We swear by this volumizing lip gloss for soft, plump & kissable lips.  Invest in a mist with SPF Did you know that you’re meant to reapply SPF every 2 hours if you’re continually out in the sun? Nobody has time (or the patience) for that. Plus, reapplying sunscreen on top of your makeup is a recipe for disaster.  Don’t worry, we’ve found a workaround! Stock up on a refreshing setting spray or mist that comes with the SPF you’re looking for.  One spritz and you’re beach ready. Remember: less is more!  Of all the summer makeup tips out there, the most important one is to remember that less really is more.  And the less time you spend applying your makeup, the more time you’ll have to sunbathe at the beach and soak up the gorgeous rays!

Our favorite look for low-effort glam calls for just a touch of mascara and a swipe of boldly colored lipstick. Focusing on the lips is a known French beauty hack, but for it to work well, our lips have to be in great shape!  Lipstick can’t glide smoothly over chapped lips, which is why a good lip care routine is so important. Here are our tips for taking good care of your lips on the regular, along with some advice for special care when they get especially dry. Use a richer lip balm at night   The lips can get incredibly dry at night, especially if the humidity in your room is low or if you tend to breathe from your mouth as you sleep. That’s why it’s best to apply a thicker lip balm before bed. If your lips are particularly chapped, using a rich balm will help to speed up their healing.  Look for occlusive ingredients  What on earth does occlusive mean, you ask? Occlusives are oily ingredients that are able to seal moisture in place and prevent evaporation. They’re essential for a truly healing lip balm. Our favorite occlusive ingredients for the lips are lanolin, squalane, shea butter, and petrolatum. A balm with these ingredients can create a protective seal over the lips that prevents moisture loss.  Use lip balm as a barrier Another important time to apply lip balm is before brushing your teeth or using potentially-drying skincare products like retinoids or acne treatments. The balm will act as a barrier against those products and prevent their drying effects from impacting your lips.  Layer your lip moisturizers When the situation is particularly dire, especially in winter, it can be beneficial to build up moisture in the lips with layers. First, start with a light layer of fragrance-free lotion or hydrating serum – once it sinks in, layer a heavy lip balm on top. That first layer will add hydration, while the second layer will lock the moisture in deeply.   Opt for an SPF balm in the day Our lips are just as susceptible to sun damage as the rest of our skin, so during the daytime, opt for an SPF lip balm. Apply it to your lips at least 20 minutes before going out in the sun, and make sure they’re thoroughly coated. If you’d like to wear lipstick or gloss, just add it over the lip balm, and you’ll actually end up with a smoother finish than if you were to apply it to bare lips.  Avoid minty fragrances We love a lip balm with a bit of flavor, but minty lip balms can actually cause some issues. Menthol is the key fragrance compound in mint essential oil, and it’s added to lip balms to give a cooling and stimulating effect. Unfortunately, those stimulating effects can also be drying and irritating, especially to already chapped lips.   However, when your lips are well taken care of, you can actually benefit from the temporary stimulating effect of menthol because it can make the lips look plump and full. That’s why we do use a bit of menthol in our lip-plumping Polynesie Francaise glosses.   Use a sulfate-free toothpaste   All toothpaste can be a little drying, but toothpaste made with sulfates is the worst by far. Sulfates (usually sodium lauryl sulfate) are the ingredients responsible for your toothpaste foaming up. Unfortunately, they can also be quite drying and irritating, especially to the lips and gums. If you suffer from chronically dry lips, it’s very possible that your toothpaste is at fault, so switching to a non-foaming, sulfate-free toothpaste can make a big difference.  Exfoliate your lips The final aspect of keeping the lips luscious and smooth is exfoliating them regularly. Exfoliation removes the flaky buildup of dead skin over the lips and allows lip moisturizers to do their job more effectively.  Exfoliation can be done as a dry lip treatment when they’re a little chapped or flakey, but if they’re so chapped that the skin is a little broken, it’s important to wait until they heal. You also don’t want to over-exfoliate your lips. Once or twice a week is ideal, more often than that, and you risk irritating the skin and making things worse.   Make a DIY lip scrub   While you can certainly purchase a lip scrub at the store, making your own natural blend is safe and easy!  All you need is half a teaspoon of brown sugar and a few drops of coconut or olive oil. You can mix them up in a little jar or even in the palm of your hand. You can use honey instead of oil if your skin is acne-prone.  With your finger, rub the blend over your lips for a few seconds until they feel smooth. Finally, wipe it off or rinse it away with some water. The oil will help moisturize your lips, while the sugar will slough away all of the flakiness!  Just make sure to mix up a small amount every time you want to exfoliate. Unlike commercial products made with preservatives, whatever you make at home is liable to spoil after a few days.  Always prep before lipstick No matter which of our lip care tips you choose to adopt, always remember to take a few steps to pamper your lips before applying lipstick. You’ll need to make sure there are no flakey patches or dryness before starting your makeup, or else you’ll end up with patchy-looking lipstick.  A coat of lip balm will be enough if the rest of your lip care routine is on-point, but sometimes you might need to do a full exfoliation routine to guarantee your lips are in tip-top shape.  Motus et bouche cousue (our lips are sealed) Achieving plump, healthy lips isn’t difficult. It’s just a matter of adding lip care to your regular routine, especially before bed. Whether you go all out with exfoliation or just switch out your minty lip balm for a healthier alternative, we know you’ll discover smoother, happier, and more kissable lips.

My brain is my greatest enemy, at least when it comes to falling asleep. I used to lay in bed rehashing past events. Those nighttime thoughts weren’t helpful or revelatory—they just made falling asleep much harder.   Over the years, I’ve cultivated a series of bedtime rituals that help me turn off the brain noise. My nighttime skincare routine plays a key role, but so do the little wellness habits that help me unwind and improve my sleep quality. I’ll share all of my nighttime steps with you in this article, along with an evening routine checklist in case you want to give my habits a try.  For me, this is the best way to end the day, so maybe you’ll find some ideas here that’ll work for you, as well!   Prepare for tomorrow  Before I can truly start unwinding, I make sure to do any important prep for the next day. I go over tomorrow’s schedule and to-do list, set my alarm if I have to be up at a specific time, and if I’m feeling ambitious, I lay out my outfit for the morning.   Put the phone away After I check my email and social media one last time, I set my phone to silent and close all of the tempting apps. From this point until I slide into bed, I try to look at my devices as little as possible. I know that once I start scrolling or replying, I’ll lose an hour or two to my phone and end up falling asleep much later than intended.  Water and bedside essentials The next thing I do is check that I have everything I’ll need in the middle of the night. Usually, that just means filling up my reusable water bottle and checking that I have a stick of lip balm by the bedside (my lips get so dry at night!).  You might have your own bedside accessories to check on, like an essential oil diffuser that needs filling or maybe a pen and notebook to jot down your dreams in the morning.  A relaxing soundtrack Before I start my other bedtime rituals, I choose a podcast to play in the background. This helps me unwind and takes my mind off the day I’ve had. It might seem like a small thing, but doing this has vastly improved my sleep quality.  History and mythology shows like Tides of History and The Hidden Djinn are my favorites because they strike the perfect balance between calming and interesting. My little trick is to play them at a slower speed, which amps up the soothing factor.  If you’re not one for podcasts, you can try playing a nature soundscape, classical music, or have a comforting TV show on in the background.   Gentle makeup removal Now I can start my nighttime skincare routine in earnest. Removing makeup and sunscreen is the first order of business, since sleeping with makeup on can irritate the eyes and clog pores.  I love the minimalism of French beauty, so I opt for just one cleansing step with a creamy facial cleanser that doesn’t irritate or dry out my skin. I massage the cleanser into my skin when it’s dry, which allows it to break down all of my makeup thoroughly. Next, I hop into the shower to rinse it all off!   An evening shower  I always feel a little grimy at the end of a long day, which is why I prefer to shower in the evening. I also find that rinsing off makeup and cleanser residue is much more comfortable in the shower than hovering over the sink. I set the water to a lukewarm temperature at first so I don’t damage my face or hair with hot water.  Despite what dermatologists say, I can’t resist a bit of steam, so once it’s time to wash my body, I do turn up the heat. I always opt for a sulfate-free body wash, to mitigate some of the damage, and I don’t overuse the soap, since I know a little goes a long way.  Head-to-toe skincare When I’m out of the shower, I gently towel dry just to soak up the excess water, although I leave my skin a little damp. Then, to make up for the onslaught of the hot shower, I moisturize my skin thoroughly.  I start with my face and neck, massaging in my serums and lotions in circular, upward motions that help stimulate the muscles. Occasionally, I even treat myself to a massage with a jade roller, especially if my skin feels a little puffy!  With that done, I apply a protective lip balm to my lips and use a heavier body cream to nourish my body, hands, and feet, which also deserve some attention.  Brush and floss, of course! This probably needs no saying, but flossing and brushing are important nightly (and daily) habits. I prefer to use a sulfate-free toothpaste, to avoid drying out my lips. For floss, I stay away from floss picks because I think they’re worse for the environment.   Dedicated sleepwear Going to bed wearing something that’s special for bedtime puts me in the right mindset for sleep, and helps to separate nighttime from the day. I’m not really a pajama wearer, but I do have a few T-shirts and ultra-soft lounge pants that have become my dedicated sleepwear.  Pre-sleep meditation   On nights when I really struggle to let go of the previous day, meditation helps a lot. There are all kinds of fantastic guided meditation apps, but I like to do it by myself. I lie back with my eyes closed and focus on my breathing.  I inhale to a count of four, exhale to a count of eight, and then sit in the emptiness for a few seconds before starting again. This kind of breathing is based on Bahya breathing from yoga, and it’s believed to help with tranquility. I certainly find that it works!  Dors bien! Good sleep is incredibly important to our overall beauty, health, and wellbeing. Maybe some of my habits can also help you improve your sleep quality, but what really matters is creating a consistent ritual that tells your mind and body, “the day is over, you can rest now.”