Garance Galore

Hello lovely readers! 

Today I wanted to discuss about beauty and more precisely what I have started doing lately that totally took my looks and confidence to the next level!

I have begun improving my appearance and dealing with things I did not like about my looks. I wanted to start a sort of glow-up while staying on a budget.

I needed practical advice, because for a while, it felt like even though I was putting on make-up and wearing clothes I liked, I was never truly satisfied with the overall result. So I decided to dig deeper into the topic.

That’s why, today, I am happily sharing with you 5 beauty & fashion tips I now live by, hoping that they will serve you like they served me!

Figuring out your undertone

I’ve always struggled with choosing my concealer, and every time I asked for help at the make-up store, they would hand me one to try out, but it just felt wrong: my under eyes always looked cakey and way too pale… I even gave up on wearing makeup for a long time because I felt like it was not actually enhancing my features but making me look ridiculous instead.

I then heard about undertones! Your undertone is different from your skin color, it is the ‘hidden’ natural color below your skin’s surface.

There are 4 types of undertones: warm, cold, olive and neutral.

This will help you understand what colors actually suits you best, not only for your makeup but also for your clothes!

How to know what your undertone is: https://www.healthline.com/health/beauty-skin-care/skin-undertones#how-to-find-yours

Using the 4 adjectives 

I used to hate the concept of ‘finding your style’ because it made me feel like I could not dress how I wanted, as if it was preventing me from being completely free. I wanted to be able to dress like a tomboy on Monday and wear a maxi floral dress the next day. While there is nothing wrong with that, I always felt like I was wearing a costume more than an outfit because I was not sending an accurate message of who I was through my clothing choices.

One day, I stumbled upon an Instagram reel of a woman whose name I cannot remember (if you know her, please let me know!) who shared this amazing advice: Pick a few adjectives (let’s say 4) to describe your style and when putting an outfit together, think about these 4 words.

Example: Sofia wants to be – elegant, feminine, modest but casual.

Well, every time Sofia picks an outfit, she will make sure to be elegant, feminine, modest and casual. On some days she won’t be elegant but she will dress casually, femininely and modestly. On some other days she will only be casual and feminine.

I LOVE this tip because it gives you flexibility: you do not have to check all of the boxes but your overall aesthetic will make sense because you are following a guideline.

It also improved my shopping experience because if a piece of clothing does reflect any of my 4 adjectives, I will leave it on the rack.

This may not be suitable for everyone but this is a tip I plan on sharing again, again and again! 

Considering your body shape

This advice is not new and is perhaps controversial, although I do believe that it is a great one!

The goal here is not to body shame or prevent ourselves from wearing the clothes we want but rather to be aware of what looks great on us.

We all have different body types, things we love about our appearance and things we do not necessarily want in the spotlight.

Acknowledge your body shape and see what is said to be the most flattering kind of clothing for you. It is not about hiding or being ashamed but it is more about wearing more flattering clothing in order to feel our best and increase our confidence.

In my case, I find that tops and dresses slightly tighter around the waist flatter my shape a lot more.

Does that mean I can only wear dresses that are slightly tighter around the waist for the rest of my life? No, but I will definitely wear them as much as I can.

Planning shopping trips ahead

I do not go to the mall often, and every time I go, I have a clear idea of what clothes I want to buy. When purchasing new items I always follow these 3 steps:

• Checking my closet : I look at what I already have and then think about what I could match with clothes I already own. 

• Making a wishlist : If I do believe that the item I want would be a smart addition to my closet, I will then add it to my ‘Wishlist’ that I keep on my Notes app. I try to only buy things that appear on this list, it helps considering whether or not I truly want an item & if I do find myself wanting to shop, I will buy what I truly love!

• Prioritizing : Because I do not (and cannot) spend a thousand euros every time I go shopping, I decide (more or less) what I will buy first during my next shopping trip. Some items stay on my list for months until I buy them, but trust me, it is sooo worth it!

Following this protocol helps me avoid purchases I know I would eventually regret. Of course, I do buy things here and there just for the fun of it, but generally, this is what I do. And every time I cross something off my Wishlist list; I feel so spoiled!

On top of being great for your wallet, this tip will help you keep a wardrobe filled with pieces you LOVE, clothing of greater quality that truly suits YOU – because you took the time to actually think about it!

Don’t forget to add your sparkle 

No matter what your style is, it’s important to listen to yourself and add a little bit of your personal touch! For me, finding a style is more like a guideline, making it easier to select pieces, but I will trade my funky socks for nothing in the world.

Fashion and beauty are FUN; they should not feel like a burden. If you don’t want to feel like you put on a costume every time you dress, begin adding your special sparkle to your outfits!

Make sure you feel pretty AND comfortable in your looks. That’s the real secret to me!

I hope these tips will be useful to you. 

Thanks for reading  xx

Garance