Audrey Hepburn had her eyeliner. Jane Birkin had her bangs. Cara Delevingne has her brows. Taylor Swift has her red lipstick.
But you don’t have to be an icon to have your own beauty uniform, so to speak. In fact, finding a signature look is not only a great way to be remembered; it’s also a great way to streamline your beauty routine. If there’s one component of makeup or hair that you always wear, people will start to recognize you for it. And then, you don’t even have to think in the morning or evening about how you’re going to get ready. Your signature look becomes a part of you.
Of course, not everyone has the same taste in beauty. Whether it’s bold lipstick, a perfect cat-eye, curled eyelashes or that elusive “no-makeup makeup,” our everyday beauty look is a matter of preference and routine. Whether you spend half an hour or 5 minutes in the morning, it’s important to develop a look that you absolutely love and can manage on a regular basis. It will not only minimize your beauty purchases and de-stress your morning routine, but also allow for creativity when you have the time.
So what’s your signature look? Here are some easy ways to develop something that is memorable, simple, and unmistakably you.
1. The Skin You’re In. Glowy, dewy skin a la Clemence Poesy, or polished matte like Brigitte Bardot? Believe it or not, the “look” you select for your skin can make all the difference. If you love the natural look, try a tinted moisturizer or a more water-based foundation. If you prefer velvety skin and fewer blemishes, a full-coverage foundation and powder are the way to go! Here are a few of my skin-embellishing favorites:
Products shown (left to right): Clinique Up Lighting Illuminator, Chanel Mat Lumiere Foundation, theBalm Mary Loumanizer, Chanel Vita Lumiere Foundation, Shiseido blush stick
2. The Windows to Your Soul. Ok, I don’t really believe that eyes are the (only) windows, but they are the focal point of your face! There are about a thousand ways to do eye makeup, and the chart below has just a few. My suggestion? Keep your daily eye makeup down to 3 products for simplicity’s sake: 1 shadow, one liner, and mascara (or some other combination). Here is some of my favorite eye makeup:
Products shown: MAC eyeliner brush, Benefit They’re Real Mascara, Maybelline gel eyeliner, Sephora eyeshadow collections
3. Lips, lips, lips.Everyone can wear bold lipstick; just be sure to find the right color for your skin tone by trying a few. If a strong lip is not your thing, you can still find a sheer lip product that suits you. Despite my embarrassingly massive collection of lipstick, I do have a go-to color that looks exactly like my natural lip color, only a bit enhanced. Find your natural color and stick to it. You’ll always look put-together (and your lips will be protected from the sun). Here are a few great lip products:
Products shown: Estee Lauder Signature Lipstick in Copper Coral, Clinique Chubby Stick in Richer Raisin, Cle de Peau Beaute Lipstick in 103S, Fresh Sugar Advanced Therapy, Estee Lauder Pure Color Lipstick in Red Tango, Chanel Rouge Allure Velvet in La Raffinee
4. Your signature scent. Signature fragrances have always been a sort of mythical accessory. But did you know that our sense of smell can trigger our memory? So if you want to be remembered, do it with a lovely, subtle scent. And let me repeat– subtle. Never let your fragrance enter the room before you do, or linger after you leave. Instead, try on a perfume for a whole day before buying it to see how it interacts with your natural scent. And did you know that you can layer scents? Here are my two personal favorites, but you’ll have to look around for your own:
Products shown: Estee Lauder Private Collection Tuberose Gardenia, Jo Malone Nectarine Blossom and Honey Cologne
Your signature beauty look is something to experiment and have fun with. If you’re a beginner at doing your own makeup, check out videos by great Youtube makeup artists such as Michelle Phan or Lisa Eldridge. They taught me everything that I know!
And finally, wear your signature beauty look with confidence. Makeup is not the source of beauty or uniqueness; rather, it embellishes what’s already there!
