Genius Makeup Hacks for Moms from Finland to France

Where do moms look the least tired? Where does their skin glow the most? And where is getting ready the least amount of effort for maximum amount of chic? This is what I discovered.

After I become a mom in the US, I could hardly recognize myself in the mirror. The sleep deprivation, exhaustion and lack of time to take care of myself quickly did a number on my face. And, even though I knew better, I kept comparing myself to women I saw all around me (“how could they look so put together?)—well, all around me on social media and in the magazines.

Of course, American magazines retouch women into supernatural creatures, and the face-modifying filters in social media apps have only grown in popularity—and in how real they look—in the decade since I had my first baby. I first compensated by applying more makeup, by using more products, by adding things like lash extensions which honestly made my life just harder (the maintenance!), and by booking an appointment at a Vogue-recommended dermatologist, who thought I would be such a good candidate for a Botox study she was doing (you’ll look so great!) that she offered for me to get her wait-list worthy injections for free.

I said no… because right around that time, two other things happened. And these two other things completely changed my beauty routines and ideals.

First, I started spending more time in my native Finland and was inspired by how confidently women—moms—wore little to no makeup, showing off their glowing skin instead.

Second, I traveled to Paris, where a French makeup artist revealed the best hack to looking as chic and as well-rested as the local French moms.

So, back in my adopted home in the US, I combined both of these influences to come up with my current, simple and quick-to-apply look—my version of looking “like a French mom who’s kids sleep through the night” combined with looking like “a Finnish mom with a 1-3 year long parental leave”.

I did a video about it, and it’s now been covered on other sites and inspired well over a hundred questions on my look. So, this post is in response to all of your questions—and requests for links—and I hope it gives you inspiration to create your own, feel-good look!

3 Step, 6 Minute Beauty Routine

For this routine, the most important thing is to keep things super simple: less is more.

1. Glow

Because my life is not as Nordic as it would be if I actually lived in the Nordics year-round (my life in the US is Nordic-inspired), I feel like I need a little extra help with getting the type of glow that results from your life not being so hectic. So, I experiment with different types of glow-inducing products, like moisturizers with extra glow, glow drops, illuminating primers or tinted moisturizers with glow. The vegan Lune & Aster Real Glow Primer or alternatively their Real Glow Bronzing Primer have been my go-to, followed by further illuminating skin tint like this or CC cream like this. However, I’m also curious about these skin drops (which I haven’t tried yet) by Westman Atelier—a high-end natural brand—a tinted moisturizer with glow.

2. Face

I am always looking for the world’s best natural concealer, and currently I’m trying out this by Chantecaille which I really like (it doesn’t cover my under eyes as much as thicker concealers do, but it also doesn’t cake).

For cheeks, I alternate between this powder version—bronzer, blush and highlighter trio—that I got from a French makeup artist at the natural beauty Couleur Caramel store in Paris; you can google the brand wherever you are to see if there is, and who is a local reseller), and this equally natural cream version from RMS: cream bronzer paired with this cream blush (in Beloved). I have also used this blush stick followed a dab of this “bronze” tinted highlight (in Peau de Pêche) on the cheekbones.

I only use a mascara that washes off with warm water to both make removal easy, and to avoid it smudging under the eyes, and my go-to in the US is this one by Lune & Aster.

And, for brows, I use a gel that add tint and hold to get a fuller-looking eye brow.

3. Lips

I never used to be a fan of lipstick until I asked a Parisian mom and makeup artist at Couleur Caramel’s Paris boutique, in my basic French: “how can I look like a French mom whose kids sleep through the night?”

Nothing but mascara on your eyes, and always, bright lipstick: that will give you the pop you need."

We tried it and she was right. I experimented with a few different lipstick tones, until I found one—vegan and clean—that felt like it was created just for me: a blue-undertone berry-hued lipstick from Chantecaille, a classic French brand.

I have two versions of this: the proper “lipstick” in Poppy, and the lighter (and slightly shinier) version of the same hue called “lip chick” in Red Juniper, that’s possible to apply on the go and without looking into the mirror.

The trick to make lipstick easier and quicker to apply—and to stop it from bleeding over the lips—is first adding lipstick primer all over my lips, even beyond the lip lines. I then line my lips with this same color lip liner as my lipstick (in Desire), and dab the lipstick on on, blending it with a finger. (And if you want to make sure the lipstick won’t stick to your teeth, tap your lips together with a tissue in between.)

An easier version of this is to just dab the lipstick onto the lips with your finger: it looks really natural and soft; just take your lipstick with you, so you can reapply more often. I’m now hooked—I’m not the only one who’s a fan:

What’s Your Look?

As a mom with young kids, it makes life so much easier to have one simple beauty routine that you don’t need to think about, with only a few products on repeat. And, to have three levels of your look, based on how many minutes—and how much energy—you have:

• For “no time” days: Nordic bare-faced look: glow primer, concealer, and lip tint

• For “on the go” days: add on cream bronzer, blush & highlighter with your fingers and mascara and brow gel

• For “French chic” days: swap the lip tint to the lipstick

Would these steps make your beauty routine easier? Also, have you ever tried adding highlighter (illuminating but not shimmery) on top of your concealer, right under the eyes? It seems to be the new beauty trick—to not cover but to illuminate away your dark circles!

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Scandi Glossary

WELL-AGING = An alternative to anti-aging, well-aging is a beauty and health philosophy that’s all about living a fulfilling life, and nurturing your overall well-being to not just look better, but to feel better and live healthier and longer.

Scandi Smart

READ: I interviewed Vogue Scandinavia’s Previous Beauty Editor a little while back about Norway’s ban on face and body altering social media filters and how Nordics look so good on social—and it’s really interesting, I love his take!

My second recommendation is behind a pay wall (you’d need to subscribe to read) but Washington Post wrote about the tough choice American women have when it comes to social filters: viewers don’t want you to use them, but they still often want to watch women who use them. Want to know about my personal choice when it comes to filters? Let me know below!

WATCH: The video where I talk about this beauty look! I also recommend relaxing over an episode of Emily in Paris to see lots of red lip looks. Have you watched it?

SHOP: my skincare and makeup recommendations at Bluemercury. It’s been my go-to for years. I also like going to the Detox Market or Credo stores in NYC to discover and test new, natural brands.

x Annabella Daily