As I prepped for a semester abroad in London, I looked over travel blogs, touring guides and every top-10 lists known to man. Yet, the one thing that I couldn’t really prepare for was the approach to beauty and style. The Brits have somehow mastered an effortless, simple style that is simultaneously professional and chic. While I don’t think two weeks in London is enough to make me an expert, I’ve certainly taken some beauty inspiration from my stylish fellow Tube commuters.
When it comes to hair, up-do’s reign supreme. Between the rainy London weather and the wind coming in and out of the Underground, control is key. My favorite is a sleeker, low-set ponytail, flat-ironed and smoothed for professional perfection. For the more casual day-to-day look, many choose to go the heat-free route and embrace their softer natural waves in looser hair-down styles or half-up, half-down buns.
The time that the Brits save by embracing their natural hair, they put into their make-up routines, but this does not mean that the looks are over the top. The thread of simplicity continues with classic black eyeliner and mascara, and a statement lip color for a daring, but sophisticated look.
The effortlessness of European style is one that I have yet been able to fully achieve, but is certainly a breath of fresh air in the age of perfect contouring and flawlessly shaded eyebrows.
Sources:
http://lovelace-media.imgix.net/uploads/98/dcba3350-d9bb-0133-01e8-0eb99c2bfbb1.gif
https://media3.giphy.com/media/quIEY4wabRw2Y/200.webp#1-grid1