Much like my On Feminism post, this is something I've actually wanted to write for a while, but have put off because I've never quite managed to get the wording right. A little disclaimer before we get started - this is an extremely subjective post, all coming from my own personal experience!
I was listening to Colbie Caillat's new single "Try" this weekend, and watching the highly praised video. It really is a beautiful song and video, and a lovely idea. But part of it links into something which bothers me, and has done so for a long time. The notion that women could only ever wear make-up to impress other people. Namely, men.
In the age of photoshop and celeb culture, body image issues are all around us. The "perfect" body shape, the "perfect" face. Diets and exercise regimes and juice cleanses, plastic surgery to alter your body to what it "should" look like. Treatments to "fix" your hair. Anti-aging products, fake tans and hair removal treatments, diet pills and lip-plumping glosses.
The world is a hot-bed of insecurity and for women, it is particularly difficult. From such an early age you are fed ideas of beauty, and what constitutes beautiful - what size and what shape. Taught to cover up blemishes and create an image of perfection. Something that men are rarely exposed to because make-up is "girly", so men couldn't possibly want to wear it - a subject I don't feel I have the authority to write on what with not being a man myself, but something I think definitely deserves more of a discussion.
As someone with pretty strong feminist views, it goes without saying that this is something that I hate, and wish we could find a way to change. I'm excited to say that I genuinely feel like the body confidence movement has taken a small but positive step forward this year (check out the Body Confidence Revolution - led by Leyah Shanks - on twitter). However, lately there has been an influx of conversations around "taking your make-up off". From the make-up-free selfie to raise awareness for breast cancer - which was a wonderful idea in that it did in fact help to raise money - to the song I mentioned at the start of this post. The persistent implication, however, is that wearing make-up is something women only do to impress other people, and attract men. The irony in that is that half the time we hear men saying they prefer the natural look. I'm glad we are talking about this because so many people out there feel completely unnecessary pressure to conform to a certain ideal, with make-up playing a huge part in that. But for me, the way we are going about resolving this issue is problematic. Having someone tell me I shouldn't wear make-up, even with the best of intentions, annoys me just as much as someone telling me I should. I think whether I do or not should be up to me, and I'd like to think I won't be judged either way.
It's pretty obvious that I love make-up. I took a make-up artistry course after uni, and have obsessed over beauty blogs and YouTube channels for over five years now. All my life, the idea of make-up has excited me, and luckily I was born in that blissful period before the internet, when kids were allowed to be kids and weren't subjected to a barrage of body image messages from pre-school age. Although I didn't properly start wearing it until my mid-teens, as a tiny child I used to "do my mum's make-up" for her. That usually involved putting bright green eye-make-up on her, and drawing flowers and hearts in eyeshadow on her face. But I loved seeing what I could create, even at that age.
Since then, I grew up a bit, and rather than doodling daisys, I started seeing what I could actually do with make-up. The tricks of the trade - contouring my eyes or cheeks, getting that eyeliner flick just right. Finding the perfect lip colour to go with my blusher. To someone with no interest in the creative side of make-up, that just sounds sad, I know that. But when we live in a world where every time you turn on the news you learn about another horrific atrocity somewhere in the world, whether it's a sexual assault in Glasgow, or the devastation in Gaza, the world is a bit of a dark place these days. So if experimenting with make-up helps me have some fun and feel positive, you bet I'm going to do it.
I can only speak for myself, because make-up is an extremely personal thing. I absolutely hate the thought of young girls - in fact, women of any age - feeling that they aren't beautiful without make-up, or that they have to wear it to be accepted. You should never wear anything, be it clothes or make-up, that you aren't comfortable with. When I get up in the morning and go through my make-up routine, the only person I'm doing it for is myself. The kick I get out of my eyeliner actually perfectly matching on both eyes. The lift it gives me, taking me from the sleepy, not-at-all-a-morning-person, to someone ready to face the day. It's something I love to do. Does it boost my confidence? Absolutely. I have far from perfect skin, and the transformation I feel when going from bare-faced to "made-up" for lack of a better term, is phenomenal. But it's phenomenal for me, and me alone. It's a confidence booster, a mood lifter, a part of my routine which makes me feel good. It makes me feel creative - deciding what colour palette to work from, and changing up my lip colour from nude to bold from one day to the next. When it comes right down to it, make-up is fun, and that's why I love it.
Do I go out of the house make-up free? Honestly? Hardly ever. But I don't think that is a reflection of my self-esteem. If I hated every minute of putting make-up on, if I dreaded taking that foundation out of the drawer and taking the fifteen minutes out of my day to do my make-up, but did it anyway, then I would start to worry. Then, I might feel like I was doing it for someone else's benefit. Our society and "make-up free celeb" paparazzi shots, combined with our insecurities can trick us into thinking the moment we step outside make-up-less, everyone will notice us. But when was the last time you walked down the street, or sat on the train, and pointed out every make-up free woman you saw to your friends? When was the last time you even actually noticed a make-up free woman? If you feel like putting makeup on is a chore, and you simply cannot wait for lazy days in the house when you can go makeup free, if make-up doesn't lift your mood and bring you joy, you'll eventually find the confidence to stop wearing it every day. Because no-one should waste precious moments of their day doing something they don't have to because they're afraid they'll be judged if they don't.
But I don't feel that way. I know I don't have to wear make-up, I just want to. My eyeliner is as much a part of my identity as a tattoo, or a piercing on someone else. Every day, whether I'm going to uni, going on a night out, or spending the day at home, putting my make-up on gives me a buzz, the way going for a run is the highlight of a more athletic person's morning. I shouldn't have to deprive myself of that buzz to prove to anyone that I am a confident woman.
Being confident is about being completely comfortable with yourself, knowing what you love and believe in, and sticking to that no matter what. For me, the most important thing is that people feel good about themselves, whether that's make-up free, with a hint of mascara and lipstick, or a full face of make-up. What matters is that people know they have a choice. As long as we keep this conversation going, acknowledging the power the media has to warp our perceptions of beauty and force feed us images of airbrushed celebrities, we're on the right track. We just need to talk to kids from a young age about feeling body positive, and then the rest (what clothes they wear and whether or not they choose to wear makeup) can be well and truly left up to them.
So, although I love you Colbie, I'm quite happy to keep my make-up on for now. Because it doesn't feel like trying hard. It feels like being myself.
Thanks for reading!
Showing posts with label makeup. Show all posts
Showing posts with label makeup. Show all posts
30 Day Snap #7
Saturday, 8 June 2013
Hi guys! I'm afraid today's 30 Day Snap photo is a little instagram number - I hope you don't mind! I was working in my dad's office again, and then headed out for drinks for my friend's birthday. Between these two things, however, I popped into Superdrug and picked up one of the new Bourjois Color Boost Lip Crayons, in the shade Orange Punch. I already love this - the colour payoff is good, but the consistency is amazing. It feels so lovely on your lips. I will do a proper review at some point once I've had it a bit longer. Leave your links below, thanks for reading! :)
First Impressions: L'Oréal Superliner Blackbuster
Tuesday, 12 February 2013
As a life long (well, since it hit the high street!) fan of the L'Oréal Superliner, I was intrigued to see the latest addition to the Superliner range in Superdrug yesterday. I know there is also a skinny pen version, similar to the likes of the Topshop Felt Pen Liner (which I haven't actually tried), but this chunky marker pen version caught my eye!
So far, I do like this product, but not enough to make me replace my old faithful sponge tip superliner! The chunky tip allows you to make a nice, graphic line and I think that some people might find it easier to work with than the flexible tip of the original. I'm so used to the flexi-tip that I found this a bit tricky to get used to, but it does allow you to control the shape quite nicely.
apologies for the fact the writing has all rubbed off my Superliner in my makeup bag!
The one complaint I would have about this is the name and the colour - it's named 'blackbuster', and the shade is 'Extra Black', but I have to say it looks a bit more on the brown side of black to me! What do you think? It's definitely not quite as darkly pigmented as the original liner, so if you like a really black line I would maybe avoid this!
Retailing for £6.99 from Superdrug or Boots, this is a lovely addition to the Superliner range! I would still recommend the original as the best, but if you are an eyeliner addict like me, or struggle with gel or sponge tip liners, I would say it's worth giving a shot :)
What's your favourite eyeliner? Leave your recommendations below :) Thanks for reading!
So far, I do like this product, but not enough to make me replace my old faithful sponge tip superliner! The chunky tip allows you to make a nice, graphic line and I think that some people might find it easier to work with than the flexible tip of the original. I'm so used to the flexi-tip that I found this a bit tricky to get used to, but it does allow you to control the shape quite nicely.
The one complaint I would have about this is the name and the colour - it's named 'blackbuster', and the shade is 'Extra Black', but I have to say it looks a bit more on the brown side of black to me! What do you think? It's definitely not quite as darkly pigmented as the original liner, so if you like a really black line I would maybe avoid this!
Retailing for £6.99 from Superdrug or Boots, this is a lovely addition to the Superliner range! I would still recommend the original as the best, but if you are an eyeliner addict like me, or struggle with gel or sponge tip liners, I would say it's worth giving a shot :)
What's your favourite eyeliner? Leave your recommendations below :) Thanks for reading!
Makeup at Paris Fashion Week: Part 2
Sunday, 11 March 2012
My last PFW post got up to the makeup midway through Sunday, so I figured I'd do a part 2, to peruse some of the looks which appeared on the runways from late Sunday afternoon to Wednesday! Here are a few of my favourites!
Maiyet:
photo credit
photo credit
I felt like I had to include a picture of the clothes from this show, as well as the makeup, because it was undoubtedly one of my favourites! How effortlessly cool is that top picture there! Absolutely stunning. Anyway, in terms of makeup, I really loved the dark smokey eyes shown here, it was a slightly more glam, defined look than the smudgey black eyeshadow/liner look at Jean Paul Gaultier, and it tied in beautifully with the clothes.
Stella McCartney:
photo credit
How pretty is this soft lilac and blue look from Stella McCartney? Colourful mascara can often be a bit hit or miss, but I think the electric blue mascara here, paired with the soft, subtle purple shades around the lashes looks gorgeous! I also love the really soft peachy lips and full brows.
Moncler Gamme Rouge:
photo credit
Anyone who knows me, knows I am a sucker for graphic eyeliner, and this look for the Moncler Gamme Rouge show totally blew me away. I couldn't find a good, clear picture from the runway to show just how amazing this is, so I went with this wee backstage shot. This almost Black Swan inspired makeup looked fantastic with the dramatic black and white statement clothes on this runway.
Miu Miu:
photo credit
Another very dramatic look, and another featuring the colour blue - very much a trend alongside minimal makeup and strong brows this month at Paris. I'm sure, given some of the looks I chose in my last PFW post (Manish Arora and Tsumori Chisato) that it won't come as a suprise that I love this look at Miu Miu! It's incredibly creative, and the totally minimal makeup everywhere else (bare lips and hardly any coverage on the cheeks) lets the eyes do all the talking.
Valentino:
photo credit
As you can see, some of the models on the Valentino show sported a more greyish toned eye while others were seen with a more pinky/coral hue, but both were incredibly soft and delicate. There were no crazy false lashes here, or thick, winged out liner. At the same time though, it was a step up from a lot of the looks on the catwalk which were pretty much no makeup at all! It was simple, but effective and suited the folksy sort of clothes showcased here perfectly.
Akris:
photo credit
Another blue look! I just think the makeup at the Akris show looked incredibly clean and simple, and while making a statement, it didn't try to compete with the clothes, or do too much. The pop of colour on the eyelids is vibrant, and striking, but it isn't winged too far out, taken up past the socket line, or even taken under the bottom lashes - it is confined the the lid itself and along with a lovely glossy lip, makes for a really gorgeous makeup look. This is, in fact, probably one of my favourites altogether at Paris this February/March!
Chanel:
photo credit
Finally, I felt that I couldn't very well ignore the huge, statement, jewel-encrusted eyebrows at Chanel - I won't say too much about it because I think the picture above speaks for itself!
So that's that for another Fashion Week. What were your favourite looks on the catwalk? Fashion and beauty wise?! Let me know in the comments below, or tweet me at lynseymac1 on twitter! Thanks for reading guys, hope you've had a great weekend!
Lynsey x
Maiyet:
photo credit
photo credit
I felt like I had to include a picture of the clothes from this show, as well as the makeup, because it was undoubtedly one of my favourites! How effortlessly cool is that top picture there! Absolutely stunning. Anyway, in terms of makeup, I really loved the dark smokey eyes shown here, it was a slightly more glam, defined look than the smudgey black eyeshadow/liner look at Jean Paul Gaultier, and it tied in beautifully with the clothes.
Stella McCartney:
photo credit
How pretty is this soft lilac and blue look from Stella McCartney? Colourful mascara can often be a bit hit or miss, but I think the electric blue mascara here, paired with the soft, subtle purple shades around the lashes looks gorgeous! I also love the really soft peachy lips and full brows.
Moncler Gamme Rouge:
photo credit
Anyone who knows me, knows I am a sucker for graphic eyeliner, and this look for the Moncler Gamme Rouge show totally blew me away. I couldn't find a good, clear picture from the runway to show just how amazing this is, so I went with this wee backstage shot. This almost Black Swan inspired makeup looked fantastic with the dramatic black and white statement clothes on this runway.
Miu Miu:
photo credit
Another very dramatic look, and another featuring the colour blue - very much a trend alongside minimal makeup and strong brows this month at Paris. I'm sure, given some of the looks I chose in my last PFW post (Manish Arora and Tsumori Chisato) that it won't come as a suprise that I love this look at Miu Miu! It's incredibly creative, and the totally minimal makeup everywhere else (bare lips and hardly any coverage on the cheeks) lets the eyes do all the talking.
Valentino:
photo credit
As you can see, some of the models on the Valentino show sported a more greyish toned eye while others were seen with a more pinky/coral hue, but both were incredibly soft and delicate. There were no crazy false lashes here, or thick, winged out liner. At the same time though, it was a step up from a lot of the looks on the catwalk which were pretty much no makeup at all! It was simple, but effective and suited the folksy sort of clothes showcased here perfectly.
Akris:
photo credit
Another blue look! I just think the makeup at the Akris show looked incredibly clean and simple, and while making a statement, it didn't try to compete with the clothes, or do too much. The pop of colour on the eyelids is vibrant, and striking, but it isn't winged too far out, taken up past the socket line, or even taken under the bottom lashes - it is confined the the lid itself and along with a lovely glossy lip, makes for a really gorgeous makeup look. This is, in fact, probably one of my favourites altogether at Paris this February/March!
Chanel:
photo credit
Finally, I felt that I couldn't very well ignore the huge, statement, jewel-encrusted eyebrows at Chanel - I won't say too much about it because I think the picture above speaks for itself!
So that's that for another Fashion Week. What were your favourite looks on the catwalk? Fashion and beauty wise?! Let me know in the comments below, or tweet me at lynseymac1 on twitter! Thanks for reading guys, hope you've had a great weekend!
Lynsey x
My Favourite Makeup So Far at PFW...
Sunday, 4 March 2012
This isn't going to be a trend post or particularly in depth, it's just a little 'mid-way through Paris Fashion Week' post since I've just spent ages on the Vogue website looking through some of the catwalk makeup from the shows so far! There are a couple of crackers :)
Ready to Wear A/W 2012/2013 Collections
Manish Arora
I love this colourful makeup from the Manish Arora show. It's fun and eccentric and I couldn't take my eyes off it! When I eventually managed to take a look at the clothes though, the makeup compliments them perfectly. The bold lip and the detail around the eyes are really striking, and a total step away from the many many minimalist makeup looks I've seen at Paris so far.
See by Chloe
How fantastic are the brows and contouring on this look at the See by Chloe runway?! The nude lip and eyes are in keeping with the pretty ubiquitous minimal makeup, but the defined brows make a statement, and are complimented rather than overpowered by the deep contouring. I absolutely love this, of all the simple makeup looks on the runway, I think this is my favourite.
Jean Paul Gaultier
Got to love a bit of rock chick-esque drama at Jean Paul Gaultier. The skin looked dewy and fresh, not too heavily powdered, and ensured that the smudgey, glossy black eyeshadow and liner look came across as effortlessly cool looking rather than too stylized or glamorous.
Barbara Bui
Catwalk aside, I think this is a beautiful makeup look, definitely something I plan to recreate for a night out in the near future! It's the gorgeous gold eye-makeup that really makes it, it instantly catches your eye without being too over the top or taking away from the lovely clothes on this runway. Another nice nude lip seen here too.
Tsumori Chisato
Getting a bit more dramatic again, this look from Tsumori Chisato is another favourite of mine. The graphic, squared off eyeliner and pretty pink lip are totally contrasting, but that's partly why it caught my eye. The clothes on this show were really fun, and something a bit different, so this makeup was a testament to that! I also loved the really defined brows on this look.
Christian Dior
This is another gorgeous look at Christian Dior, a bit softer and simpler than some of the Dior makeup over the past couple of years, but it certainly gets the thumbs up from me. A similar goldish eyeshadow to the Barbara Bui look can be seen here, but it's a tiny bit more smokey and a heavier look in terms of the cheek contouring, with a lovely shade of coral toned bronze on the back of the cheeks.
There are many more designers still to hit the runways with their Autumn/Winter collections in Paris over the next couple of days, so let's keep our eyes peeled for some more interesting Fashion Week makeup!
Lynsey x
Disclaimer, none of the photos above belong to me. All sources are linked below.
photo credit - fashioning
Ready to Wear A/W 2012/2013 Collections
Manish Arora
I love this colourful makeup from the Manish Arora show. It's fun and eccentric and I couldn't take my eyes off it! When I eventually managed to take a look at the clothes though, the makeup compliments them perfectly. The bold lip and the detail around the eyes are really striking, and a total step away from the many many minimalist makeup looks I've seen at Paris so far.
See by Chloe
How fantastic are the brows and contouring on this look at the See by Chloe runway?! The nude lip and eyes are in keeping with the pretty ubiquitous minimal makeup, but the defined brows make a statement, and are complimented rather than overpowered by the deep contouring. I absolutely love this, of all the simple makeup looks on the runway, I think this is my favourite.
Jean Paul Gaultier
Got to love a bit of rock chick-esque drama at Jean Paul Gaultier. The skin looked dewy and fresh, not too heavily powdered, and ensured that the smudgey, glossy black eyeshadow and liner look came across as effortlessly cool looking rather than too stylized or glamorous.
Barbara Bui
Catwalk aside, I think this is a beautiful makeup look, definitely something I plan to recreate for a night out in the near future! It's the gorgeous gold eye-makeup that really makes it, it instantly catches your eye without being too over the top or taking away from the lovely clothes on this runway. Another nice nude lip seen here too.
Tsumori Chisato
Getting a bit more dramatic again, this look from Tsumori Chisato is another favourite of mine. The graphic, squared off eyeliner and pretty pink lip are totally contrasting, but that's partly why it caught my eye. The clothes on this show were really fun, and something a bit different, so this makeup was a testament to that! I also loved the really defined brows on this look.
Christian Dior
This is another gorgeous look at Christian Dior, a bit softer and simpler than some of the Dior makeup over the past couple of years, but it certainly gets the thumbs up from me. A similar goldish eyeshadow to the Barbara Bui look can be seen here, but it's a tiny bit more smokey and a heavier look in terms of the cheek contouring, with a lovely shade of coral toned bronze on the back of the cheeks.
There are many more designers still to hit the runways with their Autumn/Winter collections in Paris over the next couple of days, so let's keep our eyes peeled for some more interesting Fashion Week makeup!
Lynsey x
Disclaimer, none of the photos above belong to me. All sources are linked below.
photo credit - fashioning
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