Last weekend at a children’s birthday party, which was held inside an art studio, I got to make pinch bowls with ceramic clay (I asked El Hub if he wanted to recreate that scene with Patrick Swayze and Demi Moore from Ghost but he said no). At the party, I bumped into a fellow makeup person (hey, Shakun!), and as our kids devoured birthday cake and buzzed around the room, naturally, the conversation drifted to the makeup we were wearing, because that’s what you do when you are a “makeup person,” as opposed to a standard “makeup civilian” (yes, I’m officially coining that term right now).
Big surprise! — I was wearing neutrals on my lids and lips, but because it was a party and I felt like I needed to try a little bit, I also drew some shimmery blue winged liner at the last minute using two colors for an ombre effect. I used a light teal in the inner part of the lash line (Urban Decay Deep End) and a darker sapphire for the outer third and wing (LSD, also by UD).
Not one at that party — not even El Hub, who was the person who probably spent the most time looking directly at my eyes that afternoon — noticed that I was wearing two shades of blue liner, except for Shakun.
BAM! Right off the bat, she pointed out the ombre effect and asked what I used. Funny how it’s like that when you’re hanging with a makeup person, right?! They notice the details right away.
I complimented Shakun on her bright red matte lipstick, and she said that she was wearing red lips because she didn’t have a lot of time to get ready, but she still wanted to look like she tried because it was a party. LOL!
That got me thinking bout the things we do as “makeup people” when we want to look like we tried, but we’re still pressed for time.
I definitely have a go-to bag of tricks for these occasions, like colorful liner, of course, which is so easy, and it’s even easier if you leave out the winged part of it. Anything jewel-toned and shimmery, I like, but purples are what I reach for the most. And GLITTER! A glittery liquid liner, or a glittery eyeshadow top coat (Urban Decay Diamond Dog!), always works wonders and doesn’t take a lot of effort. And, of course, a bright hot pink or red lip. All of these things pop with hardly any effort.
False lashes also up the ante, but at this point in my life I reserve them for special events and holidays like Halloween.
Thanks for being a fellow makeup person. 🙂 Because sometimes I really need someone more interactive to talk to about these things than Tabs…
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
P.S. TGIF!
It’s so fun to have another makeup person to talk to in real life. I just have a couple friends and acquaintances that are makeup people. But, also I’m on the coast of Maine, which isn’t very populated so I guess I’m lucky to have the ones that I do.
I love a bright lip if I don’t have time but want to look like I made an effort. Also, I’ve recently fallen in love with a new UD liner in Overdrive, a deep green metallic, which I wear with a nude gloss. Really love the smoky eye nude lip combo.
Also, I’m a teensy bit irked with Sephora because I do a lot of ordering online and they’ve reduced the number of samples you can request from 3 to 2.
I like Overdrive! Do you ever use it on your waterline?
I can’t imagine why El Hub wouldn’t want to recreate that Ghost scene. I’m sure no one would have batted an eye, haha!
I’m also a “throw on bright lipstick to look like you tried” person. A tried and true technique.
Love glittery liner on others but never have the incentive to do it myself. I do love the CoverFX neutral multipurpose glitters, though, on lids. So pigmented and effortless. They can be either noticeable or natural, or somewhere in between, depending on application.
I don’t really have a “makeup person” IRL, which is why I visit your site! So thanks for that!!
Hi Amy,
You’re welcome! I’m happy to be part of your makeup trip. 🙂 So tell me about these CoverFX glitters. Are you referring to the liquid drops?
Happy Caturday, by the way.
Red lips – my go to “looks as if I tried” secret.
I wish I had more makeup persons in my life, not even my cat has the patience to listen to me.
When I want to look like I made more of an effort with my makeup, I always throw a darkish shadow in my crease. It makes my eyes look a lot bigger than they are. And brighter lipstick of course!
Hi Erica,
Bright lips = so much bang for your buck! What brights do you typically like to wear? I usually do pinks, corals or reds. 🙂
I usually go for a coral in the summer, and pinky-reds or berries in the fall/winter. Most of the time I’m wearing a nude lip but every now and then, why not shake things up? ?
A lot of my friends do circus and burlesque, so I know a lot of makeup people. I don’t do much makeup on a regular basis, especially with my eyes being so sensitive, but bright color winged liner is eye catching and not too difficult. I did rainbow eyeliner at a show for Pride and drag queens complimented me and asked what I use so that was a proud moment.
You’re so right about bright winged liner giving you a lot of bang for your buck. I’ve gotta try your rainbow liner look one day. Did you use pencil or liquid? I would think pencil would be about 100000% easier, LOL!
So I used a white pencil as a base and then a wet liner brush with the colors I wanted (mostly from the BH cosmetics Take Me to Brazil palette)
Smart. I’ll have to remember that in the future! Me being me I would’ve put glitter on top, too!
Oh, I so hear you on this! I recently moved, and right now my only daily feedback is from my son (whose response is usually, ‘Why are you asking me? I don’t know about these things!’) and my cat Marcus, who just stares at me, yawns, and goes back to sleep. Thank goodness for your blog! It allows me to live vicariously through you (and yes! to purple eyeliner! And purple eye shadow, too! I’m dreaming of the day when either NARS or Pat McGrath launches a purple eye shadow palette).
Hi Mitzi,
You totally get it. When I prod my husband usually makes some obvious statement in the attempt to notice something (“Your hair is dark” or “Your eyes look weird”) and I’m usually like UGH JUST STOP ALREADY. lol Speaking of purple liners, you need this one from Sephora in your life ASAP if you don’t have it already.
https://www.makeupandbeautyblog.com/cosmetics/sephora-colorful-shadow-liner-violet-review/
It’s $14, and if you’re a VIB you can get it right now on sale for $11.20.
Omg lol! Sure El Hub and my son aren’t related somehow? lol
And thanks for the link to the liner – omw to check it out (hopefully it’s in stock). 🙂