I tried to take this picture by myself, but my sidekick and her sidekick (his name is Teddy, by the way, and he goes on all the adventures these days!) wanted in on the action.
Creative mascara placement
I realized a couple of makeup related things yesterday. Beauty epiphanies, so to speak. First of all, let’s talk mascara. Specifically, mascara placement!
I read somewhere that applying mascara just to the outer half of your upper lashes — and leaving the inner half completely bare — makes your eyes appear more lifted, because the thicker lashes draw all the attention to the outer corner. I tried it yesterday, and lo and behold, it totally works!
It’s a small tweak, and probably more obvious to people who love makeup, but I definitely see a difference.
It’s such an automatic habit for me to coat every single lash with mascara, though, so I don’t know how long I’ll keep it up, but I do like the effect. Try it! And then let me know if you see a difference.
A makeup uniform
I’ve decided to also try something new this week — a makeup uniform. I’m wearing a similar eye and cheek every day — blackish-brown winged liner, mascara on the outer half of the upper lashes and a wash of warm blush — with a different bold lipstick each day of the week. Yesterday was a warm bright red, MAC Fashion Legacy.
I really need to simply my mornings, and I think wearing a different lip with the same eye and cheek will provide me with some flexibility, while still giving me structure. I might be bored by Wednesday, but eh, I’ll try it anyway. If it works, maybe next week I’ll wear the same lipstick, and swap out different shades of bright winged linger.
Jones Road Beauty?
One last thing. I’m contemplating a few things from Bobbi Brown’s new-ish minimalist makeup line, Jones Road Beauty. Have you tried anything yet? I’m interested in the eyeliner (it won an Allure Best of Beauty Award), the Miracle Balm (although I’m not quite sure what it is exactly… A foundation? A blush? A bronzer?) and the Lip and Cheek Stick. If you’ve found anything good, please be sure to drop a comment for me below.
Have a good Tuesday, and talk to you soon.
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
I’m definitely going to try the mascara trick. Most of the time I apply eyeliner in a similar manner. I remember when I first learned as a young teenager back in the 90s at Mary Kay parties 😂, you were supposed to put eyeliner only halfway across your bottom lash line. To this day I usually stick with this because not only does it kind of work for the look I’m after, but it is easier to blend and look more natural, and I think it makes eyes look bigger. I also make the eyeliner thicker on the upper outer corners and thin to almost nothing on the inner corners. I had never thought to give the mascara a try in the same way on the upper lashes, but it sounds genius! I also wonder if it would help not to have so much mascara rub-off in the under eye area by the end of the day.
I totally have a makeup uniform except when I’m going out and jazz it up when I have more time. I have to be able to get through makeup in the mornings in about 5 minutes, or I’ll have to go barefaced!
I just realized I’ve had a makeup uniform for a while now without knowing it. I’ll for sure be trying that mascara tip- anything to make things easier and faster.
The post office finally found my lost package (over 2 weeks!) and delivered my Ilia Eye Tint in Fresco. You were right, I do love it. It works on it’s own and plays nicely with other shadows. I’m seriously thinking about ordering it in Dim now.
Your “uniform” looks great! I am very curious about the Jones Road products and hope you will review some! The eyeliner was one of the products I was checking out. The Miracle Balm seems like maybe a version of the Nars Multiple? I’ve watched a few of her videos and I’m still not 100% sold on it. I’m also kinda curious about the eyeshadow formula.
So I looked at the eyeshadows and am mildly curious, but everything looks really shimmery. I would love a matte or a satin, ya know?
I tried two shades of the Face Pencil and the Miracle Balm in Bronze from Jones Road. I’m very impressed with the Face Pencils; they are so easy to blend for a pencil product and I love the idea of using them on the go or when traveling light with limited liquids/gels. I recommend watching one of Bobbi’s videos about the Miracle Balm. Ostensibly it’s a cheek/lip/eye products; in reality, I’ve been using the shade Bronze where I would typically place a powder bronzer. The full-size pot of Miracle Balm is huge and the product is sheer and very emollient, so I can see how one might also use it to tame eyebrows or baby hairs, or moisturize cuticles, etc. I like it but I am not as in love with it as some reviewers/bloggers.
Thank you for your input, Gatacola. Do you find that you need to set the Face Pencils with a powder?
I’ve been using the Face Pencils to spot conceal rather than for full coverage, but I do like some MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural on my T-zone to set and minimize shininess. I’m 47 and I find the Face Pencils to be nicely emollient on my combo skin.
I need just a little something for under my eyes and around my mouth/nose so they might work for me. BTW I love MAC MSF powder. It’s one of the best one out there, hands down.
Back in the day (decades before there were all these wonderful lash lengthening formulas) if we wanted luxurious lashes, we had to wear false ones. To make our eyes look more open and elongated, we’d only apply our lashes on the outer half of the lid. Even today, many people apply individual lashes or small strips only on the outer half. What’s old is new again! I imagine that mascara application trick gives a similar result without the fuss of applying lashes. The only problem I can foresee is if you don’t have naturally dark lashes. Since mine are black to begin with, I think I’ll give the technique a whirl.
I used to have a couple makeup uniforms that I relied on for school and then for work. Once I retired, though, I began experimenting more and having a lot of fun changing up my look.
Jones Road . . . I can’t say that anything I’ve seen so far has interested me. It seems rather mundane.
Hello! Have you ever tried Haus laboratories by Lady Gaga?
I have the miracle balm in the lightest shade that is no color. Even after watching videos, I get no use out of it. I really wanted dusty rose but it was never available. I am too impatient.
Love your look! My eyelashes are super light (redhead problems) so that mascara trick probably wouldn’t work for me, but it makes sense!
If you (the general you) don’t want to (or your lashes are too pale to) completely forego inner-eye mascara, you could accomplish a similar effect by applying your first coat across your entire lashline and only applying your second coat to the outer half or even just the outer corner-I’ve done that before and I think it looks pretty good.
Your co-pilots are stealing the show again, which is saying something considering your bold lipstick. HAHA! I think we talked about this before, but I love Connor’s naming strategy. It reminds me of my boys when they were little. Usually very literal. 🙂
I’m glad the mascara trick is working for you. If you have the lashes for it, you could also curl that outer portion with a corner curler before putting on mascara. It makes a difference, too. None of those work well for me because my lashes are light, long and not voluminous enough. 🙂
what foundation are you wearing here!? It looks beautiful
I have done my mascara that way ever since I can remember, mostly because I ALWAYS end up smudging my lashes if I try to coat the inner ones. But it makes the eyes look more lifted for sure.
My lashes are nearly nonexistent but I do have more on the outer edge than the inner edge so I shall try this and see what happens. I need all the help when it comes to my eyes. They are what’s the word, bedroom eyes so they slant down but on the small side to further complicate things.
I need to go back to wearing a brighter lip more often. I’ve been falling into these Charlotte Tilsbury Pillow Talk ruts. Love Pillow Talk, it really helps my birdish lips but a bright is nice.
Bright is nice. Do it!