Face of the Day (FOTD)

Face of the Day with Mac Matte2, aka When Purple Doesn’t Reign

Try as I might, I can’t seem to get it together when it comes to MAC’s Matte2 shadows. I’ve tried to do a full on matte eye a few times but it’s just too hard for me in terms of blending. Plus, I need a lil’ sparkle and some shine, ya know?

Here’s one of the attempts with three Matte2 colors:

Fig. 1 — eggplant purple
Copperplate — muted mid-tone grey
Poison Pen — deep mid-tone purple with grey

Although I originally wanted to do an all matte eye, I ended up using Next to Nothing (from the Smoke Signals palette) on the browbone to offset the dark colors.

I also used:

MAC Bare Canvas paint as a lid primer
MAC technakohl liner
MAC Plushlash in Plushblack

On my lips that’s MAC Mattene in Composure and on the cheeks is MAC Emote blush.

The colors were really hard to blend, and I had to really put that 217 into overdrive to avoid having stark lines of definition. I also had to work fast too, because once the Bare Canvas paint dried blending was virtually impossible.

And did I mention that I felt too purple to function?

I dunno how I feel about this. I guess next time around I’ll try it with a lighter hand, which I think will make me feel less, um, purple.

Dear Makeup and Beauty Blog…

You know that you need tough love some times. And that I’m here to give it to ya!

Dear Makeup and Beauty Blog,

I think my boyfriend is wearing my eyeliner.

I noticed a few weeks ago that I seemed to be going through my favorite eyeliner (MAC’s Technakohl in Graphblack!) really fast. I mean, I wear it every day, so I’m not surprised when it runs out. But lately it seems like I go through it so quickly. And one morning when I reached for it in my makeup kit, I noticed that the cap was off, which is something I never, ever do.

That night during dinner I mentioned it to my boyfriend, and told him that I thought there was a ghost or something in the house messing with my eye liner. He made a weird face and said that it was probably nothing and that I forgot to put the cap back on. Well, in between bites of pasta I looked closely at his lashline…and it seemed to look thicker, and bit more defined. That’s when it hit me: he’s using my eyeliner!

What should I do? Should I confront him about this? Should I just let it go? Help!

Sincerely,

Confused in California

Dear Confused,

It’s not the end of the world. Think about it: there are plenty of boys out there who work the lined eye with plenty of success.

Pete Wentz does Cleopatra liner

Prince does the cat eye

Jared Leto does a light smokey grey on the outer 2/3rds

However, if it really makes you uncomfortable, you might want to have a little discussion with him.

Here are a few approaches I’d think about taking if I was in your shoes.

Bait and Switch: Let the boy keep wearing liner…just don’t let it be your expensive eyeliner

I would hide my precious Technakohl away and replace it with a Prestige or Wet n’ Wild liner from the drugstore. I did this a few years ago when El Hub kept using my pricey Bumble & Bumble Gentle shampoo in the shower. He had no clue that it cost an arm and a leg, so I just replaced it with some Suave and he was none the wiser.

Full on Frontal: Ask him straight up why he’s wearing your eyeliner…but be mentally prepared for a potentially shocking conversation

This direct tactic is the one I’d be most likely to take in this situation, but I wouldn’t go into the convo without preparing myself thoroughly. First, I’d make myself a mental list of all the potential answers that El Hub could eventually give me:

“Honey, why are your wearing my eyeliner?”

Potential answer #1
“Because I want to be a rock star like Prince, so I’m quitting my job to start a band!”

Potential answer #2
“Because I’ve discovered that I like wearing makeup. By the way, those stretched out panties you’ve been complaining about? It’s not cause you’ve lost weight. It’s cause I wear them when you’re at hip hop class!”

You get the picture.

Next, I’d brainstorm all of the possible ways I’d react to these answers.

Would this exercise help me in the end? I don’t know for sure. However, I do know that going through the possible scenarios would get me thinking about how to handle each possible situation with compassion, dignity and grace. I would also hope that the exercise would prepare me for *anything* he threw my way. And should shit hit the fan, I would hopefully be mentally prepared enough to not lose my cool and be an understanding and open-minded partner during the conversation.

Make Him Up, 101: If he’s determined to wear the liner, make sure that it at least looks good

So if the boy is hell bent on wearing liner, then the least you can do is to make sure it looks good. I’d perhaps give my guy a lesson on blending and brushes, plus a fresh pot of his own MAC Fluildline in Blacktrack.

Good luck, and keep on trucking.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Dear Justin Timberlake,

Thank you so much for your lovely concert last night! I, along with the gazillion screaming teenage girls and gay men, really appreciate you being there to showcase your musical and dancing talents. And imagine my surprise when you gave props to the bloggers who figured out why you canceled your original September 12th performance date! Honey, let this be a lesson to you…next time before you get your swerve on at the VMAs you better eat lots bread before the Grey Goose gets your boy feeling loose.

By the way, I saw you waving to me up there in the nosebleed section 211 seat 39 as you sang “Senorita.” As you were staring into my eyes, did you notice my attempt at becoming one with MAC Brun shadow, a dark brown that previously scared the beejebus out of me? I paired it with:

MAC Next to Nothing (Smoke Signals Quad) as a wash
MAC Shroom on browbone
MAC Brun on outer third of the lid and bottom lashline
MAC Vex on inner lid
MAC Technakohl liner in Graphblack on top lashline
MAC Blacktrack Fluidline on inner lashline
MAC Concrete in brows
MAC Select Moisturecover concealer under eyes
Tarte 4-in-1 mascara
And
MAC Mocha and Blushbaby on cheeks

And did you notice that I was also wearing

MAC Barely Lit Lipstick
MAC Soft & Slow Lipglass

on my lips as I sang back to you? I hope so.

While I loved your performance, I have to point out something that everyone at that show was thinking. During the frenzy of the “Sexy/Back” finale, the crowds’ collective hormonal state dictated that you take your shirt off, but alas – you didn’t. Why, Justin, why?

Me and my girl Chris anxiously awaiting Justin Man Candy

Honestly, we would’ve probably been happy even if you just walked around in that white tank top you were sporting underneath that sweat-soaked button down shirt, but noooooo.

I hope you know that we all paid good money to see you and truly expected to get our perv on in a socially acceptable setting. Even a few minutes of semi-nudity would’ve made the night one for the history books.

Nonetheless, my girls and I still had lots of fun. And thanks again for the offer to take us backstage to feed us chocolate covered strawberries and champagne, but we had a long drive home. Next time.

Take care!

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen