Heya, hot pocket! ??❤️ First, I would like to take this opportunity to apologize to my lids for the “cruel summer” they’ve endured thus far. It’s been a particularly “taupe” season, which I guess in the grand scheme of traumatic makeup horrors isn’t Armageddon-caliber, because at least I had the wherewithal to line my lash lines and incorporate one or two matte browns, but ya know…when you’re bonding with a dental hygienist at a new dentist’s office and she asks what you do for a living, and you say, “I write about makeup!” you know better than to wear taupe for three months straight.
So I’m trying to get back in the game a little… But, dude, I feel so outta practice!
Has this ever happened to you?
You practice and practice and browse blogs and watch hours of YouTube videos until you finally get to where you start to feel like you’re getting good at doing your eyes, but then life happens and you stop practicing or wearing makeup as much as you had been. Then, when you get the urge to get back into makeup again after your hiatus, the looks you had been able to do seem almost impossible?!
That’s exactly how I felt today
This bronze eye wasn’t complicated as far eye looks go, but I’ve embraced streamlined eye makeup over the last couple years, so wearing an eyeshadow base and three different shadows is now akin to performing NASA-level math for me, like E = MC-what-the-hell-am-I-doing-with-this-satiny-purple-in-the-outer-corner.
Oh, and these pics don’t show how this eye look looked originally…
Please tell me you’ve done this before: You think you’re done with an eye look, and you think it looks pretty good, but then you take a long, close look in the mirror — like really, really close — and it’s like WHAT THE EFF JUST HAPPENED!?
It’s so true, though! I don’t know why, but when I first tried this look, I unknowingly took the shimmery bronze waaaay too high up and out and ended up looking like an extra in an ’80s aerobics video. That’s my eternal eye makeup struggle, BTW — drawing the eyeshadow too far up and out.
A quick fix
To fix it, I soaked a Q-tip with eye makeup remover and cleaned up the makeup on the outer third of my lid so I could redo it, but I kept the rest of the shadow intact (because I didn’t want to start over).
Was this lazy, or industrious?
(Probably a little bit of both.)
A new phase
I think this sudden urge I’ve had to push myself more with makeup is tied to Connor Claire starting preschool next week. I guess I feel like I’ll have more breathing room to take care of myself? Lots of mixed emotions (including guilt) running through me right now. I know preschool is going to be sooo good for her…but also for me? I can’t help but feel a little melancholy about leaving this phase of our lives behind… It’s been our little world for the past two years, and it’s never gonna be like this again. ?
But before I get too sentimental and cry off my makeup…
Let’s get back to it. I skipped blush at first and paired the eyes with a brick brownish red lip (Chanel Jumbo Longwear Matte Lip Crayon in 267 Impulsion), and I originally tried to do the lips without a liner, but I couldn’t get a crisp edge using the chubby pencil tip, so it was MAC Lip Pencil in Auburn to the rescue!
In case you’re wondering, these Chanel Jumbo Mattes are the type of matte lippies that are juuuuuust matte enough to not appear harsh, and they aren’t drying at all either.
I also tried on a pink lipstick (because why the heck not?), and I eventually put on some blush (because there was one in the palette, and, again, why the heck not?).
Quickie reviews of the makeup I’m wearing in this look…
- NARS Brow Perfector in Komo — long-lasting and looks natural
- Wander Beauty Wanderess Fever Palette — bronzy, easy to blend
- NUDESTIX Magnetic Matte Eye Color in Chocolate — a useful neutral base for bronze/brown looks
- NARS Climax Mascara — all about the volume, layers well
- Estee Lauder Double Wear Light in 4.0 — love of my life, SO GOOD
- Chanel Longwear Matte Lip Crayon in 267 Impulsion — stays put and isn’t drying
- MAC Lip Pencil in Auburn — This intense brownish red is very handy for fall lip looks.
- Wander Beauty Lipstick in Hot Gossip — a gorgeous warm pink
- MAC Hyper Real Foundation in Bronze FX — absolutely gorgeous for subtle, natural highlights. LOVE!
- Estee Lauder Double Wear Custom Coverage Correcting Duo — used this instead of under-eye concealer
- MAC Coffee Liner — a long-lasting, great alternative to black liner
Let me know if you have any questions about any of these. 🙂
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
P.S. TGIF!!!!
Oh, you look terrific as always. You have to stop wearing that Chanel lippie, though. You’re killing me. I’m going to end up buying it and never wearing it because I’ll look like Pennywise. HAHA! I’ve always been at the “this is not working out” stage with eyeshadow so I can relate to the imperfect results (even without the hiatus).
Connor is going to really benefit from pre-school and I think the change will be harder for you than for her. That’s been my experience anyway. 🙂 PS New dentist? How is that going? I know the dentist stresses you out so I hope you found someone you’ll love. I have a lot of sensitive spots (recession from braces, etc) and my hygienist always paints a numbing cream on my teeth and gums before she cleans. It’s been awesome – you could ask your hygienist if their office does that.
Maybe it would help you relax if you weren’t worried about stabbing pain. Have a great weekend!
Hi Kim,
Yeah, new dentist. I needed to find a place that I could take Connor to as well, and my friend recommended a new spot that was 1) closer and 2) fully in my dental network (WOO HOO! The things that get you excited when you’re an adult). Connor’s appointment was last month and she did SO well. The office made her feel welcome and special (the dental assistant even sang the Doc McStuffins theme song to her), and by the time we left, Connor was very excited about brushing and flossing. My appointment yesterday was a initial intro kinda thing. Funny you should mention the numbing cream because they recommended that I try it. They painted it on my teeth and gums *AND* in between. I then got to put on headphones and watch Food Network while they did their thing, which was really helpful. Usually I sit there and get progressively more anxious as I hear them scraping around, but I was so distracted by the recipe for chocolate cupcakes that I forgot to freak out. It was the first time I was able to go to the dentist’s office without crying!
SO glad that someone else cries at the dentist! I sobbed throughout my last cleaning session…
I got a little misty reading that! I am SO glad that you had that experience. I hope it will be one of many that ease your dentist anxiety. And awesome job helping Connor’s first visit to be such a success. I’ve always loved the dentist but it was because my mother would bring us to pizza hut afterward to celebrate having no cavities (we almost never ate out so it was such a huge treat). We’ve always done that with the boys, too – tried to make it a fun, special time. It’s great that you’re doing that for Connor, too. 🙂 I’m so pleased for you!!!!! <3
Bronze eye/red lip is my favorite look on you. You look so glamorous! ..and your hair is purrfection.
Thanks, Lily. How are you and your Red doing? I hope you’re both having a nice summer so far!
It’s been a crazy busy hot and humid summer, but we’re hangin in!
Yes, it’s hard to leave that stage behind. It all seems to go so quickly from that point on. When you’re feeling melancholy, try focusing all the super-awesome stuff to come: when she starts becoming interested in makeup, for example! Also, the first time you share an inside joke that’s just between the two of you. Or when you’re in the changing room at a store and you both start singing the song they’re playing and, for the first time, it’s not Let It Go or The Itsy Bitsy Spider!!!
Thanks, Suzanne. I think she might already be interested in makeup, LOL! She takes her crayons and pretends to do her lipstick, and then she smacks her lips together. Oh, and believe it or not we already have an inside joke. She and I try to tickle each other underneath the arms whenever we think the other person isn’t looking. It’s simple and silly but she knows she’s being a jokester. How are your girls doing? Are they ready for school?
That is just too cute! Sounds like she may be quite the comedienne. It’s amazing/scary how much they pick up just by watching.
My girls are okay, thanks. School started this past Monday, so we’re having the usual readjustment bumps-in-the-road, but everything should settle down in a couple of weeks.
Such a gorgeous look. The red is really nice. I have not worn eyeshadow recently hardly at all, since I work in an office where most people don’t wear much makeup and my eyes are easily irritated. I did do a fun rainbow liner look (that I forgot to take a picture of, DOH!) for a show I was helping with at Pride 2 weeks ago that turned out really well. Several drag queens complimented it and asked what products I used, so I’ll take that as a win, LOL.
I can’t believe Connor is starting preschool! She’s going to be great, and so are you. I think everyone feels that way when their little ones start school.
Thanks, Chelsea. You gotta recreate that rainbow liner and take a pic and post it so we can all admire your artistry. (Because if you got the drag queen stamp of approval you know it’s legit.)
Anywho, yeah… Next week she’ll officially be a “big girl.” I just have to keep reminding myself that it’ll be so good for the both of us.
Oh! I think you’ll be able to appreciate this. I’m about to make a gluten-free pizza I found at Costco earlier this week because El Hub recently found out that he might have a gluten sensitivity. Will let you know if it’s any good!
I’ll definitely re-do it at some point! It was fun!
Good luck with the pizza! I’ve been able to eat gluten lately with an improved probiotic regimen and better control of my blood sugar.
Yeah, can’t wait to see it! Rainbows are always in season. 🙂
So, the pizza ended up turning out pretty good. The crust was on the chewy side but I didn’t mind it; the cheese tasted delicious and fresh. I topped it with mushrooms, tomatoes, olives and fresh basil. If you want the name of the brand let me know.
I know what you say about practice, when you stop doing something and then try to do it again you feel like a newbie again.
About Connor, I’m not a mom, but I feel I’m mature enough to be empathetic about how my mom feel about us growing up: me leaving to Germany and Alisson starting high school. For what I see it’s a bittersweet moment for her, she’s so proud but also sad about it. I think you get used to it and get the most about it, every milestone she achieves it’s also your achievement. Also you will be happy because your relationship will be stronger.
Actually, you don’t get that big amount of free time you think when a kiddo enters to preschool, my mom has always been in a hurry, you get time alone that’s true. The good thing is that preschool is a good boost for your social life.
You’re so thoughtful, Efrain. What you said about her milestones being my milestones, too, is definitely something to focus on. She’s made it so far, and she’s a happy, sweet, caring and creative child. I helped her with that. 🙂
If I’m hearing you right, I think I know what you mean. I had moments like that just before the birth of my second child. I felt so sad and so guilty things were about to change. I’d look at the first and start to cry sometimes. Do you know, now they are teenagers and best friends.
Transition times are so, so hard. Godspeed–may you both adapt and find the change was good. I think you will.
Thank you Shin. Funny thing is, during her first year it felt like things were always changing, ya know? The last big transition we had was potty training, but other than that things have been more or less steady for a while now. It was due time that a big change happened, I guess. Efrain in the comments here said something very kind — that her milestones are my achievements, too. I have to remember that.
That’s a beautiful way to think of it.
My son is a little younger than Connor, and I know how you feel. We have a nanny who comes to the house, and I work from home. It was hard at first to adjust having people in the house while I was working, and a nanny is expensive. But when I start to think about taking him to preschool, it relieves my wallet, but I know I’ll miss seeing his face during the day.
Every phase has their pros and cons. I miss my sweet baby boy, but I don’t miss pumping, packing a bunch of bottles for a car ride, or washing a million bottles every week. When you think of the next phase, look forward to the new, fun experiences. Don’t think about what you’re leaving behind.
I absolutely get it. I have been wearing the same shadows on my eyes for two months straight, but in my defense it was hot and I had the kids to take care of and work was crazy, but now that we are about to change seasons I look at my makeup and realize I have been sticking to the same eyeshadow/blush/lip combo for the whole of summer, I feel makeup guilt.
Hi Karen ,
How are you, that is a palette for me. love the dark red lipstick
As always, you look amazing! I’m all about that new phase in life thing – some of it by choice, some of it not so much. For fear of TMI… My husband left me in June and now he wants me back. I’m in school bettering myself (because of school I’ve lost my ability to eyeshadow and eyeliner, lol) and… I’m having a difficult time balancing my emotions without having my grades suffer. This has been a very difficult time in my life. The only thing I can say is, I was totally unaware of my own inner strength. It’s there and there’s a lot of it.
hugs and congrats to you on Connor Claire’s upcoming milestone. Preschool years were wonderful for us, we made lifelong friends during that time. Wishing you all the best on this new journey. Makeup- love love these looks you created. and sometimes less is more with the eye makeup, especially when you can let your lips take center stage! I adore these new Chanel pencils- what an outstanding formula- Lucia Pica hit it out of the ballpark with this release.
Hi Lorraine,
Thank you so much. Today we did a practice run of her walk to school! We even put her backpack on and everything. 🙂 I hope that this will be a happy time for her.
Also thought you’d get a kick out of this since your daughter is a ballet dancer. Connor recently watched the movie Leap, which is a cartoon about an orphan girl in Paris who longs to be a ballet dancer, and ever since then has insisted that she’s a ballerina. LOL! She likes to pirouette around the living room while she listens to The Nutcracker Suite. 🙂
awww! she’s so cute! I am counting the days until we can see the Nutcracker movie with Misty Copeland. The preview looks really good!
Funny you should mention that movie because I have to on my radar too. 🙂 P.S. Connor has a ballerina doll named Misty!