When I was 15, I was completely fascinated by makeup, & convinced that I was going to be a makeup artist. I wanted to be exactly like Bobbi Brown, doing makeup for celebrities & models. I thought it was the perfect plan; I’ve always wanted to be a model, but since I wasn’t tall enough (& far too camera shy), that dream flew out the window. So, by being a makeup artist, I would still be in the industry but not in front of the camera. Brilliant.
I’m a bit sad to say that at 21 years old, I am not a makeup artist; not even close. Instead, I am an ex-hairstylist (a story I have yet to tell, for fear of critical judgment), which is the closest I’ve ever gotten to “makeup artist” status. I wear about as much makeup as a piece of cardboard. (Okay, that is a bit of an exaggeration, but it sounds creatively accurate.) I never really liked the whole idea of smothering my face with oils, pigments, & chemicals for the sake of beauty. Doing it to other people is a different story, of course.
Even though I’m no longer wishing to be a makeup artist — especially after walking into a MAC store, where the “makeup artists” work, to see that every girl has caked on goop over their eyes, faces, & lips; no thank you! — I still have an unquenchable passion for it. I can’t explain why; it’s just extremely fascinating to me. Even with the oils, pigments, & chemicals, I love it.
Thus, The Beauty Book was born. I made it in 2003, to help inspire me every time I put on a new face of makeup. With every magazine I read, I would closely examine the model’s makeup. If I liked it, I had no qualms about ripping out the page — or cutting it — to put inside of my Beauty Book. & then I would mimic exactly what I saw in the picture with drugstore beauty products. This kept me entertained for months.
I stopped contributing to the book once I started beauty school, & I haven’t opened it since… until recently.
After sitting on the hard floor, peering into the pages of my long forgotten book, I began to feel inspired. So I decided to put on some red lipstick & snap a few photos… even though I had no where to go, & was looking like a bit of a bum.
There is something so shameless about red lipstick. It’s sexy, it’s daring, it’s loud, & it’s very hard to pull off. After walking around the house in grubby clothes, while wearing the red lipstick for a few hours, I decided that maybe it’s not meant for me… until I saw the pictures. It looks gorgeous on film (which reinforces my feelings of it being “fantastical”.) But in person, it looks too “in your face!!!” Not to mention, that stuff gets everywhere. Your face, your teeth, your fingertips…
It was then I realized why I never really like fussing with makeup so much anymore: it’s too messy. & taking it off is an adventure in itself. Even so, makeup will always be alluring to me.
(& if you ever need any makeup/beauty tips, I am chalk full of them. Email me!)
That is such a cool book! I hardly wear makeup anymore other than mascara and lip gloss, but I still love the idea of playing with colors, etc.
That picture of you is so cute!
You just have to find the right shade of red lipstick for you. Believe the pictures, not your lying eyes :-)
oh my! that red lipstick looks absolutely stunning on you!
i used to keep a binder with all sorts of magazine clips too. makeup looks i liked, clothing styles… you name it i clipped it and put it into the book. i think you’ve inspired me to dig mine up!
xo
OMG! That’s so neat! I always wanted to make things like that but my “scrapbook” attempts never came out cool :-|
Makeup escapes me. Even when I put it on, it never stays on. Lipbalm seems enough do me. Although a little shimmer on those special occasions seems fun.
Even worse, my my mom sells marykay so I have a candy store of colors in my possession that never even get touched.
I simply love your beauty book.
wow, what an amazing idea!
i’m such a beauty geek, i’m so starting one of these!
if you want to pass any tips along, i’d be very grateful!
x
the red lipstick is so you…seriously you look like you’re one of those people meant to wear red lipstick. oh i’m insanely jealous.
hon lovely post,loved your makeup inspiration book,think thats a great idea.if its your passion you should pursue it.
big kiss,
marian
I actually recognized some of the magazine cut outs especially with the beautiful blonde model with the 90s blue eyeliner….you got it from elle girl huh?
The red seriously looks good on you and I definitely think you should become a make-up artist. Oh the stories you will tell :).
But not a MAC makeup artist those girls try too hard but if anything become a freelance makeup artist :). Up to you.
You are a fascinating woman and that lipstick looks great on you.
I wear red lipstick daily and I wear it well. I think my dark hair and light skin are a good canvas for red lipsticks, especially blue-based reds (orangy ones, not so much).
But it takes getting used to and it’s definitely not kissing-friendly. :)
It looks gorgeous on you but you look so different…Asian qualities
I love this idea. I’ve always wanted to start up a book like that- fill it with each article that I like, so that on a slow day, I’d have something to go back to and spend my time on. I haven’t been able to actually spend the time on it, yet.. so, we’ll see what happens with it.
And the red does look gorgeous in the photograph. =)
You do look like a completely different person. Gorgeous, though! I doubt that I could ever do red lipstick (read: I will never leave the house in red lipstick).
My mom kept a scrapbook like that…but of furniture. For her “dream house.” She still has it, but all of the pieces in it are so dated, so 70s…lol
I love these sorts of findings. I have a folder with magazine clippings too… I’m still updating it, in fact (it’s a very large folder). I can’t wait to look at everything I’ve kept and be inspired all at once.
Also, it takes guts to wear red lipstick. I actually never have. Hmmmmm.
ahh good post. i’ve been thinking about makeup as of late as well. red lipstick in particular. my bf’s mom asked me why i always wear nude lip gloss coz it makes me look ‘pale’ and suggested i try red. that idea made me shriek. but of course, that was like 3 years ago. now…i’m thinking of going to a ‘professional’ to pick the right shade for me. we’ll see…
the beauty book is so inspiring! :) i’ve done it all in terms of makeup, caked it on, cleaned it off…..eyeliner + mascara only is best.
ah and to answer your question :) practice, practice, practice. wear them at home, on small errands, and any where you possibly go to. it’ll take some getting used to but that is the only trick. some of us have a arched feet so flats really hurt. others have flat feet and heels hurt really badly! i don’t like wearing flats for too long because of the lack of ankle support and it kills me. hope that helps!
When I was younger I used to actually wear More makeup than I do now… when I started dating Michael he told me I was beautiful so much that I stopped feeling weird if I didn’t wake up and immediately put on six shades of eyeshadow. I am sure your lover is as equally complimentary. ;) However, I LOVE eyeshadow! MAC especially. There is something really creative and fun about trying new shades and combinations. I still wear liquid eyeliner most days though (which took me 2 years to perfect lol) because I just like it. ^_^ I think red lipstick is adventurous, daring and sexy!! Just….. not for me. :)
Aw, I have so many notebooks just like this! Aren’t they fun to go through? I have a bunch filled with clothes I liked at the time, and hairstyles, also articles that caught my eye about certain things. I love looking back at them.
And you know what? You can totally rock the red lipstick. I would look like a pasty hooker if I wore red lipstick. Seriously. :) You look absolutely lovely – and you should be thankful that you don’t even have to wear much makeup to look so lovely. It’s nice to have the option to go without.
That shade of lipstick is AMAZING ON YOU! I know what you mean, though, looks good on the camera, but not in real life.
Also…I recently bought liquid eye liner and I can not use it for the life of me! It either gets in my eye, or right under my eyebrow or in my eyelashes or something! What is the secret? Can you help me?
Your Beauty book looks absolutely fab and as much as you now think that make up is too messy, I think being a freelance make up artist for a few friends might push you to realise that dream sooner than later..
You look great.And i love your Blog!
I also have such a book which I already maintain for years. Not only with Beauty tips, but with everything what inspieriert me. actually, a predecessor of Blogs!
Looking through old journals and scrapbooks is such an eye opener. I’m actually going start a fashion scrapbook to whittle down my magazine collection.
Your blog is amazing and you are beautiful!
must be fantastic to find the book back
I haven’t stopped by your blog in a while, but I’m glad I did. I enjoyed reading this and I hope that more women come by and read this. I think natural beauty is the best beauty, but I think make-up in small doses is nice as well. The red lipstick looks nice on you (no disrespect to the husband), but you should put your pic in the beauty book. Nice job and wonderful blog.
hi!
i’ve read your post on voguewebsite!!!
your look is so glam, i luv it!
this website is great!pics are amazing…and your hair STREPITOSI!:D
i check it out ev’ry dayyy!!!
goooo girl! :D
kiss&huge from italy
I have just come across your site, and I adore it!
I used to compile all my favorite beauty tips and things from mags to keep for inspiration too. :)
xo, Kate
I’ve never really worn makeup… well only on three occasions when I did a fashion show… I sometimes put on mascara and eyeliner (pencil) and i’ve never really own lipstick.
So.. I’m like a make up virgin. I have a couple mac eyeshadows that I’ve never had the courage to wear…. I just dont know where to start and how to apply them…
How about scanning your makeup book for the virgins out there like me. I need some help and a dash of courage!!
Lovely book!!
wonderful book, and i recognise a lot of those lovely pictures from ElleGirl :)
i find taking off make up the most annoying part. and oh my, over here the girls at the Napoleon Perdis counter are the worst. foundation should never be that obvious!
you look great in that lip stick, though.
X
As someone else pointed out, the red lipstick looks stunning. I really like your makeup book with the cutouts & ideas. And I agree with your assessment that taking off makeup is definitely an adventure.
What an awesome, awesome idea! I have one for fashion inspiration currently, but I should start a beauty one, too. Especially now that I’ve (also) chopped my hair and I’m way more inclined to experiment with my face.
I love your blog and I love that you’re such an inspiring woman :)
XXo,
Neekoh
First of all, you look absolutely gorgeous. Second, I have experimented with lipsticks since the 7th grade when I wasn’t allowed by my parents to wear makeup at all and I put this ugly dark brown color lipstick on in the girls’ bathroom for my yearbook picture (as you would have guessed, the photo was hideous). I have never liked wearing makeup myself, but since my teeth aren’t as white as I would like them to be and my lips have lost all their color in the past years, I wear a teeny bit of bronzer, blush, zero eye makeup (though at times I’m known to throw on some mascara), and Maybelline Superstay lipstick. This stuff is awesome because it stays on all day (or most of it, anyway) and doesn’t get on anything like your fingers or clothes. I love it. But I hear you about the not wanting goop on your face all day.
Sarah