As I'm certain that many of the readers of this blog have read their share of
Do's & Don'ts articles, I'm here to put a little twist on this
topic.
There are so-o many of the do-and-don't writers out there: David Zinczencko & Matt Goulding write the "Eat This, Not That" articles for Men's Health magazine, and a successful series of books in the same vein. Glamour magazine's back page is always a clothing critique of Do's and Don'ts complete with some snicker inducing photos, and VICE magazine, devoted to current events and the weird, advises the reader of Do's and Dont's on everything from what character costumes NOT to wear to Sci-Fi conventions to what is a DO for a hipster to wear while sauntering around NYC's upper east side.
Like many of you, I am sick and tired of being told what to do and what not to do with my makeup by writers that are neither my age, nor have my particular set of features, my budget and my personality. Well, enough of that. I am the Doyenne of Do!
A recent example from About.com's site (which I frequent for great information on everything):
DON'T wear dark lipstick.
The reasoning behind this? It makes your lips appear smaller. I say, in an era where lots of high profile celebrities and wealthy women overdo lip plumping (fish lips anyone?), a smaller set of lips can be highly desirable. Yet, dark lipcolor doesn't have to make your lips appear tiny.
Applied correctly, your burgundy lips can suggest a sexuality and chic that a 20-something is just not capable of. Proper lip liner is the key; with a dark color, nude or a shade close to your natural lip color is applied over the entire lip taking care to keep the outline natural. Apply your lipstick with a brush or fingertip so the color is not so intense and follow with a light glossing or balm. So, dark lip color is a DO for we mature gals.
Another DON'T that irks me, this from MSN: DON'T wear black eyeliner.
Quelles Horruer! No Frenchwoman of any age, in her right mind, would give in to this. Black liner on it's own, without eye shadow, is a classic day time look for the eternally chic French. To quote from the American Woman's Bible for attaining that desirable French confidence, "French Chic: How To Dress Like a Frenchwoman" by noted author and transplanted Yankee Susan Sommers, from the list of the Five Makeup Must Haves for Frenchwomen: "Black kohl pencil for defining the eyes. Frenchwomen use this soft eyeliner pencil for lining the inner rims of their upper and lower lids. This dramatizes their eyes." This makeup must is learned by daughters from their Mothers and Grandmothers. When it's right, it's right. Oftentimes, the simplest look is the best look.
Also, anyone who has admired the exotic eyes of Indian and Middle Eastern women, who often have only their eyes to communicate their beauty and femininity, will surely have noticed the kohl-rimming of the entire eye. This is a stunning look that conveys sensuality without a need to show breasts and limbs, as do so many women of the Western world.
So I say black eyeliner is a DO.
There are so-o many of the do-and-don't writers out there: David Zinczencko & Matt Goulding write the "Eat This, Not That" articles for Men's Health magazine, and a successful series of books in the same vein. Glamour magazine's back page is always a clothing critique of Do's and Don'ts complete with some snicker inducing photos, and VICE magazine, devoted to current events and the weird, advises the reader of Do's and Dont's on everything from what character costumes NOT to wear to Sci-Fi conventions to what is a DO for a hipster to wear while sauntering around NYC's upper east side.
Like many of you, I am sick and tired of being told what to do and what not to do with my makeup by writers that are neither my age, nor have my particular set of features, my budget and my personality. Well, enough of that. I am the Doyenne of Do!
A recent example from About.com's site (which I frequent for great information on everything):
DON'T wear dark lipstick.
The reasoning behind this? It makes your lips appear smaller. I say, in an era where lots of high profile celebrities and wealthy women overdo lip plumping (fish lips anyone?), a smaller set of lips can be highly desirable. Yet, dark lipcolor doesn't have to make your lips appear tiny.
Applied correctly, your burgundy lips can suggest a sexuality and chic that a 20-something is just not capable of. Proper lip liner is the key; with a dark color, nude or a shade close to your natural lip color is applied over the entire lip taking care to keep the outline natural. Apply your lipstick with a brush or fingertip so the color is not so intense and follow with a light glossing or balm. So, dark lip color is a DO for we mature gals.
Another DON'T that irks me, this from MSN: DON'T wear black eyeliner.
Quelles Horruer! No Frenchwoman of any age, in her right mind, would give in to this. Black liner on it's own, without eye shadow, is a classic day time look for the eternally chic French. To quote from the American Woman's Bible for attaining that desirable French confidence, "French Chic: How To Dress Like a Frenchwoman" by noted author and transplanted Yankee Susan Sommers, from the list of the Five Makeup Must Haves for Frenchwomen: "Black kohl pencil for defining the eyes. Frenchwomen use this soft eyeliner pencil for lining the inner rims of their upper and lower lids. This dramatizes their eyes." This makeup must is learned by daughters from their Mothers and Grandmothers. When it's right, it's right. Oftentimes, the simplest look is the best look.
Also, anyone who has admired the exotic eyes of Indian and Middle Eastern women, who often have only their eyes to communicate their beauty and femininity, will surely have noticed the kohl-rimming of the entire eye. This is a stunning look that conveys sensuality without a need to show breasts and limbs, as do so many women of the Western world.
So I say black eyeliner is a DO.
I'll
be back soon with more ravings on the Beauty Communists. Until next time - be your beautiful you!
--GailZ
I hate makeup rules as well. like women over 40 shouldn't wear shimmery eyeshadow. BAH!
ReplyDeleteI love this! I'm a rule breaker myself. Black eyeliner forever!
ReplyDeleteYou can have my black eyeliner when you pry it from my cold, dead hands.
ReplyDeleteI drive the local cosmetic gals nuts with my purchases of black eyeliner and dark pink lipstick. They say don't do dramatic eyes and lips at the same time. I say, I am just a dramatic kinda gal!
ReplyDeleteDark pink is a great look-- it goes from day to night easily. And that, to me, is a good balanced look, too--
ReplyDeletebig eye power, matched by strong lips. When you have a great smile, why not use it?