Too many times I’m faced with the question: Does my makeup look good? Makeup is a way of expressing yourself. It’s been said before that beauty is in the eye of the beholder. And if that beholder is a man, well, that beholder has moods and changes dramatically. Studies have shown men actually prefer images of women in makeup even though they often say women wear too much makeup.
Most cosmetic companies, psychologists and beauty experts often conduct such studies to validate the obscure question: “If you prefer the natural woman, why stare at airbrushed ideals that don’t exist?”
Makeup offers women a chance to create an alter-ego, and can change the perception of any onlooker – anything from a sweet girly image to a vixen provocateur. Makeup in its artistry can evoke change in a subtle but profound way. The right eyelash, eyelid colour and lipstick can turn heads. However these changes should be subtle, not dramatic.
The latest trend seems to be changing your entire face, and all its God-given features. Sofia Vergara said “You can’t draw a woman with straight lines.” Heavily drawn, overdone brows, thick straight-as-an-arrow winged eyeliner has its time and place, and the Nike sign contour….okay everybody, just calm down!
In 2016, let’s say good bye to that please, I beg you. And say hello to the subtle sophisticated alter egos. It should be cool, it should be personal and it should be YOURS. It is always acceptable and wise to adopt style and taste from others, but your uniqueness is what truly makes you special. Creativity is the aim of the game.
So…how do you create your own alter ego? I often ask my clients, “What do you want to look like for your special occasion? Do you want colour? Are you a lipstick person? Do you want to look like you’re wearing no makeup? How about glitter?”
The best thing to do especially if you’re hiring a makeup artist is to show up to your appointment with images of makeup you like; it doesn’t matter whether the person in the image has your skin tone or not.
It is just an idea of what intrigues and excites you. The same should be done when you’re creating your makeup looks at home. Select images of makeup you like, tag them, stick them on the mirror, save them to your phone, print them, cut them out of magazines or newspapers, and practice those looks on your face. You will eventually discover who you truly are, and the image you want to portray.
It’s about you, not society, unless you’re so desperate to fit into an ever changing society you may never fit into.