Think boredom is a choice? Think again. We’re all searching for things to do while playing it COVID safe, but searching for things to do in a pandemic while pregnant presents a whole new set of challenges; a set that Allie Hartwick is ready to take on.
From microbladed eyebrows, to over-lined lips, contouring, strobing, graphic eyeliner-ing, the sheer number of makeup trends floating around Instagram these days could make anyone’s powdered head spin.
I’m a solidly Millennial woman, and at this point, have developed a pretty standard beauty routine. But ever since Gen Z declared side parts and skinny jeans officially “out” I’ve been a little worried my look might be dated as well. I have, however, been rocking a middle part since 1991, uninterrupted, so I’d argue Gen Z is stealing MY signature style.
look at that smocked shirt!
I gotta say, a serious perk of being a person who regularly wears makeup, is the level of creativity it affords. Concurrently, as someone who chooses to wear makeup daily, it can become a bit routine and mundane.
Trying out new makeup looks can be a fun way to shake up the monotony, but it’s really time consuming to master a new technique.
Perfect. I’ve got so much time that needs to be consumed these days.
Might as well spend a few hours dragging brushes across my face and busting out eyeshadow palettes and highlighters I’ve been too timid to make use of.
Like everyone who streamed everything on HBO this past year, I fell in LOVE with the show Euphoria. If you haven’t watched it yet, do.
Particularly, I was wowed by Hunter Schafer’s bold yet minimal makeup in the series.
She’s the definition of a cool-girl, and even though I’m a good decade and a half older, I definitely wanted some of her style ASAP.
I turned to instagram to gain some bold eye inspiration, and a few tips on how to make it work.
I settled on a vibrant take on a classic cat-eye.
As an Amy Winehouse devotee, I rocked a cat-eye liner for the greater part of two years, so I had that particular swish and flick already in my arsenal.
But never, not once, even on my most daring day, did I consider pairing it with an orange stripe. And I used to wear tee-shirts and legwarmers as a complete outfit, so it isn’t like I’m afraid to try bold looks, if bold is what we’re gonna call it.
I’m all about the multi-use products, and there isn’t too much difference in my mind between eyeliner, and a long-wear lip liner. For the sake of transparency, I need to admit I used an orange lip pencil, mostly to avoid buying another product I’ll use maybe twice.
I'm using this where?
What surprised me most about my timid attempt at graphic liner, was how much I liked it.
I was expecting to feel like the 45 year-old still trying to shop at Forever 21, clinging to an element of youth that does more to age than it does to update.
Opposite day, graphic liner is crazy easy and fun!
Would I do this for work, probably not; but for the concert I hope to attend sometime very soon, heck yes!
I’d even bust this out for a night out with friends, but maybe I’m just saying that because it’s been ages since I’ve gone out, and I neglect my friends so badly, I’ve forgotten what spending time with them is actually like, and I imagine us all in way trendier situations than those we typically find ourselves in.
Rather than start completely over for my next look, I decided in the moment to just build on this one.
Let me preface this new technique attempt by letting you all know that I subscribe to several beauty subscription boxes. I do this because I really like beauty products, but I LOVE getting stuff in the mail that isn’t just a credit card offer.
Most products are fab, others, I don’t make much use of. A pastel colored set of powder highlighters is one product I hadn’t made much use of, until now.
My options were a bright white, a dank-looking silver, an indigo blue, a gorgeous peach (I’d already used this one), a light green, and a blue-ish purple.
Green seemed like a good option, so time to make my cheekbones shine like a spire in the emerald city.
Again, pleasantly surprised!
Who knew green highlighter could look, dare I say, good?
Obviously the people who made this palette, or it wouldn’t exist.
I was so pleased with how my shamrock-hued cheeks turned out, I decided to add some purple into the mix.
Maybe a bit shiny, but I don’t hate this.
Has the time indoors officially driven me crazy?
Ok, let’s call those the warm up rounds, now, it’s game time.
If you spend any time at all on Instagram, or in the world, you have laid eyes upon the heavily spackled faces of the Kardashian-Jenner sisters. They are in the influencer big leagues, and you can’t claim to have tried a variety of Insta looks without including them somehow.
Their entire make-up aesthetic has launched billion-dollar companies (looking at you, Kylie), and a look I like to call the L.A. Face.
The Kardashians aren’t the only ones to consistently wear this neutral/shiny/lashy/lippy product combo, but they made over-lining lips a trend nationwide, so I credit them here.
First, the amount of foundation I layered on my face was ALARMING.
Never, in real life, would I dare leave the house with an inch of makeup between my skin and the air. I also can’t imagine doing this daily. I’d end up spending thousands of dollars annually on liquid that looks a lot like the skin I’ve already got!
And the layering didn't end there. Add on concealer, contouring cream, and powder. UGH! My face was suffocating, but didn’t look bad on camera.
From there I added all the neutral and brown eyeshadow I had, then tried to top it off with some wispy false lashes. I ditched those after three failed attempts to attach, and just went for a few layers of mascara.
This look is all about layering. If you can see even a trace of the natural human base your painting on top of, you need to add more.
Finally, it was time to overline the lippies. I count my pouty blessings, because I’ve got adequate volume, and recognize how fortunate I am. But, when creating the L.A. Face, natural elements don’t matter, and small or large, you gotta over-do it.
This was actually pretty easy to do. I just picked the other side of my lip line to draw along, then filled it in.
But holy crap was the impact of this small adjustment giant.
When my whole Kardashian inspired komplexion was komplete, I looked like I had visited an over-zealous plastic surgeon. But it was VERY L.A.
The full L.A. Face
This might photograph well, but I cannot stress enough just how much makeup is piled onto my face. Also, come on, these lips are ridiculous!
That being said, I definitely felt very influencer, and found even the oddest of expressions didn’t look half bad.
What I’m really going to take from this entire afternoon experiment, is the reality behind some of the picture-perfect faces we see as we scroll through our feed each day.
Minimally, you’re looking at layers upon layers of makeup, and very good lighting; but you’re probably also looking at a face that’s been digitally tweaked, and adjusted and altered to be “perfect.”
Me, I feel perfect just like this, in all my very puffy, spotted, wrinkled, Bored & Pregnant glory.
Wishing you inner beauty, and a bit of fun,
Allie and the Baby-face
