I have a ‘Beauty School Dropout’ category on this blog which is supposed to contain posts related to all things make-up/hair-related. Quite literally though, I have ‘dropped-out’ of that category with the severe lack of posts in there. In this week’s Grazia, Laura Craik expressed her relief at being back at London Fashion Week, where show-goers have ‘big breasts and bed-head’ and how it was freaking her out to be ‘among so many thin and groomed people’ at New York Fashion Week. It reminded me of a conversation that I was having with New York-native Jamie from Bella Sugar where she said ‘It’s just bad manners if you don’t have go out with a mani/pedi’. Fair enough, seeing as mani/pedi’s cost almost nothing in New York, compared to the extortionate prices here. Sitting with a beauty blogger made me feel all the worse for having near zero interest in such and such a product that Jamie was pulling out from her extraordinary bag of tricks. My realisation of my lack of grooming thudded down on my mussed-up-by-Eurostar-train hair, there and then.
Truth is…. make-up and hair freaks the hell out of me. My shoddily applied concealer and smeared on lipstick is testament to that. It actually pains me every morning that I have to apply that bit of concealer to those damn annoying blemishes. Dealing with the hair is better since it is happy to just BE. I flick through catwalk make-up pages in magazines musing ‘Wow, that’s beautiful’ but then shirking away at the list of products that is required to create that ‘smoky eye’ or whatever beauty trend mags are touting. SA’s at beauty counters in department stores are like Shaun of the Dead type zombies coming to get me. There’s also this whole other foreign language involved in beauty. A red lip isn’t just a ‘red lip’, it’s a ‘glossy, scarlet full lip’.
Tradition would have it that if you take an interest in fashion and your personal clothing style, ergo you wish to present the best visage possible using hair and make-up as your tools. It’s all part of personal appearance right?
So why is that I can happily traipse from one end of town to the other looking for a perfect pussy bowed blouse with a big grin on my face, but going to Selfridges to pick up my moisteriser has me groaning. In a ratio, the time devoted to outfits : time devoted to the visage is about 50:1. Extreme ratio, you’ll agree? Take the Kickers X party I was supposed to go to tonight (in the end, a DVD, takeout food and blogging sounded more appealing…). Spent half an hour deliberating about different combinations of hoisery (yes, that’s tights and socks…) to go with my DIY dress and then smeared on that grotty Chanel lipstick which has seen better days, botched on some concealer from a Korean brand where the lid is breaking and it has bits of bag crap in it, and couldn’t be arsed to do anything with the hair in about 3 minutes.
There is of course merit to doing the ‘au naturel’/messed-up/just got out of bed (I’m talking about the genuine article. Not the versions which take too much effort) thing which a lot of people pull off very well. I’m just aware that had I had the grooming gene instilled in me, why yes, I could look that touch better, perhaps something that New York fashion editors feel about the women in UK. Hence the title of this post; not quite the whole package.
It’s fine being ungroomed and for me, I guess it can work in my favour when wearing complex outfits but in fact, as I have less and less time to myself, the time ratio has gotten more extreme. More and more time to the outfit, less and less time to the rest of it. Does this need rectifying? Well, certainly, addressing it somehow is in order…
I’d be interested to hear your clothes:beauty ratios as I feel I am speaking to people just as, if not more, obsessed with the art of dressing….but what about the rest? I promise I won’t be bored to tears even though the subject is….*shudder* beauty routines…. oh dear god…. I have to buy a new frickin’ concealer soon….*hives slowly creep on Susie’s neck*….
Eek, I barely bother with beauty routines at all, unless you can’t washing my face!! I don’t really think it’s such a good thing to be honest, as there are times when I definitely need a bit of beauty!
My hair doesn’t even get brushed in the morning unless it’s being washed, although that is purely because it goes incredibly bouffant if I do brush it!
I often leave the house literally wearing mascara and nothing else. There are days when I wear no make-up at all!
I would quite like to do something about it, but it just seems like such an effort! Beauty isn’t really my thing…
haha it just so happens i’m pretty much the same. I love making outfits, but generally in the make up department it’s just eye liner and mascara for me. that said, eye shaddow and lip stick can be fun to play around with, but mostly i just can’t be bothered. the conundrum is; i will go out without perfect hair or make up, and yet i won’t go out unless my outfit is interesting and creative.
id look a lot better if i put more effort in, but when it comes down to it i cant really be arsed to slap on a full mask. i pride myself on being honest enough to be able to leave a house without makeup although id much prefer a bit of eyeliner and mascara so i dont look dead.
although i dont spend ages picking out clothes (it seems a bit wasted almost when you live in a city thats quite small and no one will really ‘geddit’ like in london where you could leave in pyjamas and no one would blink) but my ratio is about the same proportion. especially with hair, i would love big knotty hair but am cursed with my mums straight silky chinese locks (much to the envy of everyone else, the bane of my existance though), ive considered a perm so i dont have to try and knot it and re-knot it when it falls out but its just the tiiiiime and id rather spend that sleeping.
Funny, that you mention the difference in beauty rituals between Americans and you. In the US Marie Claire October issue has been an article that surprised me a little and that fits very well to this post: An American woman, the writer of the article and test person, tries to abandon her American way of beauty rituals (“blowdry, use straightening irons and mousse[…] lipgloss and anti-ageing products”)to do it the European way, which in MC meant: “indifference to body hair, blush, and the gym…instead of grooming themselves”. Also, according to a few European beauty experts she had asked, we Europeans didn’t wash our hair every day (the test person reduced this daily routine to twice a week, she also ditched waxing her body hair), didn’t use as much beauty products and didn’t have this obsession with anti-aging and nail-studios.
When I read the article, I thought this was a rather superficial and stereotypical and therefore wrong perception of European women (also because the woman felt so European she had the urge to light a cigarette and smoking it in a caf√©! very french, she said). Come to think of it, I actually really don’t blowdry, bother with a lot of beauty products and stick to what I know what works instead of trying 5 different shades of eye shadow. Also, in germany nail studios are way too expensive too and anti aging is not yet a matter of concern (i’m 21). Hence, except for the fact that I surely wash my hair more than twice a week (but this could be because I am actually asian ;)), there may be IS a difference between the European and the American way of beauty.
Don’t know… just
I think those of you in your 20’s and younger can afford to go makeup-less, in fact I hate seeing such young people with a face full of crap. Your skin glows – blemishes and all. But when you get older, you need a bit more help to look good. I couldn’t live without concealer. I can’t really wear lipstick since I’m sadly lacking in the pout department, but generally I use concealer to hide blotches, mascara, dark eyeshadow under my eyes (instead of eyeliner) and maybe on my upper lids if I know I won’t be out for too long for it too crease (oily skin and eyeshadow don’t mix!) and a matte powder to give me at least, oh, an hour before I go all shiny again.
I wash and blow dry my hair every day too. I spend an hour in the morning for hair and makeup, and about 10 minutes for choosing what to wear. To be fair that hour is mostly spent trying to dry my insanely thick hair.
i am to lazy to do the make-up thin everyday! it would really kill me! I mean, i’m an outfit person too, however, I do have more confidence when wearing make-up. probably because it doesn’t happen too often. what i do is get a bold pink lipstick and just use that. for that kind of a lipstick you need “natural” eye make-up, so I do it your way, just leave everything else as is.
I should take care of my hair more often, as it is kinda messy and short and not cool. when I do straighten it, I realize what a great haircut I have.
Oh well, enough about me. I think you look like a doll in that picture, you are so amazingly cute. i am always happy when i see you pout and the a bit shy look on your face. dear Susie, dare to show yourself more, we do enjoy it and don’t think i am the only one who thinks this way!
hugs
I’m kind of an all or nothing girl. If I am going out on the town I’ll breakout the diffuser and the cake eyeliner, fake lashes or red lipstick…But day-to-day I wear sunscreen and that is about it. I was just thinking the other day about how much nicer I would look if I actually cared about something other than my clothes and shoes when I got ready in the morning. But lipstick wears off in the time it takes me to drink my morning latte, so really whats the point?
I do minimal outfits and minimal makeup – my routine is mascara (maybelling, clinique, or anything I get free in gift baggies) and balm for the lips (kiehls or rose balm). I don’t use any hair goo, just run the flat-iron through it.
Not that I put that much extra effort into my clothes… AA and jeans girl here
I love my red lipstick!
to be honest, i like to think of my face and body as an (almost!) blank canvas for the clothes! i really cant be arsed with makeup apart from the odd splodge of concealer under the eyes and maybe a bit of blush. i deliberately sleep with my (naturally quite straight) hair scrunched up which makes it look kind of intentionally messy so i dont have to blowdry it, straighten it or even wash it that much! i’ve always admired people who have a ‘signature’ makeup look, such as red lipstick or cat eye eyeliner, but i tend to rely on my clothes instead. i am, however, very proud of my distinctive colouring (very brown but with lots of dark, dark freckles) – so i suppose that’s my version of facial vanity! god, that phrase really doesn’t sound right…
oh and you look really very beautiful in that picture 🙂
I don’t care a lick about make-up unless I am going out at night. And my hair, while I spend lots of time preening it and encouraging it to be henna red and very long–I don’t ever touch it with product or heat. However, I care a lot more about my clothes. I have just never figured out how to make make-up look good! Where as I know many tricks to look good in clothes. Also, I think it is totally stupid that men aren’t force fed make up and women are. I am just too stubborn to start the habit.
Well, I now live in New York and let me tell you, there is nothing more boring than walking up 5th Avenue and watching the bland people go by…so perfectly groomed that they look like mannequins.
I must say, I do a lot of grooming,but most of it is necessary…older age means anti-aging, white lashes and brows, gotta dye them to look alive…besides, I never seem to acquire that perfect look anyway.
So for me groomingtime is about equal to clothing time. I’m still in search of both the perfect red lipstick and the perfect red shoe.
I don’t care a lick about make-up unless I am going out at night. And my hair, while I spend lots of time preening it and encouraging it to be henna red and very long–I don’t ever touch it with product or heat. However, I care a lot more about my clothes. I have just never figured out how to make make-up look good! Where as I know many tricks to look good in clothes. Also, I think it is totally stupid that men aren’t force fed make up and women are. I am just too stubborn to start the habit.
This post is really interesting, I’m french and my boyfriend is American and he gets all the time questions like ” Is it true that french girls don’t shave ?” or other stupid things like that. I just wanna kill all of them when I hear that ! The biggest difference in my opinion is that in France and in Europe generally, it almost looks silly to be all groomed up. You have to look natural like you didn’t do anything. If I go to a party, I barely change my outfit, adding some heels and some eyeliner maybe but I was amazed to see my boyfriend’s girl friends working so hard on their hair and make up, like if they were attending a hollywood party or something. They don’t really care about the way they are dressed on everyday basis but they always have their manicure done. I’m the opposite, I love to play with my clothes. Before I go to bed, I always think about the outfit I’m gonna wear the next day and I even wake up sometimes when I feel inspired ! I do love my messy hair and I hate to comb it. I never blowdry my hair because it tends to be too dry after BUT I do wash my hair every 2 days ! For my make up, I just use some concealer, mascara and pink blush. It takes me 5 to 10 min and I’m happy with that.
I also tend to spend more time on my outfits than make-up, my mum just recently got me into applying liquid eyeliner and blue eyepencil from avon which took me months to learn how to apply properly without looking like a panda, however I’m still not used to it, I only use them on nights out with friends. On normal day to day basis, I’m happy with my minty lip balm I got from boots… they taste nice aswell, not that I eat them or anything.
I am definately an outfit girl but this is circumstantial because I have really curly hair and I can’t do anything to it anyway. I also don’t like the feel of make up on my skin so I often skip that too. However on weekends when I have more time or special occasions I go a bit crazy with the make up but usually in the form of false eye lashes or gems or something which I count as accessorising.
you seriously remind me of Nico in that photo, sans the blonde hair but still.
My everyday makeup is mascara (I have light, light red lashes‚Äîin seventh grade I said something about my eyelashes and a boy said “you have eyeslashes?”), a bit of undereye concealer, and Burt’s Bees lip balm. But then again I’m 15, so I can get away with that. I am too scared to not brush my hair before going to school (I’m in America, by the way), and sometimes I use the flat iron on my slightly wavy hair. Usually I spend about 10-20 minutes on this and the same amount on my outfits, but to speed it up I made a list of outfits I wanted to wear so now I can just look at my list and pick one out without having to try on 12 things!
oh yeah, make that lots and lots of black mascara XD. And as far as the manicure thing, just for special occasions! I used to paint my nails like once every six weeks last year, but this year I’m painting them every weekend because I have so many fun colors and ideas to try (this week I have white with black tips a la L.A.M.B.!)
meh… i used to live by pedicures and waxing, until i moved to london, it’s waaaay more expensive there than it is in the states. everything is. so i learned to try other things , and you know what… they WORK!
i’d rather put my money on something that i can see rather than products that may or may not be a placebo.
: )
oh you might find this article of interest….
http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C02E1DA1730F937A35752C0A9619C8B63
calls for skincare minimalism.
nice!
You look fantastic in that photo!
I don’t like to wear too much make up, but can’t leave the house without wearing some eyeliner and having my trusty vaseline with me. I only wear a little blusher but sometimes i just don’t bother. I do use the face wash and exfoliating lotion (their famous 3 step routine) from Clinique though, only because it’s the only one that really makes my skin feel clean but i don’t use their moisturiser because it’s a bit too expensive and my body shop vit.e works just as well.
Hair-wise, i do have to wash it everyday, though i hate that i’m in that routine but my hair is too used to being washed everyday to change. I blow dry it and leave it at that. I’m really quite lazy with make up but i love browsing the make up counters in department stores, everything is always so beautifully laid out and so pretty to look at!
Either way, the routine takes about 10 mins. While considering different outfits can take far too long. More than once, i’ve had to make a run for the bus or turn up a little later than expected because i’ve been to indecisive with the outfit! Usually i know exactly what i’m wearing the next day, but sometimes i change at the last minute into a zillion different outfits only to wear the first one again.
I’m not a grooming girl at all, in fact I kind of think that (because I have really curly hair for one thing) Im never going to be one of those pristine girls with just-so hair, so why bother? that goes for my clothes as well as my makeup.
I’m more the kind of girl who’ll wear messy black eyeliner at night but can’t be bothered with foundation, or manis and straightening my hair.
I definitely noticed the difference between americans and brits though – I wonder if the different aesthetic is because the two cultures have v different aspirations?
in america luxury is having ‘made it’ and having the time and the money to be perfect and clean and neat and exquisitely groomed. but for the traditional titled upper classes, luxury became being so recognised or so loaded that you could run around in wellies with hay in your hair and no one would question you. so freedom is freedom to be messy or barefaced or have dirt under your fingernails.
or the other thing I think is that maybe the english don’t like to be seen to try too hard, in anything. and if you have a fierce outfit on with perfect hair and makeup it’s seen as too vain.
either way, all I have on today is mascara and concealer, and I resented putting in even that much effort.
my ratio is more like 100:1. i only own under eye concealer, lip balm and mascara and i only put on mascara if its a really really special occaision. oh yea and i do blush during the winter because i’m irish and an irish in snow= a very very ghostly looking girl….i spend much more time on sifting through clothes an much prefer it. i feel like it’s a more calculated investment. makeup is used up whereas clothes can be given away and re-used…
You’re not alone. I wear no makeup, (not even *gasp* concealer) I just let it be.
I tend to focus more on skincare. Just a cream wash morning & night. Some Clinique City Block SPF for the face. Curl the eyelashes and some lip balm, & that’s it.
I’m always late as it is trying to get dressed, imagine if I was doing makeup, I’d *never* show up at all!
-h
dearest susie,
even though i come here to read you on a daily basis, i rarely feel the need to comment, mostly because everyone else does. now this is different – you’re asking for help, whining about having to buy beauty products, and MAN DO I GET YOU! of course i also spend 4 hours picking the perfect dress/shoe combo, and most of the times i leave the house in a hurry and apply my fail-proof makeup on the car/bar/wherever.. if i do that at all, that is.
YET, and this is a big yet, i feel that i can help you. trust me, this 4 things are the only products you need to buy for an “i really couldn’t care less, this is the most i’m ever going to spend thinking about my beauty routine” attitude:
– ysl touche eclat, doesn’t get bag crap (ahah loved it, so true.. and where does it come from??), the lid doesn’t crack and boy does it conceal..
– mac lipstick in whichever colour you feel like, although a pink-ish neutral really is something you’re going to wear everyday, as opposed to a red red red reeed tone, which can be at times very intimidating.
– sisley mascara really is the best. really.
– a good moisturizer really helps a lot, and a tinted one, i hear, helps even more. well i can’t say for sure because i haven’t tried it but estee lauder’s daywear plus comes in a tinted version (i use the normal stuff and it’s really good)…
sincerely hope this helps – hey, it worked for me!
my ratio is probably 20:1. I do wear makeup, but just the basics, everyday its the same routine – sunscreen, concealer, brown eyeshadow as a liner, mascara and some pink blush. Hair even more simple – i wash it twice a week, straighten it and then forget about it completely until the next wash – no combing and definately no products!.
Clothes however, take up a rediculous amount of my getting ready time… I normally get up, do the usual makup thing and then get ready to spend half and hour figuring out what to wear!
Im in Australia by the way, not sure where i fit into the US vs Europe battle?
My ratio is about 100:1 too… and I’m a New Yorker! I’ve never even had a manicure before.
I don’t know, I just think of the money I could spend getting my hair done and my nails done and getting facials every week and the money I could spend on concealer and foundation and eye shadow… and I just think I could buy so much great clothing and shoes and accessories instead.
But beyond money, I also just really can’t be bothered. Also, I rarely even notice when other people are wearing makeup or not or if their nails are done. It all bores me, to be honest.
wwwooow!
you’re really pretty :]
I’m definately more about the clothes than the makeup. I bike to work every day, so if I wear any eye makeup, it’s all over my cheeks by the time I get there. Basically, lip gloss and a wee bit of powder are my basics. I have pretty sensitive skin too, so I try not to cake it up with too much.
I hate my hair. It’s in between wavy and curly, and it never wants to behave. Whatever style I manage to get is destroyed by my helmet anyway.
Clothes and boots it is, then!
So far this year, I’ve worn eyeshadow three times. Mascara maybe half a dozen. Lipstick? NEVER. Gloss most often of any ‘beauty’ product. I abhor concealer and foundation and won’t have it in my home.
I spend time caring for my skin, about three minutes a day. I spend far more time on my outfits.
Outfit : ‘beauty’ regimen
10 : .05
I live in NYC, but I come from the nearby area, so most of my friends and relatives are locals who didn’t move thousand of miles to be NEW YORKERS in big capital letters. So my only exposure to the supposedly typical perfect makeup, perfect hair, hyper-image-conscious thing is through style sites like this rather than personal contacts. That said — I gotta say, there’s a lot to be said for anti-aging products. I’ve been to a few parties lately where I wanted to drag my 30-something friends/relatives to at least the Whole Foods makeup annex, if the Mac counter is too superficial for them. A lot of the NY mani/pedi/look-at-me thing is annoying, but there’s nothing wrong with putting a little effort into prolonging the crow’s feet and other ravages of time.
But I still want to clarify — NYC does not equal USA. The whole country isn’t a bunch of whatever the hell the girl’s name is from Sex and the City.
I’m glad I’m a guy.
Ahh I want to have your hair. Mine is short and out of shape. I hate it. And about beauty and me…well…I just want to have perfect skin and nice hair. I don’t apply make-up a lot…but I do infact look better and groomed when my friend applies it for me for a night out. It saddens me a bit.
It’s like blue eye-shadow plus pink lips – always focus on just one thing. Since your outfits are extravagant and an eyecatcher, there is no need to exaggerate with make up. Besides, I think make up is overrated. When you have a healthy, natural look, why cover it with concealer and all those things? I totally agree that red lips can increase the effect of a dress, but one shouldn’t feel like being forced to put it on. I personally use mascara and some red lipcolour applied with my fingertip, that’s all.
Keep on focussing on your clothes, Susie, for we wait to see new creations!
btw: Would you give us a smile, the next time you take a photo? 😉
I love being a European girl!
You look great in that pic!
I don’t like looking too groomed!
My ratio is 60 (clothes) : 40 (make-up etc.).
I wash my hair every second day but I hate blow drying. I use mascara, concealer, blush and lip balm. And I love cat eye eyeliner (but not every day).
Every evening I thing about next day’s outfit.
Lol, your ratio is huge! 😛
I think that you have great skin! I don’t wear much makeup either and am less coherent when talking the ‘makeup’ lang but looking out for new products and things that will accentuate natural beauty has def made me perk my ears!
First off…. I’m glad there’s more of us unkempt folk around here…. and please excuse the long comments post…. just want to go back to ppl individually…
buttonsandstars: Bouffant? That sounds pretty cool…. people put stuff in their hair to get that effect!
julia: That is exactly my conondrum too! God forbid I wear a crap no-effort outfit but hair and make-up are really afterthoughts…
owlpyjamas: Did I hear you want big ‘knotty’ hair and that you’re ‘cursed’ with long silky straight hair? Something not quite right there…
the_kitten: I don’t think the difference between US and European beauty rituals are that clearcut. As ppl have pointed out, NYC is not representative of all of US and Europe is a big place in itself! Let’s not get started on the differences between French and English beauty rituals for example…. that US Marie Claire article seems a little skewed…
DJM: Interesting how your ratio is flipped the other way as I pegged you as someone who doesn’t spend anytime on your beauty regime at all as you always look so effortless… didn’t account for the hair thing though – I actually can’t blowdry my hair as it makes it too weak and dry so I actually have to let it dry naturally.
Diana: Thanks ; ) The shy expression is me being scared of the camera… as I said before…
I always love the idea of that tube of lipstick that has that confidence boosting factor…but the thought of hunting for one really hurts my head…
Chic & Charming: Lol… home truth there about the latte. I used to think going ‘all out’ as it were would be masses of fun and feel very special… I’m just completely handicapped in that area… I bought false eyelashes and ended up poking my contact lenses out with them….
Danielle: A very comfortable stress-free life you lead too! But I know your effort is concentrated elsewhere…on your wonderful work ; )
WendyB: Glad you found your perfect red… hasn’t happened for me…yet!
WITHNAIL: The face/body as ‘blank canvas’ – nicely put! I imagine your distinct colouring takes you further than any make-up/hair tricks would do anyway though! Oh, and thanks…
Sara: You being a redhead probably gives you a ‘look’ already hence why sans make-up might work better.
christine: Oh, do tell me more about your hunt for both ‘red’ items. I’ve found my red shoe in the form of a vintage Salvatore Ferragamo bow pumps…the lipstick however…not faring so well! I was a little scared in NYC by how immaculate ppl looked….. where do they find the time?
Ana: Ah…the French beauty regime. I notice French girls definitely do the effortless routine much better. Won’t start getting into the French v.s. English again though… Those steretypes about French grooming (or lack of) are such bs…
Chic Looks: You’re talking to the person who licks off her mango body shop lipbalm in a flash…
Liquid eyeliner and blue eyeshadow? The brain is already hurting from how complex that sounds…
Lady Smaggle: Ah… see those are facial embellishments which I would count as outfit accessorising really….I don’t quite pull off things like gems/eyelashes etc…
Jen. B: Highested compliment… how I love Nico…
lalala: It’s funny that when I was 15, I thought I was WELL into beauty, painting my nails with cheap polishes from Spectacular (UK ppl remember that brand?) in all sorts of colours and looking at Jap beauty magazines…. it all sort of diminished when I got to sixth form though…
lady coveted: Oh my god, the placebo effect! I’m always conned into buying skincare stuff in Hong Kong and using it, thinking ‘Oh wow, this is going to save my skin!’ and then a few weeks later realising ‘Actually the skin is still the same…’ Oh dear… Thanks for the article….
Winnie: Skincare, I count as something separate, as that’s like part of the bathing/shower routine really…
Make-up counters are pretty… make-up counter ladies…are ….scary…
Call Me Your Sugar: Wow… very interesting analysis about American v. British culture about different values of ‘success’. There is definitely a more humble approach towards appearance here (well at least in my circle of friends…) just because ‘trying hard’ is the worse thing you can do but the funny thing is here, we all care about our outfits SO much….
Eliza: That’s a very astute way of looking at things…clothes are a more substantial investment for me too.
Pret a Porter: Wow…eyelash curlers… you’re way more advanced than I am…
Isabel: Thank you for tips! Have some questions back… I do have YSL Touce Eclat…. it does however make my skin TOO bright and highlighted so I don’t use it too often.. also have you noticed it smells a little off? Sisley mascara – have heard wonders about this too but it is ever so expensive…. is it really THAT good? Will look into MAC and I have my moisteriser sorted (after many painful years of trialling and testing).
Porsha: You wash your hair twice a week? Lucky…. washing my quantity of hair is such a chore. Australia seems to be more about looking healthy than perfectly groomed – wholesome etc.
Ama: It took me a while to see the difference between unmannicured and mannicured nails. It’s not like my nails are unkempt talons…. 100:1 is pretty extreme indeed!
Sammy: Thanks..
Jen: I say yay for the boots! Active lifestyle seems to give the skin a better glow… too bad I don’t cycle/gym/jog/anything that requires lots of energy…
iopine: You’ve reduced the ratio to a new low…. 0.5?! Love it.
lara: SATC has done both good and bad things for the reputation of NY women me thinks…
Anti-aging/skincare is again something I count as separate from make-up/hair…. that verges on healthcare really!
j: Haha…love that there’s one guy piping up in this barrage of female commentary…
Indie: Yes…. make-overs done by pros do make think of the ‘possibilities’ out there….
Saskia: I’ll try… the flash was too harsh to ignite a smile! I’m definitely most happy to keep ploughing away at outfits as opposed to the beauty regime..
Sonja: Cat-eye eyeliner… tried that once… ended up more Cleopatra than foxy feline though…
Fashion Tidbits: Skin is pretty important to me…. but it’s still an unwanted necessity in terms of daily grooming routine.. if I could just wash with a soap and flannel, that would be great…
I’m in Tokyo and everyone takes such good care of their hair, does their make-up well and takes really good care of their skin. Everyone looks so perfect….Sometimes I resent it but I’ve also benefited. I’ve learned so much about taking care of my skin and looking better with little tricks…but I have to say it was so much more interesting in the nineties when people were still “bad” at make-up….everyone looks so perfect now.
I find beauty quite fun and have experimented with ‘extreme’ haha hair extensions quite a lot. But my natural hair does what it likes. and I don’t get why ‘big breasts’ are on a par with ‘bed head’. Why are big breasts messy???
oh yeah, my ratio is probably 60:40
being south african (and living in london btw), we’re a lot like the brits in the make-up department. sparse, simple, gets the job done. i like it that way – though i do sometimes envy the girls i see who look like they have stepped out of the beauty pages in vogue. this obsession with manis & pedis is something i have never had to deal with (not even in my circle of friends). just keep the nails trim & clean – what’s the big deal? i have never been to the states, but gathering as much from movies and coming across a number of american tourists – i can’t BELIEVE how much effort they put into their makeup. it often looks garish during the day, especially on young girls. concealer, mascara, 8 hour cream on my lips and maybe some rosy creme blush – thanks, i’m done.
dis post iz right on my doorstep. i am 21 i go out to work or college not wearing a scratch of makeup on my face the only thing i put on my face that can b considered makeup is lip gloss and now dat am fasting i cant even use da lipstick i normally use coz its got some sugary taste to it n i might end up lickin it thereby breakin the fast wen i shouldnt. so nowadays u can find me always lickin my lips which can b a bit weird if not totally.
wen it comes 2 going out its the usual lipstick on da lips, some sort of powder applied all over da face(by the way i have been told b4 dat i need 2 apply some foundation on 1st but i dont know how 2 do dis n 2 top off i dont even know wat shade 2 use know i can go 2 department stores n find out but i am 2 ashamed 2 for some reason) and heavy mascara on da eyelashes n am ready 2 go if i ‘really’ want 2 do something different i ask my 16 yr old sis to apply some eyeliner 4 me, i cannot even apply this 4 myself.
den we come 2 my hair dis is my pride n joy coz i have long hair n 4 a black woman dis doesnt always happen. b4 i would use relaxers 2 relax it but since da startin of da yr i have decided 2 let it grow into an afro.da other thing i do 2 it is have it braided into single plaits or cornrows.
so there u have it dis iz my beauty regime.
dearest susie,
even though i come here to read you on a daily basis, i rarely feel the need to comment, mostly because everyone else does. now this is different – you’re asking for help, whining about having to buy beauty products, and MAN DO I GET YOU! of course i also spend 4 hours picking the perfect dress/shoe combo, and most of the times i leave the house in a hurry and apply my fail-proof makeup on the car/bar/wherever.. if i do that at all, that is.
YET, and this is a big yet, i feel that i can help you. trust me, this 4 things are the only products you need to buy for an “i really couldn’t care less, this is the most i’m ever going to spend thinking about my beauty routine” attitude:
– ysl touche eclat, doesn’t get bag crap (ahah loved it, so true.. and where does it come from??), the lid doesn’t crack and boy does it conceal..
– mac lipstick in whichever colour you feel like, although a pink-ish neutral really is something you’re going to wear everyday, as opposed to a red red red reeed tone, which can be at times very intimidating.
– sisley mascara really is the best. really.
– a good moisturizer really helps a lot, and a tinted one, i hear, helps even more. well i can’t say for sure because i haven’t tried it but estee lauder’s daywear plus comes in a tinted version (i use the normal stuff and it’s really good)…
sincerely hope this helps – hey, it worked for me!
Well i like that nude sort of look that as you all know needs quite a bit of make up.
Anyway when i started working in all the jobs that I had was mandatory using make-up, the theory is that if you don’t use it it looks like you do not take care of yourself properly and that reflects in the image of the company, don’t know if it’s true, but now I can’t conceive doing something special or important without having my make up done.
But I do everything myself, for me it’s a total waste of money having other people do things that you can perfectly do yourself, your nails/ hair/etc, it may not look perfect, but who wants to look like someone straight from the Dallas’s cast?
you look lovely in that pic susie!
I use to make a solid effort with my make up and hair, but lately I haven’t cared as much about either in proportion to how much I care about my outfit.
Most of the time I just throw my hair into an updo and swipe on some eyeliner and blush, then I’m good to go. The outfit is way more important.
– Briana
collegefashion.net
Wait ’till you hit the early 30’s! I ran around Vogue House for the whole of my 20’s just not giving a damn. I made a religion of just not caring about beauty & grooming. I got so much free shit that I never entered a beauty hall, but gave it all away to my friends. My mother used to lunch with me and despair at my long un-blow dried hair & shiny face. Then I hit 30. Alcohol started to show on my face and, even tho I have perfect skin, it started to need some help. And, somehow, the birdsnest on my head looks all wrong ( especially, it has to be said, this season. Now, much against my inclination, I blow dry if I am leaving the house, and rather admire my salon selectives bounce. I still fucking hate doing it tho, but truth is, you can’t wing it over 30….
Hey, Susie.
I think you are beautiful. you need no makeup, and your hair is to DIE for. seriously. i know you dont think so, but i’d kill for your looks.
i-doll.
Isabel is spot on, A good moisturiser and expensive lip stick and I am good to go.
I gave up on my hair 5 years ago,I scoop it up into a pony tail sans brushing and cut it whilst it is still in a pony tail my self, leaving the pennies to spend on wonderful clothes.
Libery Girl you are SOOOOO right!!!
Totally know what you mean. I spend loads of time at buying and combining clothes, but I honestly can’t be bothered to put on any make-up.
I do use face wash and stuff like that, to make sure my natural skin looks good enough to face the outside world. And when I have the occasional spot, I cover it up with a little bit of concealer. But you won’t find any foundation, mascara or lipstick in my beautybox. Actually, I don’t have a beautybox, haha.
I do think make up looks good on other people, but when I wear it, I can’t help but feel like a fake. 😐
Oh, and I wash my hair with shampoo and moisturizer every day. But after that I just brush it and let it hang. 🙂
wow you look really really pretty in that picture
its so funny what you said about the difference between New York women and London women. Here in the U.S., the U.K. is the epitome of all things sophisticated and classy. That is the impression that most people I know have of Europe in general. Thanks to the Oprah’s feature on the “French Women don’t get fat” diet, many americans think Europeans have naturally slim model-like proportions.
But your comment makes it seem like you guys have the same illusion about the U.S. Or at least NY. Since I don’t live in NY, I can’t really say if the women are more put together there. But definitely in LA, everyone wants the Euro-chic thing. Which is why the whole English countryside marketing was employed for the latest Target Go International collection you were talking about. Weird, isn’t it?
I have to agree with Briana, as I am 33 and within the last year becoming more and more anxious about the aging signs, although I look young for my age (my bf is 10 years younger and hot), nothing lasts forever.
My mornings consist of about 15 minutes devoted to face: (I adore Origins White Tea Skin Guardian undereyes and face smoother)moisturizer, eyeliner, mascara, under eye concealer (sparingly), a bit of powder and natural toned eyeshadows usually. All that but trying to keep it looking natural. In contrast to most of you, when I am not pressed for time I actually enjoy the process of putting makeup on as much as I do enjoy the process of putting an outfit together.
Deciding on what to wear can take anywhere from 5 minutes to a half hour. Late for work again. I hate dressing for work too.
I wash my hair 2-3 times a week. It’s thick and naturally wavy. I’d kill myself if washed and blew dry it everyday. I loathe doing my hair. I just send a straight iron through my bangs daily, using minimal product.
I have a great inexpensive nail shop near my apartment that I indulge in every few months to get a mani/pedi… my nails and feet look terrible in between. I slack in that department on my own time but I am pleased as punch when I emerge from the shop with (I always get a boring nude color polish) my lady like nails and toenails.
I was skeptical about the assumptions made in the Marie Clair article for both american (I’m in San Franisco) and french women. I feel the article made huge generalizations. Most of my friends, who range from early 20’s to my age wear minimal makeup.
Enjoy the freedom of your 20’s girls!
My daily makeup routine consists of washing face, followed with an enormous amount of moisturiser (sorbolene, out of a massive pump top bottle)and then mascara.
The hair i straighten every day.
When I tell people this they often reply with “why do you go to all that effort on your hair??”
the answer is simply because I find it easier to just straighten it and leave it down than to mess around with tricky ponytails, braids and buns, especially since my hair since being cut short has turned into a mass of waves resembling a much less polished version of Farrah Fawcett.
But I definatley focus more on my outfit than my face/hair.
And I think it’s a good thing, as a full face of clown makeup and bouffant hairtyle may distract attention from your magnificent outfit.
susie,
where is that blue top from. it’s gorgeous.
Haha, great topic. Here’s my breakdown: makeup (undereye concealer & eyeliner) is 20%, hair (apply hair product, blowdry halfway) is 40%, clothes 40%. I try to pick out the next day’s outfit the night before, but even then I tend to have a few changes of heart.
You look hella cute, btw.
I think it’s so interesting that you write about something like this, because ever since I became interested in fashion there has always been people who have thought/expected that I was deadly conscious about my make-up and general appearance. But I really don’t care so much about my make-up – clothes are so much more interesting! Lately, though, I have become more interested because I feel much better when I have an outfit I really like, and look just a little put together. So I do wear mascara, tiny bit of concealer and sometimes a blush (mostly in winter). And I do take care of my skin with Clinique three step-thing. Works great.
But I don’t think you have to be interested in make-up just because you love fashion, and I think many people don’t get that. To me fashion is just fun and kind of an expression of who I am (wow, that sounded serious! Really isn’t)
Oh, dear. It is NOT bad manners to walk around sans manicured/pedicured nails in New York. I can’t afford to pay $30 every week and a half, and rarely have time to fix the polish that I apply myself once it starts chipping. Your friend needs a reality check to the head, and stat.
As much as I love a pedicure (and yes, they’re amazingly cheap given the surplus of salons offering them–3 within walking distance of my apartment actually), I prefer to leave everything else alone.
I can barely be bothered with mascara much less concealer for the perpetual dark pigment under my eyes. It’s not just that it takes practice & skill & time, it takes money to pull off that smokey eye–money I’d rather spend on a dress or shoes or crazy bobbie pins to randomly poke in my hair.
I don’t think liking clothes & fashion & style automatically means you have to be a beauty fiend, too. One of my very good friends can spend $200 on make up in one go but wears jeans & tees 90% of the time. It’s just a completely different dynamic.
As much as I love a pedicure (and yes, they’re amazingly cheap given the surplus of salons offering them–3 within walking distance of my apartment actually), I prefer to leave everything else alone.
I can barely be bothered with mascara much less concealer for the perpetual dark pigment under my eyes. It’s not just that it takes practice & skill & time, it takes money to pull off that smokey eye–money I’d rather spend on a dress or shoes or crazy bobbie pins to randomly poke in my hair.
I don’t think liking clothes & fashion & style automatically means you have to be a beauty fiend, too. One of my very good friends can spend $200 on make up in one go but wears jeans & tees 90% of the time. It’s just a completely different dynamic.
I am obsessed with having perfect skin, which really doesn’t work because the more you put on it, the worse it gets.
I am addicted to foundation, though. It’s a vicious circle. (I don’t have spots, it’s just all RED. ALL THE TIME)
So I spend ages trying to get my foundation right, then I go onto my clothes.
I am often late.
oh, and I just leave my hair. it’s all curly and messy and I think it suits my personality, even though everyone says my hair looks better straight.
sod them.
More personal replies…
fauxfauxreal: There is some redeeming qualities of ‘bad 90’s make-up’. The Japanese do have a lot of ‘tricks’ up their sleeves – again, very confusing for me to grasp!
Helen: I think what Grazia meant was a ‘fuller figure’ as opposed to the stick-thin New York types.
dee: I don’t condone overdoing it….I just wish I knew how to ‘do’ it…
mam: I wish I had people around me that would do the job for me! You’re lucky in that respect!
Biba: A considered maquillage is indeed well-respected in some companies and certainly I know colleagues who would not feel secure without wearing make-up…
Liberty Girl: I will cherish these years but I’m afraid I’ll be at a loss as to what to do when I’m 30-something…guess I’ll shrivel away…
annah: Thanks…. I wish I needed NO make-up at all…
Indigo16: I trim my own split ends…. I’m not a fan of spending money on the hair at all..
Elise: Yes, I’m very wary of looking like something I’m not…
Moda Maga: It’s not that we have a ‘sophisticated’ image of US women but certainly of NY women, they are more ‘groomed’ – I don’t necessarily think that translates to sophistication though…
cutemess: Must reinvestigate this topic when I hit 30….
Tay: Straightening is quicker than most ppl think…. especially with ceramic irons…
ta: It’s part of a dress I made a while back…!
Katso: Yes, I think the two areas can be quite separate…after reading all these comments.
Zoom to the Future: Oh I dunno… I must go to NYC to verify this! Jamie didn’t mean it in a bitchy way…. I think she was emphasising the CHEAP manicures out there…
ambika: Yes, they are two different obsessions. I wouldn’t mind taking a BIT more of an interest though.
Margie: Spot cover-ups make me late…I get ONE big spot every so often and covering it up makes me late…