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icarusLast December I took a look in the mirror. I'm the sort that tends to see myself as I looked when I was sixteen.
Reality check.
Well, on the plus side, I was still 95 pounds and young-looking. But there were definite areas that needed work, sort of like fixing up a house before putting it on the market. (Well....)
Oookay. Time to get started.
This is my gradual makeover guide, if anyone's interested.
1 - Skin redness needed to go
Been working on this for six months. The best tip came from mom: put your moisturizer on before you shower. Mom uses cold cream. I'm using olive oil mixed with sea salt. It's the steaming that matters The redness and cracked skin on my cheeks is nearly gone.
2 - Lips chronically chapped
I found inraveninthewind's LJ a series of tips, including one on using honey mixed with sugar to scrub off dead, chapped skin. It works! Then a cinnamon stick plumps the lips.
3 - Need to tone up all over
This is a problem in car-dependent Maryland. Now that the winter is over and I'm in my new place, I'm now able to walk to and from the bus stop. That's helping me get my legs back. Now I need a plan to work on the rest of me. Dancing? Yoga? Swimming? Time and laziness are both factors.
4 - Haircut needed
I got my hair cut at an expensive salon. Hated it. Another less expensive hair stylist was recommended. I've seen her work and I like the sophistication. I am going longer now. I did the same haircut all the way through college and I'm sick of it.
5 - Deal with stray gray hairs
Did some online research at the Longhair community. They recommended a tinted shampoo (usually used for upkeep on dyed hair). At first it didn't seem to do anything. But slowly the gray started to melt away into brown. It took about three weeks for me to notice any difference, six for it to be noticeable. I had to make sure to apply it at the roots, especially around my face, on top, and behind the ears.
Some of the thicker gray hairs are still there, but the little ones have disappeared. Next: paint in color on the remaining gray with a toothbrush, probably using a dark blond. Would like to try a blond or red tinted shampoo (mix them?) to do more of a highlight-type blend.
6 - Teeth need to be whiter
Yellowed teeth make me look 40. I used a drug store tooth whitener, a 14-day plan with goop you paint on your teeth. What a pain in the ass. But it did work. I still have a week left to do, and need at least four shades lighter.
7 - Wardrobe needed personality: which means jewelry and accessories
I tended to wear no makeup or jewelry, and only very simple, no frills clothes. About two years ago I started buying jewelry. But I rarely wore it.
Time for a look.
I found I love wearing drapey-flowy scarves. Mom says, "You look French." My old Ally McBeal skirts with dark tights are fun. Next on the list: more necklaces, I over-wear the one, and more skirts, mini and long. I need to replace my sneakers and would love to wear ankle-high leather boots.
Glittery jewelry draws the eye upward to my face, and I'm enjoying wearing citrine, zircons, garnets... I've even made my own citrine earrings, which saves a good deal of money, and I can pick out my own gems at GemSelect, Shipwreck Beads and Fire Mountain.
8 - Makeup? What makeup?
I'm now no longer in Seattle but in makeup-wearing DC. So I sat in downtown DC last winter and took notes on what the women tended to wear, to get the look. The women here put on full foundation every day but with neutral colors, rather conservative overall, using standard 80s eye pencils.
Then I checked out magazines and teenagers for the latest. I've been wearing makeup to work, slowly putting a little more here and there, trying different things each time.
I've found that foundation is bleah. Mascara is yay! Liquid eyeliner in fun colors is nice. Liquid eyeliner in black is too strong for my already intense eyes. Bright lipstick gets immediate positive attention and distracts from my dark circles. Said dark circles are hard to cover given my aversion to foundation. Eye shadow is mmmm and also garners positive attention, surprise. My still somewhat pink skin is at odds with any blush so I've eschewed it.
9 - Glasses
I have long eyelashes and dark brown eyes. While glasses are fine, when I take them off, even my students do a "wow, you look very different." They do cover up one of my best features. Also, I have sexy sunglasses from REI that I'd love to wear again. On the to-do list: Sears and contact lenses.
The TMI section is coming in my next, locked post.
Reality check.
Well, on the plus side, I was still 95 pounds and young-looking. But there were definite areas that needed work, sort of like fixing up a house before putting it on the market. (Well....)
Oookay. Time to get started.
This is my gradual makeover guide, if anyone's interested.
1 - Skin redness needed to go
Been working on this for six months. The best tip came from mom: put your moisturizer on before you shower. Mom uses cold cream. I'm using olive oil mixed with sea salt. It's the steaming that matters The redness and cracked skin on my cheeks is nearly gone.
2 - Lips chronically chapped
I found in
raveninthewind's LJ a series of tips, including one on using honey mixed with sugar to scrub off dead, chapped skin. It works! Then a cinnamon stick plumps the lips. 3 - Need to tone up all over
This is a problem in car-dependent Maryland. Now that the winter is over and I'm in my new place, I'm now able to walk to and from the bus stop. That's helping me get my legs back. Now I need a plan to work on the rest of me. Dancing? Yoga? Swimming? Time and laziness are both factors.
4 - Haircut needed
I got my hair cut at an expensive salon. Hated it. Another less expensive hair stylist was recommended. I've seen her work and I like the sophistication. I am going longer now. I did the same haircut all the way through college and I'm sick of it.
5 - Deal with stray gray hairs
Did some online research at the Longhair community. They recommended a tinted shampoo (usually used for upkeep on dyed hair). At first it didn't seem to do anything. But slowly the gray started to melt away into brown. It took about three weeks for me to notice any difference, six for it to be noticeable. I had to make sure to apply it at the roots, especially around my face, on top, and behind the ears.
Some of the thicker gray hairs are still there, but the little ones have disappeared. Next: paint in color on the remaining gray with a toothbrush, probably using a dark blond. Would like to try a blond or red tinted shampoo (mix them?) to do more of a highlight-type blend.
6 - Teeth need to be whiter
Yellowed teeth make me look 40. I used a drug store tooth whitener, a 14-day plan with goop you paint on your teeth. What a pain in the ass. But it did work. I still have a week left to do, and need at least four shades lighter.
7 - Wardrobe needed personality: which means jewelry and accessories
I tended to wear no makeup or jewelry, and only very simple, no frills clothes. About two years ago I started buying jewelry. But I rarely wore it.
Time for a look.
I found I love wearing drapey-flowy scarves. Mom says, "You look French." My old Ally McBeal skirts with dark tights are fun. Next on the list: more necklaces, I over-wear the one, and more skirts, mini and long. I need to replace my sneakers and would love to wear ankle-high leather boots.
Glittery jewelry draws the eye upward to my face, and I'm enjoying wearing citrine, zircons, garnets... I've even made my own citrine earrings, which saves a good deal of money, and I can pick out my own gems at GemSelect, Shipwreck Beads and Fire Mountain.
8 - Makeup? What makeup?
I'm now no longer in Seattle but in makeup-wearing DC. So I sat in downtown DC last winter and took notes on what the women tended to wear, to get the look. The women here put on full foundation every day but with neutral colors, rather conservative overall, using standard 80s eye pencils.
Then I checked out magazines and teenagers for the latest. I've been wearing makeup to work, slowly putting a little more here and there, trying different things each time.
I've found that foundation is bleah. Mascara is yay! Liquid eyeliner in fun colors is nice. Liquid eyeliner in black is too strong for my already intense eyes. Bright lipstick gets immediate positive attention and distracts from my dark circles. Said dark circles are hard to cover given my aversion to foundation. Eye shadow is mmmm and also garners positive attention, surprise. My still somewhat pink skin is at odds with any blush so I've eschewed it.
9 - Glasses
I have long eyelashes and dark brown eyes. While glasses are fine, when I take them off, even my students do a "wow, you look very different." They do cover up one of my best features. Also, I have sexy sunglasses from REI that I'd love to wear again. On the to-do list: Sears and contact lenses.
The TMI section is coming in my next, locked post.
no subject
Date: 2010-05-12 06:28 pm (UTC)