Tag: Makeup

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Makeup Free Month Conclusion xxx

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So that’s it! I did a whole month makeup free and I didn’t wake up this morning and rush for the mascara! Is that it then? Am I now makeup free? No, I don’t think so. But as I said yesterday that’s more about my love of creating, playing, dressing up rather than feeling I needed to on a daily basis. I’m looking forward to receiving my homemade makeup and having some gentle products to dip into when the fancy takes me. But I am so relieved to finally be comfortable to wash and oil my face, and go. Being barefaced is liberating. It’s exposing, it shows your flaws, but it can remind you of your good points too. It has at times make me care less about my appearance and relax a lot, and other times it’s inspired me to try new looks with my hair and clothes. My skin feels great and looks better than it has in ages and as I’ve not just covered it up I’ve been more aware of looking after it with the oils I’ve used. I’ve learnt that when I drink more water my skin feels better, that my complexion isn’t as pasty as I thought, that freckles can rock and pale eyes don’t always look alien! I did this month initially to have a place to introduce my street art video. To ask the question ‘what do we put in our skin?’, and in turn it’s really made me question my own makeup routine. It’s made me question my reasons for starting to wear makeup, where this came from and why I wear it now. I’ve touched on the history of makeup, feminism, sexuality, judgement, professionalism, media and beauty norms. There is so much more on this topic. A few great online sources for discussion on cosmetics and the range of issues that it brings up are

http://www.makeupmuseum.typepad.com/

http://www.the-beheld.com

http://www.starkhechara.com

So thanks for reading, and I dare you to try being barefaced if you normally don’t! I will be back very soon with some more cosmetic based paintings, to feedback about the gentle makeup I discover and to let you know about my future creative projects! Much love Susan x

 

 

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Makeup Free Month Day 31: Last day before I conclude!

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So I’m here, my 31st day makeup free and the last day of my makeup free month. I’m going to round up properly tomorrow so I’ve just a few things to mention today.
I mentioned magazines a couple of days ago and then through my letterbox arrived Clique magazine . Within it was a great article from a natural makeup artist for celebrities. Katey Denno discusses why she tries to use mostly natural and organic products, how she uses them to create red carpet looks and what products she uses. One of the brands she uses that I’m very interested in coming out of my makeup free month is Burts Bees tinted lip balms. I like some of the Burts bees products already so I’m keen to have a look at their makeup range too.

I’m aware that I’m making it sound as though I’m rushing back to my makeup bag, albeit a more gentle one. However I don’t think that’s the case. Tomorrow when my month is completely up, I won’t be putting makeup on. I no longer feel the need to wear makeup everyday. I feel less self conscious about how I look without makeup. Actually I could go as far as to say I feel quite confident about how I look without makeup. I look like me. I look my age. I look tired when I’m tired and I can rub my eyes when I like.

However. I am excited about getting some new makeup products and trying them out for some evenings out/special occasions. I may find that I love the products so much that I want to put them on often. But if that’s the case it will be because of how they make my skin feel not because of feeling I need to hide something. I’ve realised that I love to create with makeup. On canvas as well as on my face!

Next week I have a party to go to. It’s a wedding party, where many of us are wearing our wedding dresses, I’m having my hair done (1920’s style) and I’m hopefully going to have my homemade makeup to use too. I can’t wait to try the makeup but also to play with my face a little. To give myself a little bit of art.

I’m also going to share with you a little unfinished makeup painting I did today which taught me two things.

1: I cannot film myself painting on my phone whilst painting. Which is why this is a still image.

2: I do not have any filming or editing skills at all 😉

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So for the time being any cosmetic paintings that I create (while I use up my old products) will be shown to you as stills either here or on my Facebook page.

https://m.facebook.com/SbmArtwork.

Tomorrow I will consider what I’ve experienced over the month and also mention some of the makeup related topics that I haven’t covered!

Night night from me x
Also, if you fancy helping me reach my fundraising target then a last minute donation would be fab, thanks xxx

If you haven’t yet seen my Street Art video – Skin- please take a peek!

If you would like to donate to Macmillan Cancer Support please do so via my Just giving page or via text as described below. xxxxxx http://www.justgiving.com/Susan-Merrick

or text MMFM 50 £1 to 70070

 

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Makeup Free Month Day 29: Makeup in Magazines

 

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I don’t know if it’s because I’m an artist, or because I love playing with makeup. But whenever I see makeup ideas on models or in magazines I always have to stare, a lot, and want to try it. Often on me it doesn’t look good. Many styles require certain face shapes or eye shapes to pull them off well. But I’m always intrigued. I’m the same when I see people with interesting, string or well done makeup on. I’ve spent the day in London today with my son and I couldn’t help but check everyone out. Not advisable really 😉

Yesterday I sat with a magazine (Vogue May 2014) in front of me and normally I (admitting with a slight guilty duck of the head) pay more attention to the images in terms of fashion and makeup pages. But yesterday I was looking more at the language.

To start with I realised that it’s always the ‘beauty’ section. How interesting that it’s not called cosmetics/makeup/skin products… I guess that’s not as catchy. But what message does that instantly send?

This is the beauty section. And that means putting on makeup. Therefore beauty is makeup.
The products are described…
“A wonder product”
“Coral is the only colour for spring/summer”
“Bare legs calls for leg products”
“Here’s your new beauty rule book”

Now, as you know already, I have always loved makeup and how it can make me feel/look. Also how I can play with it to change my looks depending on the occasion, my mood, the style. But when I look at the beauty market in this way it does make me feel frustrated.

I’d like to add though (and I was reminded of this in a great article in Vogue) that often the heart and root of designers, writers, makeup artists and other creatives within the fashion industry is the art. They are speaking out, changing the societal rules, expressing sexuality, sensuality. So much more. But it can get lost. And what we sometimes see/find instead is money, appearance based judgement and a feeling of inferiority.

I recently shared with you a link to Vogue where they were promoting natural skin and a natural look. This was great, and maybe what i’d like to see is a piece in each ‘beauty section’ about natural products. Occasionally we see a one-off article or a one-off product mentioned, but nothing that really shows off natural to its best. So for those wanting to be minimal or natural, (in the truest sense) I want a space for them to see what products are available to them, or how they can still play with their style, without having to use chemically based cosmetics.

I’m sure if I look in more holistic magazines I may find this… Maybe? But what about those of us who like some mainstream stuff too, those of us who just want to know more about how to work with our own faces in a natural way?

Tomorrow I will tell you a little more about the homemade makeup company that I’ve found. It’s going to be the start of my very minimal makeup bag going forward. I see my future as barefaced mostly, choosing oils and natural products to nourish and groom without makeup. Then when I want a different look or feel particularly tired or pasty looking, I will hopefully have some homemade lovelies to play with!

If you haven’t yet seen my Street Art video – Skin- please take a peek!

If you would like to donate to Macmillan Cancer Support please do so via my Just giving page or via text as described below. xxxxxx http://www.justgiving.com/Susan-Merrick

or text MMFM 50 £1 to 70070

 

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Makeup Free Month Day 26: Some recommendations and a plan!

 

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Yesterday I asked about Suncream and gained a couple of great recommendations for organic/natural products.

Mineral Sunscreens

organic sun protection

Another friend recommended renskincare.com for general skincare but I couldn’t find a sun cream product. I want to add too that I haven’t personally tried any if these products or companies, they are recommendations from others 🙂

I’ve just realised (yes a bit slow…) that I only have six days left of my challenge. I want to get some skin products to try before I finish! However, if I don’t in happy to get them after and report back here with what I find.

I’m not going to continue to blog each day once my make up free month is over. But I do want to continue to talk about both my art alongside issues such as skin/health/chemicals etc. My art journey has taken such an exciting turn in the last year that I’d like to start talking about it more here. Perhaps I can manage a blog post every few days??? Don’t hold me to that though!

I’ve also decided that I’m going to produce another piece of makeup art with my left over old makeup. Rather than just throw it in the landfill I will use up my makeup in a piece of art that I will describe and photograph it here. I will then do my best to recycle the left over bottles/packages!

Right, best get planning!

If you haven’t yet seen my Street Art video – Skin- please take a peek!

If you would like to donate to Macmillan Cancer Support please do so via my Just giving page or via text as described below. xxxxxx http%

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Makeup Free Month Day 23: Vogue shows Im ‘on trend’ ;)

 

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A little post today as I’m on my holidays and for some reason because I have children, that means I get to have less sleep than normal!

Today I saw a post by Vogue about going barefaced! Yey! It mentions some natural alternatives for skin care too, to care for your skin so you can feel confident going makeup free. I’m clearly very on trend then 😉 and it’s good to see a high profile fashion mag acknowledging that it’s not all about makeup.

http://m.vogue.com/vogue-daily/article/why-your-moisturizer-and-lip-balm-really-matter-brthe-skin-careasmakeup-phenomenon-/

I’ve also come across a lovely little etsy site that appears to use completely homemade and natural products. I’m going to try and order some to use as soon as my month is up. Not because I’m desperate to put makeup on, but because these products sound so fab I really want to try them! Once I’ve checked out the site and ingredients I will order some and let you know what they are like.

I’m now going to end my day of seaside air and running around with the munchkins with a glass of wine and an early night…. With a quick photo first from my makeupfree day 23. Oh and if you have a spare £1 please text the number below with the code MMFM 50 to 70070 to raise a bit of cash for the wonderful organisation Macmillan, (which I’ve just realised I had typed incorrectly on almost all of my other posts!! Grrr).

Night night

If you haven’t yet seen my Street Art video – Skin- please take a peek!

If you would like to donate to Macmillan Cancer Support please do so via my Just giving page or via text as described below. xxxxxx http://www.justgiving.com/Susan-Merrick

or text MMFM 50 £1 to 70070