Sentimental Sundays

Silly Saturdays

Freestyle Friday - What does wearing makeup do for me?

Freestyle Fridays are my free for all day.  A day to post about whatever pops into my brain.  Today, I've been thinking about laundry.  Also, baking.  What else?  Believe it or not, makeup.  Not just the business of it, which is important to me because it's my business, but the "why" of it.

Why do I sell it?  Why do I wear it?  What difference does it make?  What does it do for me?  Does it matter?

Well, it's like this.  I used to think it didn't matter.  I used to think it was unimportant.  I used to think it had no affect on me one way or the other.

In my teens and young adult life, I rarely wore makeup.  Special occasions and some dates.  Not all dates, mind you, but some.  I didn't care about my appearance. I was too busy living and loving my life.  Too busy going to school, going to work, going to college, getting married, having babies.  So many other things to do that didn't include worrying about how I looked.

My mother tried so hard to get me to wear makeup.  Wear a skirt.  Brush my hair.  😊  I was a tom boy of the first order.  My friends wore makeup.  My friends fixed their hair.  I would start each new season with the greatest intentions.  This semester I'm going to wear makeup every day.  This month I'm going to take better care of my skin. This time...

If you are at all like me, life catches you and thrusts you forward at warp speed.  One moment you are graduating high school.  The next, your babies are graduating college.  That's how fast it went.  I didn't blink more than twice.  Honest.  While pursuing my career and taking care of the munchkins and supporting my hubs, I forgot something.  I lived my young adult life and loved it all.  I just forgot something.  Me. 

I forgot that I am worth taking care of.  I never had any health issues, the hubs loves me no matter my size, shape, or adornment.  That is the blessing that has been my life.  Throughout all of it, I focused so hard on my family and my career, that I never gave myself much of a second thought.

The hubs retired from the Air Force and we moved.  Far away from my family.  Far away from my career.  Far away from my kids.  Suddenly, my life was quiet and still and there was no one for me to focus on except myself.  Wow.  Hey self.   

I love keeping house.  I love cooking.  I love all of it.  Also, I need something to focus on.  I've been working, outside the home, in a high pressure career, balancing family and home and work for 20+ years.   Now I have home, housework, and quiet time.

So my friend Rachel and I were talking one evening and she has this great business she loves doing.  I'm thinking...that's cool.  Something for me to focus on.  Something to help occupy my mind.  Something fun to do when the hubs is at work.  Sweet.  I'll give it a try.  The only issue?  It was a business selling makeup.  I don't wear makeup.  I don't know much about makeup.  Well, learning new stuff is fun, so let's go for it!!

I get my starter kit and start playing around with it.  I start wearing makeup.  I do it every day.  I like it.  Hey...my face looks pretty good. Check me out.  I'm getting a little better at it each day. Something began to change. I didn't realize it at first, but a change was happening.  I started to notice my clothes.  I started to notice my weight.  (Oy...when had THAT gotten so out of control?)  I started noticing how I walked and talked.  I'd always been confident in my brain.  I'd always known I could do anything I put my mind to.  Now I was starting to feel good about how I looked.  I could do any thing I put my mind to AND I didn't have to look like a slob while doing it.  I was pulling it off.  I was becoming one of those people who care about the face they put forward.  I was finding an unexpected joy.  I'd always been happy, but I was getting happier.  I was becoming more outgoing.  I was holding my head higher.  I was walking tall and smiling.  

I spent the first 40 years of my life thinking that women who obsessed (in my mind) with their appearance were obviously letting some other part of their life go.  I was wrong.  You can have both.  I never would have thought that wearing makeup could help all of me.  I'm still a little stunned.  My mother (of course...she knows all....trust me) had spent years telling me to take care of myself.  Take time for me.  Stop dressing like a hobo.  Take care of my body.  Quit smoking.  She was right.  She was so right.  It's not about sacrificing time with your family.  It's ok to be a little selfish.  It's ok to take care of yourself.  To do what makes you feel confident.  It's ok to be pretty.  It's ok to feel pretty.  It doesn't mean I'm stuck up or self absorbed.  It means that I want to take care of myself so I can continue to take care of my family.  Plus I really like playing with makeup.  😎😎😍

Throwback Thursdays Presents - 1940s - Wow!

I'm not going to play...I LOVE this look!  This might be my new go-to look for day to day.  The coverage is a little thicker than I like, but I can totally see this same basic look with a lighter coverage.

Back in the 1940's, women were using a lot of makeup.  Part of the reason was because makeup started being sold in drug stores.  This made it accessible to more women.  Women generally wore a full face of makeup every day.  Even when headed to work in the factories of the day.  Rosie the Riveter was a great example of the ladies of the day.  Full makeup - Hair done - Working their behinds off.

So quick and easy (minus the Victory Curl - which was NOT easy).  Here's how to get the look...

You're going to want a full coverage liquid foundation.  If you like, you can add a concealer to your medium coverage liquid foundation (like I did).

Apply the foundation (and concealer) to your whole face.  You want a good amount of coverage, but not cakey looking.

Using a powder finish (like this one), set your foundation by applying powder all over your face.

Next, use a fan brush (or a very light handed application) of a red blush.  Apply to the apples of the cheeks, sweeping up toward the hairline across from the outside edge of your eyes.  You don't want a obvious line, blend well.

Use a light pink or brown eye shadow and apply shadow to the lids of the eyes only.  Add no other color.

Use a brow kit or a color matched (to your eyebrows) shadow and fill in the brows giving them a finished look.

Apply a dark brown or black eyeliner to the top eye lid, adding a wing if possible.  Apply a generous amount of mascara to make the eyes pop.

Finish the look with a bright red lipstick or lipstain.  If using a lipstain or a matte lipstick, add a bit of gloss to get the glossy look.

You've got it.  Spend 87 minutes trying to achieve the Victory Curls with your hair and you've got a great look.  Just as awesome today as it was back them.

Give it a try and have an amazing day!

Wacky Wednesdays presents....Rainbow Freckles!

You know it's Wednesday...and that means we're going to do something super fun.  Today...it's Rainbow Freckles!

I ran across this during my daily look around and I have to say...I kind of dig it.  I probably wouldn't go out and about sporting these bad boys...but I'd definitely torture one of my kids (or both) by applying these to them.  They were a lot easier to torture when they were younger, but they both have a great sense of humor, so they would totally let me.  I'm sure.  😉

So basically, this process is as simple as it sounds.  Wet a tiny brush (or the tip of a Q-tip) with a bit of water, and dip your brush into your Shadow Palette.  Using a "drilling" motion, apply the freckles all along your under-eye, cheekbones and up your nose to just over your eyebrow.  Add as many colors as you'd like.  Fun fun!

Here's a video...

Hope you guys have a great day!
#tinasfearlessfaces

Trending Tuesdays - Glitter Lips!

Wow!  That's a lot of sparkle!

One of the trends for 2017 is a bold and glittery lip.  That includes the actual application of glitter.  On your lips.  I don't judge...or make these things up.  Check out this hot model sporting the full on glitter lip trend.

I know what you're thinking...that's not so bad.  Not too bold.  I agree.  The only concern I have is...what happens to all the glitter as you lick your lips throughout the day?  I'm guessing it gets messy.  On the other hand...bathroom time could be interesting!  😁

So, what's a girl (or guy) to do, when you want to be on trend and glittery, but not quite so glittery?  Check out the video below to get a quick tutorial, but here's the layout for you...

1.  Add concealer to lips.
2. Using white eyeliner, outline the lips (optional) to give you a "full" lip look.
3. Apply primer (if you'd like) 
4. Choose a sparkly eye shadow (like all the shadows in this palette #5).
5. Using a lip brush, or applicator, wet brush with either water or rosewater.
6. Get a good amount of eye shadow on brush and apply to whole lip.
7. Finish with a touch of gloss or lip bonbon to seal in the look.  If you use Younique shadows, this step is completely up to you.  Our color will STAY.  

What does everyone think?  I'm wearing the Vintage color from the video out to dinner tonight! Love this look!

Hope you all have a wonderful day!

#tinasfearlessfaces

Makeup Mondays - What am I doing with this white eyeliner? And other uses for it.

Ladies!  It's super late, but still technically Monday, so we are going to talk really quickly about white eyeliner.  The Younique version is called Pristine.  i had no idea what we were going to highlight until about 10 minutes ago, when I opened the box that came in the mail today!

So...what can you do with white eyeliner?  First, you can use it as an eyeliner.  It will brighten the eyes and make them look bigger.  Use it on your water line (lower and upper if you choose) and you will make your eye appear to widen and look larger.

What else can you do?  Try a "reverse" lip liner.  Apply the white eyeliner to the outside of your lips.  Outside of the line you would trace with your lipliner.  Buff out the harsh line to blend and voila.  Your lip looks extra pouty!  Finish off with your favorite lip color and your good!

I know this is short, but I hope you guys have a great evening!  See the video below for a demo!

#tinasfearlessfaces

Serenity Sundays - March 5th 2017

“I can’t think of any better representation of beauty than someone who is unafraid to be herself.” ~ Emma Stone

Be yourself.  No matter who that is.  Embrace what you love about yourself, work on the things you want to improve or change about yourself, but regardless of where you are in the journey, love yourself.  You are enough. 

- Tina Downward

Silly Saturdays - March 4th 2017

You know what you need today?  Makeup Memes.  Why?  Because they are funny.  Also, it's fun to say Makeup Memes. Try it.  Now out loud.  Fun, right?  

3D Fiber lashes anyone?

Have an Amazing Saturday!  

Freestyle Fridays - BB Cream vs Liquid Foundation & How to bake your makeup!

Ever felt unsure about whether you needed a BB Cream or a Liquid Foundation?  Ever wondered what the difference in coverage will look like?  Well wonder no more.  Today we are posting a video so you can see exactly what the difference is and looks like!

First, we applied our concealer - one side with rosewater - the other side with tap water - using the water to blend your concealer makes it blend much more effectively.  Just a suggestion, not a requirement!

BB Cream is a lighter foundation, that offers minimal coverage.  Liquid foundation offers a medium coverage.  In conjunction with you concealer, both offer blemish coverage, but there is a definite difference in the look of each.

BB cream feels lighter than liquid foundation, but the coverage offered is significantly less than that of the liquid foundation.  Even with the concealer, some facial discoloring and the like will show through.

The liquid foundation, in conjunction with the concealer, covers all facial discoloring and most blemishes.  Add additional concealer  for a better coverage.  For really good coverage, combine the liquid foundation and concealer together on your brush or sponge.

Baking your makeup?  So there's a sweet new product out at Younique, called the Touch Behold Translucent Setting Powder.  In my opinion, it was what was missing from their product line.  Now, with this new powder you can "Bake you makeup".   Basically what that means is, you can use the technique listed below to get an extra set on your makeup.  It will increase it's staying power throughout your day, in and out of the sun and heat.  Here's how to do it:

Step 1 - Apply a very heavy coat of concealer
Step 2 - Blend concealer to achieve desired look and coverage
Step 3 - Using a fluffy brush, apply setting powder, heavily, over concealer.  It's ok to have excess.
Step 4 - Find something to do for 5-10 minutes.  During this time, your body heat will "bake" the makeup onto your skin.
Step 5 - Using the same fluffy brush, wipe away any excess powder.
Voila!  There you have it!  Baked on makeup!

Check out the video below to see our comparison in action.  All products used are hyperlinked in this article.  Please let me know if you have any questions!

#tinasfearlessfaces

Throwback Thursday - the 80's...the 1780's

So back in the day, ladies liked to show their fashion prowess by copying the ladies in the courts in Europe.  A famous fashionista was Marie Antoinette.  What started as a case of "how pale can I make my skin?" eased up a bit in Marie's time.  Coiffed hair and pale faces were all the rage.  Women of stature actually held a special "performance" each day, with select invitees, to watch them get their hair and make up done.  Weird.  Kind of like all those wake-up to makeup videos we do.  Haha!~! 🤣🤣

Basically, in the 1780's pale skin was in.  As was bright cheeks and lips and a somewhat bold brow. You can recreate the look, either for a costume party, or because you're feeling a little 1780's today.  The look is a pretty simple process, but we are not going to use their lead based cosmetics.  We're going to use something a bit better for us.

Start with a spritz of rosewater.
Next add a heavy layer of concealer in the lightest color you own.
Add liquid touch foundation, also in the lightest color your own.  If you still don't feel like you are pale enough, add a bit of talcum powder to seal your foundation.  Otherwise, you can use the Behold translucent setting powder.
Use Minerals pressed blusher in a bold color, like Scandalous, to create an upside down V shape from the corner of your eye, towards your nose, and down to the edge of your lips.  Yes, I know.  Blend it out, but keep it bold.
Using our new brow palette, or another brown eye shadow (I used palette 3 - Flippant), give your brows a half moon shape. Bold but not too bold.  Don't overdo.
Add a touch of blusher at the corner of your eyelid if you'd like.
Finish with a bold red lipstick or stain (I used Stiff Upper Lip Stain in Saucy), and make an exaggerated bow.  A small lip was in fashion, with the top lip being larger than the bottom.  Minimize the lower lip by coloring inside only and exaggerate the top lip bow.
There you have it.  A face ready for court...we all wanted to be princesses, right?

Here's the video tutorial!

Have a great day~!

#tinasfearlessfaces

Wacky Wednesdays - Mind your Beeswax - A myth?

There's a little story going around the world wide web, that tells an interesting tale.  In it, we find the theoretical origins of the phrases, "mind your own beeswax" and "It's none of your beeswax".  These phrases, used by young children around the world (or at least the local playground) are thought to originate from the 18th and 19th century.

So what's the story?  In case you haven't heard, here's the basics of it:

In the 18th and 19th century, there were a few things working against women when it comes to clear skin.  First, sanitation wasn't exactly a thing.  Acne caused scarring, harshly, for most women.  In addition to the acne thing, we also had an outbreak of small pox.  These two malady's would wreak havoc on a woman's complexion.  The pock marks and scars from the acne were terrible and in an effort to smooth out their skin, it is said that women would apply beeswax.  The beeswax would smooth out their complexion, but there was a problem.  If the women sat too close to a fire, or were out in the hot sun, the beeswax would begin to melt off of their faces.  This lead to the phrase, "mind your own beeswax" and "it's none of your beeswax".  Cool idea.  Probably not true.  In fact, during those times, women would apply bits of colored fabric to cover their pock marks.  Still weird, just not about beeswax.

The assumption is that the phrases actually were a softening of the more harsh, "mind your own business" and "it's none of your business".  Softening it to beeswax is so much nicer, right?

Regardless of all that...we, here at Tina's Fearless Faces, only recommend one kind of wax right now.  That's the kind you use on your fabulous eyebrows.  Found in our new Moodstruck Brow Obsession Palette.  Just $39.00   Get yours today, and tame those crazy brows.  (If you want to try to cover a scar with it....we won't judge!)

Moodstruck Brow Obsession Palette

Give it a try and have a great day!