Thursday, March 21, 2013

Porn Stars and Big News.

I saw a link to this Instagram account that is this make-up artist who does make-up for porn stars and she shows how they looked before and after. (Here is the link- I'd give it a PG-13 rating, just so you know. Sometimes they are a little scandalously dressed, but you know, not in a way that would make you burn your eyes out. More like a fashion magazine, honestly. I just want to reassure you that I am not linking you to porn.) It is crazy and a little sad. Most of the time they look like completely different people. I was just fascinated by how much hair and make-up can transform a person, so I decided to document me getting ready. It was fun. Sometimes I like to think about what I would write if I had a lifestyle blog (the perfect way to burn your popcorn?) and I finally felt like I could write something pseudo-lifestyle-ish! Hooray!

Disclaimer- I really like make-up. I don't really care about clothes and I am simply hopeless at hair. Make-up is the only girly thing that I feel like I am ok at. I don't even wear that much,  I just really enjoy doing  it. I stock pile it. I do my friends make-up at their weddings and then I despair for years over the bad job I feel like I did. I think it'd be fun to be a make-up artist, but I don't pretend to be anywhere near that talented. I just like it. It makes me feel feminine and creative. 




This is me with no make-up at all. I chose an unflattering non-smile, severe bun and  natural lighting for consistency. Also, I'm aware that my neck seems to be much lighter than my face in the pictures. I'm not sure why. I promise it's not really- that's something I try to avoid. Oh, well.

This is after using some BB cream. I really like BB cream- I totally recommend it. I usually don't wear any sort of  coverage on my face, because my skin is fine, but sometimes if I want a light coverage I just wear BB cream. It just really evens things out and your skin just feels better, which is kind of something you have to experience to understand. I use the Loriel kind.


This is me after putting on some concealer (and a wee bit of foundation on the side of my nose). Concealer is my number one make-up must. I very rarely leave the house without it on. I often leave the house with only it on, but I really feel uncomfortable without it because of a life-long tendency towards dark circles. I use a Clinique concealer and foundation. Since I don't wear foundation very often, I haven't bought a new one in probably about 2 or 3 years. I buy new concealer  about every six months. I'm fine with cheaper foundation, but I will only use Clinique concealer. I just can't find any other kinds that I feel secure in. They stopped making the one I like, but I'm ok with this one, so I keep going on. I am open to new suggestions, but I have to say that it's probably one of the only things in life that I am really picky about.


Lined my eyes. I only use eyeliner rarely and I only every line the top lid. I'm trying to incorporate it more, because I realized that Jeff seems to like when I wear it, but I think it's often overdone. I used a Covergirl one. I have no strong feelings about eyeliners.


Put eye-shadow and a wee bit of bronzer on. I'm not too particular on either of those things. I don't think I'd ever get fancy bronzer- the cheap ones work fine. I do notice a quality difference in more expensive shadows, but I don't think it's that much. The eye-shadow was purchased about 2 years ago with a gift card.  I'm glad I got it. It's really been a good eye-shadow palette.. All of the names of the colors are ridiculous ("sexpresso"), but it has lasted well. I couldn't even tell you where the bronzer is from. I've had it for years and years and the labeling is gone. I think it's from Target.
Put mascara on. Mascara is my other beauty must-have. Most days I only wear concealer and mascara. I think I look fine. Anyway, mascara is another one of the things that I only rarely find satisfaction with. I like trying new ones, but my favorite is this one. Honestly, others don't really seem to compare. I like trying cheaper mascaras, but I feel like they don't look nearly as good and that I need to buy them so much more frequently. In my opinion, it makes better financial sense to just buy the Clinique mascara because it lasts that much longer. But I am actually not wearing that one in this picture. I'm wearing Benefit's mascara, I heard earth-shattering things about it, so I treated myself to it when my go-to conveniently ran out right before my birthday. It's nice. I still think I prefer the Clinique.
I put on a little bit of highlighter under my brows (I got it as a free gift when I bought the mascara. Yowza. Like it, but would not pay that price for it.) and some lip gloss. I got the lip balm as a birthday gift from Sephora last year (meaning, if you sign up for their email list, they give you a free gift on your birthday, but you have to walk in and awkwardly ask). I really really like it. I almost never wear things on my lips, but it's just so soft. Adam ate some of it, so it's almost gone. It's really nice, but it's just a lot for some lip balm that Adam will probably eat.
Here's the before. 

And here's the end result. I changed out of my huge shirt and let my hair down and found a cute baby accessory and smiled. (Smiling and looking happy is just a bazillion more times effective than make-up, in my opinion.  If I have any advice in the world, it's to smile in your pictures. I'm always surprised by how often people don't. I know I sound preachy, I just really believe that smiling makes you look pretty- pouting makes you look like a myspace page.) Anyways,  I don't really think it was anything near as drastic as the porn stars, but I had fun documenting my steps. It took about fifteen minutes to do fully do my make-up, which seems like not that long. How come I never do it???  


And for all of all of my Amish friends who don't have Facebook (hey- why are you reading this blog?), yes, it's true- we are moving to DC. Jeff is going to be a Foreign Policy Analyst. It is exciting and we are excited. It is a huge raise in pay and we hope to afford an apartment where at least some of our neighbors don't smoke weed all day. Fingers crossed!

10 comments:

Unknown said...

Your Amish friends stopped reading after you put all of that sinful makeup on.

Chloe Smith said...

Looking good momma! Love the tutorial i feel cheap..i only use covergirl ! You get all fancy! :)

Congrats on the job! You mean you dont like smelling weed all day?! Thought you'd be one of those "love what mother earth provides" type moms! ;) hahaha

Shantel said...

I'm really lame at makeup. No one ever really taught me how to apply makeup and so I pretty much just do my best (or what I may have seen my roommates at college do my freshman year when I was pretending that I wasn't watching them, but really I was studying all of their intense techniques.)

I'm always amazed at the before and after pictures of models/moviestars. But I like what you say, the smile makes the biggest difference!

Sarah said...

You're the worst.

Sarah said...

I like Covergirl too, they make great make up. I do recommend trying the pricier stuff once in a while, it just usually lasts so much longer. Most things are just fine with the cheaper brands.

Sarah said...

Nobody taught me either! My mom is wonderful, but just doesn't have a great interest in those things. I just always liked make up, but I've had so so many fails with it. It just always felt to me like something I could do, unlike hair. Doing hair gives me panic attacks.

Mike and Brindi said...

Sarah! You are so pretty! Even without make-up! I LOVED this blog post! I think it was a brilliant idea. I normally only put on mascara, but recently have become allergic to EVERY kind I have tried. (I don't know why- my body hates me!) So I started to dye my eyelashes instead. However, I did find out about Clinique! I can't wear it more than 3 days in a row, but at least it's better than my eyes itching and burning half an hour after I put it on like with the other kinds! What kind of Clinique mascara is your favorite? What concealer would I be looking for if I wanted to get their concealer? I took a two day make-up class while I was in hair school. (As an incentive to sign up you got a $1000 MAC make-up kit with your class, but MAC requires you to have at least 2 days training with the kit and brushes.) If you're ever in Utah I would be happy to show you what I know! (It's not much, but added a whole lot to my make-up application!!) Then maybe one day you can start that "make-up artist career"! If you like it.... turn it into a career! :) And you can even do it from home! wink-wink! I did my own hair and make-up for my wedding, and I know it saved me a ton of money... but you could even offer to do make-up for the girls in your ward when they go to dances! Just a little extra money on the side... and it might help you get to know some of your ward members in DC!!!
Also....Congrats to Jeff on the job opportunity! So cool!

Karissa said...

You could totally be a make up artist. And I hope you're not sad about any bad make up job you did on my wedding because I looked fantastic.

Karlie Ann Ady said...

Hey congrats on the new job!!! I know some places to live depending on how far out from the city you want to live. DC has our hearts, come visit Boston too! You'll also be happy to know there is a fantastic Amish Market in Germantown :) You're Welcome.

Karlie Ann Ady said...

ALSO- tell JEff Stephanie is in Russia again on a Fulbright and he should totally check out her blog for a feel of home.