This week technically isn't really part of the holiday season as there are no actual holidays occurring. There are parties to be had nonetheless! Looking over this set of styles, I realize I must have been in the mood for something a little edgier than usual. For those who don't roll that way, it's all good! You're more than welcome to skip down to the wellness portion of today's post. For those who do, however, please don't be shy.
{GRAPHIC DESIGNER}
My fashion-oriented friends will likely recognize this look from Anna Sui's runway, invented by the illustrious Pat McGrath. As long as you keep your complexion clean and even, graphic liner is bold without being overdone.
A matte eyeshadow primer is necessary when doing something so precise, so be sure you don't skip that step. Once the primer has set, fill in the entire lid with a turquoise pencil liner. Trace the liner out past the edge of your eyes to make a wing, then full it in with the same liner. Slightly dampen a fluffy eyeshadow brush and load it with cobalt blue shadow. Beginning in the center of the lid, press (not brush) the shadow directly atop the liner. Use an eyeliner brush dipped in shadow to draw a clean line around the edges and fill in any empty spaces. Using either the turquoise or cobalt shade, make a small dot in the center of the lower lid just below the lashline. Apply two coats of curling mascara to the upper lashes only, and either leave your lips bare or wear one layer of clear or light pink lip balm.
{METAL MOUTH}
Okay, I know a dark lip can be incredibly intimidating to pull off. This idea is not necessarily for the faint of heart or a Sunday brunch. But those with guts looking for intrigue should try it out.
Be sure your lips are free of any cracks or flakes; a strong lip color will magnify them in very unattractive ways. Use a lip brush to pick up equal parts clear lip gloss and gunmetal-hued eyeshadow and apply to lips. You'll need to repeat this plenty of times in order to fill in the entire lip. Be sure to get even depth throughout the surface of the lip, or you'll just end up looking like a zombie. Dust with a translucent powder, line eyes with an eyeliner brush dipped in black powder shadow, and finish with a coat of black mascara.
P.S. If you like the idea of a grey lip color, but don't think such a deep shade will work for you, kick it back a notch with a sparkly grey-toned gloss, like Urban Decay Lip Junkie in Perversion.
{DARK CHOCOLATE}
No, we are not channeling Kim Kardashian. But thanks for asking.
Pat an eye primer onto the entire lid, covering up to the browbone and below the lower lashline. Brush bright gold shadow into the inner corners and blend onto upper and lower lashlines. With a slightly dampened brush, pat medium-deep reddish brown shadow onto lids up to the crease, then dry your brush and blend the same shade into the crease and along the outer third of the lower lashline. Blend a dark, rich brown shadow directly into the crease and feather it outward with a dry fluffy brush, then dip an eyeliner brush into the same shadow and use it to line your upper lashes. Highlight along the browbone and give your eyelashes a hearty dose of mascara. Blend a matte bronzer into the hollows of your cheeks. On the lips I tapped on a tiny little dab of concealer and covered with a clear gloss.
1. Go to the gym already! Just get up in the morning and do it. I find that taking a group fitness class is the easiest way to get a real workout and stay motivated. You are much more likely to give up or not push yourself if you exercise alone. If you feel self-conscious, ignore your classmates. It's likely they're one of two things: a) feeling the exact same way, in which case who gives a baby rat's bum? or b) actually there to focus on exercising, in which case they're not paying any attention to you anyway. And if someone is in the class just to smirk at those less capable, well, they shouldn't be there at all. Don't mind those folks.
2. Cut back on dining out. We all know that restaurant portions are often considerably larger than healthy portion sizes. When you do eat out, ask for a small box before you begin eating and stow half your meal so you aren't as tempted to clean your plate.
3. Try this: Sit on the floor with legs straight in front of you and parallel to the wall, one hip touching the wall. In one movement, swing your legs up so your heels rest on the wall, your knees are slightly bent, and you're lying on your back. Close your eyes and stay there for 5-10 minutes. When you (slowly) bring your legs back down and stand up, you'll feel more energized as well as relaxed.
4. Switch out ice cream for frozen yogurt. It's just as delicious and significantly better for you.
5. Make breakfast the most important meal of the day. This one is a little rough for me, but I can testify that I notice a dramatic difference in my eating habits throughout the day based on if, when, and what I eat for breakfast. First things first: rise at a reasonable time. Three o' clock in the afternoon is not reasonable. Eat within the first hour that you are awake, even if you go exercising to start your day (start with a clementine if you need to, but ingest something). Scrambled egg whites, whole wheat toast, a fruit smoothie, or a bowl of oatmeal (try Maple & Brown Sugar flavored packets of oatmeal rather than adding a cup of brown sugar to plain oatmeal) will do you a world of good. As always, remember to drink plenty of water from the beginning right down to the end of your day.
Happy weekending!
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