Vanity: Scarlet Fairweather

Vanity: Lipsticking Vicariously Through Others

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Scarlet Estelle F. Fairweather, Drag Queen (otherwise unemployed--HIRE ME!)

When I was five years old, my older sister was videotaping a news project for bonus points. She had all her friends over, but needed another female to play the role of a 'bitter diet pill victim' who had lost much more weight than she wanted to. They put me in a red dress, coiffed my hair, and threw on some blue eyeshadow. I was the star, and this whole mess was set into motion. Since then, I've dabbled with flowing fabrics and wigs on and off until college, where I really started performing and getting my feet off of the ground.
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The secret is to never be afraid to show yourself to people. A lot of my performances pull from real emotions and trials that I've gone through. Don't limit your experiences--you'll never know how much they'll come in handy. I have gone through a lot in my young queer life, but I can't regret any of it, especially since it's brought so much reality into my drag career.

 Personally, I find a lot of inspiration from video games and anime/comic books. Many of my favorite looks come from iconic characters like Poison Ivy and Majora's Mask. I'm a big time drag geek. I've also always been inspired by Amanda Palmer's face, vintage starlet's demeanors, and old cartoon characters for personality. I love exploring different cultures and cosmetic traditions. Plus, I do a mean Sarah Palin impersonation!
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Anything with an intense pigment gets me giddy in the ladyparts! I have a Kryolan red eyeshadow, which is a staple for when I do a basic face (I mean, my name IS Scarlet). I love NYX lipsticks, especially their reds and corals. It's shallow, but I really enjoy the names of their shades. And the NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil in Milk' is something I could never be without. That stick gives me a lady-eye, and keeps me from looking too dude-y. I've used up a lot of panstick (Max Factor, Ben Nye, etc), and I'm running low on my eyebrow powder (Hard Candy Welcome Matte, my favorite turn of phrase). Other than that, I've been trained by the recession to use my product responsibly!
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We all have our favorite kinds of makeup. I'd be lying if I said I didn't love MAC EVERYTHING. If I had the paycheck, I'd buy SO MUCH from their line. Overall, I like a mix of everything, from high-end to dollar store. Think of your budget before splurging, but don't be afraid to get yourself a treat once in a while. Also, anything in a unique shade or something that goes against the grain is fun. I like the challenge of creating a look with an electric blue lipstick, or a white mascara.
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 I like to spend no more than an hour on my face. Impatience is a family habit with me, although I can take time on a more precise look. I start by blocking out my eyebrows--I usually tell those babies a bedtime story before tucking them under a layer of glue and foundation. Next, I conceal EVERYTHING (Ben Nye, my love, my darling). After that, it's time for contouring, especially my cheeks and forehead. I like to lay the lines of my eyeshadow with the contour; it helps me fill in more clearly later. When I'm done with my base, I take care of my eyes and eyebrows, add lashes, then blush. I used to forget blush and wound up looking like Skeletor. Then I line my lips, fill in with stick, and gloss that stuff baby! When that's all finished, I smile, put a wig on, and get dressed (important unless you want to look like a hussy, young lady), and I walk around to make sure I'm comfortable.
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Sometimes, when I'm not in drag, I'll throw some Maybelline Dream Matte Mousse on my face and highlight with MAC Cream Color Base in Luna around my eyes. It's never a ton, and I believe I've gone too far if people notice it.

  My beauty philosophy is manifold:

1. Beauty outside only really comes from beauty inside. You can be a smoking hot fake-lady, but if you can't handle yourself in public, then you're just another tramp. 
2. Never be afraid to try something fun or different. Trends only really start from people experimenting with their own looks.
3. Have fun. No matter what. 

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 This project is greatly indebted to the Top Shelf section of IntoTheGloss.com, which was my inspiration, and to every beautiful person who participates. This article has been slightly modified for clarity and length.