FOTD: Unbalanced

By unbalanced, I mean "my face isn't all finished," not, y'know, that I'm crazy. You graduate from "crazy" to "eccentric" when you hit 18.

This "nothing but lipstick" look is much admired on sites like Into the Gloss. And I want to get behind it, I do, especially because I see a lot of women in my day-to-day life who wear nothing but mascara and lipstick. They look great. And here I am, slapping on 20+ products for the most basic look, because I want everything to be "just right."

However, I don't think this is a very attractive look for me. Barring the fact that I have a rather pointy chin and the nothing-but-lipstick type of look draws attention to that, I just feel uncomfortable and unfinished. I mean, look at my brows: they're practically invisible! And I'm so pale that the lack of blush makes me look almost dead.

BASE: MAC Strobe Cream, MAC Face & Body in N1 + White, NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer in Chantilly

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EYES: Maybelline Dream Lumi concealer pen in Radiant, ELF Wet Gloss Clear Lash and Brow Mascara

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CHEEKS: nothing

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LIPS: Maybelline Super Stay 14 Hour Lipstick in Non-Stop Red

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To be totally honest, I don't like how this lipstick looks on me. It tends to apply a bit patchy--notice that my top lip is less red than my bottom--and it has a slightly sticky texture. But it was a gift from a friend, and I have a REALLY hard time getting rid of gifts.

You'll also notice that I applied the Maybelline Dream Lumi pen in Radiant all around my eyes, including my eyelids. This is because, as I've aged, my lids have gotten much more discolored and sallow. It's very visible in this picture:

This is me sans lipstick and Dream Lumi pen. I actually think it looks a hair better than the finished look because, again, I don't think the Maybelline is my most flattering red, especially when I'm skipping blush. But I'm probably going to keep that illuminating pen trick. I actually stole that idea from a makeup artist friend of mine; he says he does that on a lot of his more mature clients to camouflage discoloration and soften fine lines.

I always love brushed-up brows, though, and the ELF clear mascara is nicely dewy and pretty. So I'll be keeping those. I just...don't think I'll go bare-browed for most of my future. I NEED MY BROW PENCIL! And of course, I always wear blush when I wear makeup. I'm too pale to skip it.