Vanity: Scarlet Fairweather

Vanity: Lipsticking Vicariously Through Others

.

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.
.

.
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!
.

 .
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!
.

.
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.
.

.

 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.
.

.
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. 

.

.

 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.

Vanity: Stella J

Vanity: Lipsticking Vicariously Through Others

Stella J, Carer

I've always been attracted to the transformative and creative aspects of makeup. When I was a child, I found a magazine of my mother's, and it showed how to recreate classic Hollywood looks. I got a bit obsessed with that magazine! I put it in a folder, tried all the looks over and over, and went to school for pretty much a whole year made up like Louise Brooks. I liked the way I could use makeup to take any feeling or mood I was experiencing and put it on the outside for others to see.

 I can spend a long time on makeup, but that's because I find it relaxing and want to enjoy doing it. It balances out, though, because I'm a complete fool when it comes to hair and clothes, and keep those really quick and simple!

Great makeup starts with healthy skin, so most of my holy grail products are skincare. In particular, I love Nufountain Vitamin C Lightening Serum, which worked wonders on taming my roasacea and breakouts; I also use Mandom Barrier Repair Serum for easing dryness and being soothing. I also use SPF50 daily.  I really enjoy my skincare. The second I get through the door, I head to the bathroom to take my makeup off. I oil cleanse with baby oil to remove my makeup, follow with Avene cleanser, put on the vitamin c serum and moisturizer, make a cup of tea, have a nap. Naps are an essential part of a beauty routine, in my opinion!

Makeup-wise, I'm a huge fan of Shiseido eyeshadow--the texture is just completely unique and the colour combinations are playful yet stylish. I'm totally addicted to eyeshadow! Basically, I want every colour I might ever need to create any look I can imagine.  Makeup really is art to me, and colour is the basic unit of creativity. I'm constantly on the hunt for the perfect deep, dark, vampy blood red, too. My favourite foundation is MAC Face and Body. It looks like perfect skin, not perfect foundation, and I can't be without it. (I've made it through an entire bottle!) In my teen years, I went though a couple of tubes of Boots No. 7 Plum Beautiful lipstick, and I've bought, used, and replaced many tubes of Max Factor Masterpiece Max mascara. I've never finished a blush, and frankly, I don't believe anyone else ever has either, despite what they claim...

As I try more products, I'm harder to please. Honestly, most of my favourite things are high end, but I have drugstore favourites, too. Catrice eyeshadows are some of my most-used products because they have such great colours and textures. I don't feel guilty about spending on high end, though. Why should I? I deserve occasional treats!

My personal philosophy is pretty simple: face first, always. Makeup needs to work for the individual face it's on--one size does NOT fit all--and the face should be what you notice first, not the makeup. I don't like flashy for the sake of flashy. Something can be both dramatic or interesting AND flattering. I love colour and unusual combinations, but I try to make them wearable. I love history and am fascinated by historical makeup. I have a particular love for the 20s and 30s, for the moody, dark glamour of that age, and I collect jewellery from that era, too. The natural world is a constant inspiration, too; I've done makeup looks based on everything from fruit and flowers to gemstones and storm clouds. Nature never gets the colour combinations wrong, so I try to take my lead from her.

I could read till my eyes fall out, and I've usually got dozens of books on the go at a time (I'm convinced my Kindle will bankrupt me). And I have a not-so-secret love of ugly and weird animals. Cute animals are well-represented, so I collect pics of the stupid and odd-looking ones. They need love, too!

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.