The cliche goes that, in makeup, the face is your canvas; a more precise feeling, for me, is that my face is a medium. My makeup technique involves as much awareness of the geometry in my body as it does the deftness of my hands or the tools it holds. Although, certainly, beauty plays a part in all this, it would be a mistake for me to say that I practice makeup in order to make myself beautiful. More than beauty, my personal makeup practice is about knowing myself.
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Hi there! It has been a really long time since I updated this blog. Here's why: 1. I am a graduate student & my thesis is due this semester. 2. In January, some health issues surfaced that have been chronic ever since. I am eager to start updating again. I even have some drafts of … Continue reading Where Have I Been?
Zoie Ghika's portrait was commissioned by Catherine the Great. After Russia conquered Moldova, Catherine kept Ghika as a member of the royal court. She was an exotic presence, symbolic of the expansion of the Russian Empire to the Black Sea. Google Arts & Culture asks, "What do you see in her gaze and her posture? Is she a cowed princess or a proud refugee?" These questions make me flinch.
I love a good natural makeup look, but less-than-perfect skin presents a challenge. Can I really skip foundation if I have problem skin?
Like half of all women in their 20s, I suffer from acne. Insecurity about my blemishes makes me pile on loads of concealing products to cover it up. On the other hand, caking on foundation doesn't necessarily lead to healthy skin. It's caught me in a vicious cycle that ultimately prolongs my breakouts & doesn't make me feel any better about it.
Until now.
In 2018, the most popular beauty products will be ones that move away from concealing & correcting. Instead, we'll see a focus on enhancing features, ease of application, & personal expression--makeup that screams confidence.
Glitz & Glam My 2017 New Years Resolution was to learn how to do eye shadow properly. It turns out that eye make-up intimidated me for a reason! But there were many products that were easy to use & helped me get super comfortable with the brush Here are my top beauty picks for 2017 … Continue reading Athena Tries It: The Beauty MVP’s of 2017
What I heard about the nostalgia of my generation: we expect feelings of displacement. Because technology grew so rapidly during our childhood, so many things came & went. We knew the joys of playing outside, but we also played Neopets & Tamagotchis. We talked to our friends on the phone & on AIM &, eventually, … Continue reading Nostalgia (Christmas ’17)
Perfect skin is a myth, but I spent 2017 trying to obtain it anyway.
When I point the screen at my face & invert the camera lens, I photograph, frame, see & am myself, simultaneously.
