HomeTagsPosts tagged with "looks"

looks

by

Beauty means something different to everyone. An episode of Sherlock I distinctly remember had the protagonist declare while giving the Best Man’s speech at a wedding; “Beauty is a construct based entirely on childhood impressions, influences and role models.”

At the time, I was roughly 16 years old, obsessed with changing absolutely everything about my appearance. During my school days, everyone wanted to look the same.

The same tanned skin, bright blonde hair which is pretty much only natural if you are of Scandinavian descent, contoured cheekbones and slender figure with a waistline that most likely requires a corset to maintain.

Being different was not only seen as unattractive, it was even feared.

It was only when I entered college and saw beauty expanding its traits that my eyes were opened to different types of aesthetically pleasing looks. As well as this, I began to understand that confidence is beauty.

Happiness is beauty, intelligence is beauty, generosity is beauty. And that beauty is often the least interesting thing about a person.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by rupi kaur (@rupikaur_) on

However, the ideal of beauty which had been prominent during my secondary school years remained the same until the Kardashians exploded onto the reality TV scene, and over the course of the last decade have altered the idea of beauty as we know it.

With their bum and breast implants, nose jobs, cheek implants, lip fillers, whitened teeth among other procedures I don’t have the vocabulary to describe, somehow the idea of what was beautiful drastically changed.

Body modification became far more normalised, as well as the fact that social media gave audiences the power of knowledge.

While celebrities were undoubtedly changing their faces and bodies for decades, especially ones on our cinema and TV screens, social media and the internet now gave us the tools to recognise when ‘work’ had been done.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by The Consultant Clinic (@consultant_clinic) on

One fascinating case which has attracted massive public attention in the last few weeks is that of Elliot Joseph Rentz, otherwise known as Alexis Stone.

The make-up and drag artist garnered public furore after revealing a massively drastic surgical transformation to his large social media following, uploading reveal videos to his YouTube channel which were bombarded with negative comments spewing hateful language and even death threats.

Rentz began the process on August 1 of last year, explaining to his following in a video;

“I don’t want to look the way I look today. I don’t connect with what I see. I never have. So I’m changing it all. I’ve been called crazy. I’ve been called botched. I’ve been called an addict. I’ve been called ugly. I’m told every single day that I’ve ruined my face,” he claimed, emphasising that every last cent he owned would be given to his surgical dream of metamorphosis.

“You name it, I’m having it done,” he explained.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Alexis Stone (@thealexisstone) on

Alexis uploads a video titled “The Reveal”, which has since racked up over 450,000 views. In the diary-like visual film, the drag artist shows off his brand new face, which included fat grafts to his nose, forehead, and chin, as well as chin and cheek implants and an eye lift.

“This had nothing to do with vanity and everything to do with sanity,” he quotes, directly from Pete Burns’ biography.

One month later, Rentz uploads a compilation of comments, each more vicious and negative than the next. Some of them are hard to read.

Stone later claimed his so-called friends and family members often joined in on the vitriolic, with some people even telling him to take his own life, and that his ex-boyfriend committed suicide because of Stone.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Alexis Stone (@thealexisstone) on

Roll on January 1 2019, and Stone reveals in a lengthy YouTube documentary that the whole six-month journey was a complete hoax – his new ‘botched’ face was a complex mask.

Working with Academy Award-winning makeup artist David Marti, a stunt mask was even developed from prosthetic facial materials to be worn outside of the house. Months of effort and secrecy had led to this, and the result was fascinating.

He referred to the stunt as a social experiment, while others called it a cry for mental health help, an attention seeking performance or even a show of disrespect for those who have undergone extreme surgery themselves for whatever reason.

So why did he do it, and what did his social experiment show about society’s idea of beautiful versus ‘botched’ surgery?

Ireland’s perception of the cosmetic surgery industry is vastly different from the reality.

Dozens of clinics have popped up all over the country – Westport in County Mayo is even the predominant creator and exporter of the world’s botox – and yet there is an element of hushed secrecy to the entire organisation.

It is rare to find an Irish person who opens up about having plastic surgery, we are a country of people who lament so-called ‘narcissism’, yet self-confidence issues remain potent within our society.

In a society that profits from self-doubt, liking yourself is an act of rebellion.

Jameela Jamil has frequently found herself in the public eye for her scathing indictment of the Kardashian family, arguing that their world is one which 'recycles self-hatred'.

Yet the reality TV clan have essentially transformed the perception of beauty over the last decade, morphing women into self-obsession with curves, plumped up lips, tanned skin and bodycon clothing.

“You’re selling us self-consciousness,” she claims, portraying her deep disappointment of the ‘double-agents to the patriarchy’. Her main issue with the Kardashians is their weight-loss product endorsements, which are basically a fancier packaging for laxatives in protein shake form.

The family have abundant riches which can afford the best photoshop, photographers, airbrushing, personal trainers, stylists, dermatologists and cosmetic surgeons the world can offer.

Even a glance over websites aimed at young women such as Boohoo, Missguided and PrettyLittleThing shows the huge changes in the beauty industry.

Their models have hyper-miniscule waists and voluptuous curves, glossy brunette locks, tanned skin and full lips, highly reminiscent of the Kardashian family’s idea of what beauty means.

The #10YearChallenge has proven at least one thing; those who have money have a greater control over their appearance than those who don’t.

Body modification has become normalised in society, whether it’s permanent or semi-permanent. Contouring, filters on our social media apps, airbrushing, make-up tutorials on YouTube and cosmetic surgery all reflect the culture we live in, which constantly tells us what we look like isn’t enough.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Muriam Waseem (@muriamwasi) on

And yet, if a person who changes their appearance is genuinely happier and finds improvement in their mental health and self-esteem as a result of body modification, who are we to judge their lifestyle choices?

Choice is the vital word here. Our society and law consistently shows that it believes it possesses the right to control other people’s bodies. Specifically female bodies.

If another person has the funds and is of sound mind, shouldn’t they be allowed to alter their body if it sparks joy in them, to reference the iconic Marie Kondo?

What struck me most was the understanding which the public has for those undergoing body modification for the sake of their physical health.

Whether it’s a nose job for aiding breathing, a breast reduction surgery to alleviate back pain or even just braces, the level of support appears to be significantly higher when physical health is taken into account, rather than perceived vanity.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by River Medical (@rivermedical) on

Yet if a person’s mental health is suffering as a result of their appearance, is this not still a health reason? On an ‘extreme’ level, is transitioning from a male or female gender to the opposite biological sex classified as body modification?

In this case, a person’s mental health would presumably suffer as a result of their appearance, should they not identify with who they see in the mirror.

Cases of body dysmorphia are higher than ever in Ireland, obsession with one’s flaws can cause great emotional pain. Yet we fixate on the reasoning for a person’s body modification, we presume we have the right to judge them for their choices.

SHEmazing spoke to a young woman named Gráinne, who underwent breast reduction surgery at the age of 19, and never looked back. She was plagued with back pain throughout her secondary school years, but the daily toll which her chest took on her confidence and mental health was the final straw;

“For my own personal experience I would say, I think my chest came in in like first year when I was 13, and got bigger after that. I’d say it probably crossed my mind, a chest reduction every once in a while. You’d be trying on clothes and things just wouldn’t fit, whether it was bikini or swimsuits or whatever, I couldn’t buy clothes that fit. You’d be thinking, ‘just chop them off and be done with it’.”

“Throughout secondary school if you had that idea, you’d just dismiss it, because we don’t do that. I didn’t take it seriously, it was a passing thought. It was first year of college that my cousin, who had a bigger chest than I did, got a breast reduction surgery done. I thought, ‘If she could do it, why can’t I?’ It dispelled the taboo a bit, I guess.”

Gráinne noticed the unspoken way which Irish people often have of burying a topic until somebody else is brave enough to unlock it.

“I hadn’t really thought about it, but that took away the wall up around it. The summer before I started second year in college, it was just getting to me. It affected everything in the way of confidence, everything I wore, playing sports just wasn’t a thing, I just felt vulnerable. My mum always compared it to wild games of tennis at Wimbledon, everything’s going the wrong direction. You’re very self-conscious about it. I was starting to get dints in my shoulders, I would have been 19 at the time so I couldn’t believe I could get them so young”

Gráinne discovered that she qualified for the surgery through the state on medical grounds, and her life greatly changed after that pivotal moment;

“I got my chest done September of 2015, so I would have been 19 when I started. I went to my GP about it, and he referred us. It was on medical grounds, I couldn’t straighten my back or stand for five minutes without a pain in my back because it just couldn’t hold my breasts. You feel like a hunchback all the time because you’re always bending over. I remember when I was going to the consultant, I was more nervous because I thought ‘If he tells me I can’t get this surgery, what am I going to do?’"

"I went in and found out I could have it on health grounds, and I was the right BMI for them to justify it. We had to wait for the insurance to approve it. The only funny thing was that they told me there would be scars. I never cared about this, I knew I could deal with them if it meant that I could have a smaller chest. To this day, I don’t care about the scars. They’re there, they’re fine, they’re healed.”

The process of the surgery itself is a journey, from the initial thought pattern, to the planning, to the operation itself and then recovery. Nobody takes on cosmetic surgery lightly, nobody does it on a whim or doesn’t think it through. They don’t think about ‘ruining’ their looks, or what other people think.

They have been on their journey for a long time, they are of sound mind, and they have ultimately made a choice and will handle whatever consequences arrive afterwards;

“Having the surgery itself, people would ask me if I was nervous. I kept telling people, ‘Why would I be nervous, I just have to lie there? It’s the doctor’s job.’ I wasn’t nervous, I was excited about it because it meant that so many other things were going to be open to me. When I finally got the surgery done, I was just ready for it. After the surgery, you had to have a week of bedrest to recover, and take care of yourself. It was fine, I had protein and scrambled eggs because the nurses said that it would help the healing of scars. I never put any kind of stress on it, I was always just excited about the chance to have it done. I can’t imagine what my life would be like without having it done, if I was still in the mental headspace of constantly being conscious of my chest like that.”

What changed in Gráinne’s life after her operation, and how does she feel today about it?

“It was just such a thing that you hid before. Everyone in my family had adapted to wearing big jumpers and scarves to hide it, we were a big chested family. I have no problem talking about my surgery, I have no problem talking about my chest size. I was never vulnerable about it, I kind of own it. Every year around the anniversary of my surgery, I think of it like a little victory. It’s an attitude, it’s another year on of not having to deal with my chest. People who knew me and knew how important it was for me were supportive."

"I wonder if there was someone who wanted implants for their chest, would it have been the same reaction? My flat chested friends always joked ‘I’ll use whatever you don’t want!’, I wonder if someone had gotten implants, would it have been the same reaction? Would people have been as supportive? Even if it was for their own mental health because they can’t stand being so flat-chested, I don’t think it would be as accepted.”

I asked Gráinne how her life changed after the surgery, in more than just a physical way;

“It definitely improved my mental health and the way I see myself. It’s made me more accepting of other parts of my body, of me as a whole. My physical health has also improved, I’m more active. I used to do so many after-school activities in primary school, but once my chest developed I stopped those. Sports bras didn’t improve it either. No one in my life ever commented on me having a big chest in a negative way to me, I don’t think. It was just something I wanted.”

Ariel Winter chose to have a breast reduction surgery following years of public and online ridicule, complications involving acting roles as well as intense back pain. Speaking about the difficulties to Glamour in 2015, she said;

“We live in a day and age where everything you do is ridiculed. The Internet bullies are awful. I could post a photo where I feel good, and 500 people will comment about how fat I am and that I am disgusting. On red carpets, I just said to myself, "You have to do your best to look confident and stand up tall, and make yourself look as good as you can in these photos," because everyone is going to see them. I definitely seemed confident; I'm an actress, that's what we do. But on the inside, I wasn't feeling so happy.”

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by ARIEL WINTER (@arielwinter) on

For Gráinne, Ariel Winter’s story deeply resonated with her;

 “I saw her on Ellen, and just understood everything she said. You’re so self conscious of it. It would have affected my confidence going on Erasmus, I always hid behind scarves and jumpers. I’m far more confident now, and whether that was just growing up or having my chest done, I feel the chest was a major contributing factor. I’m still a curvaceous figure, but it’s manageable and I’m not weighed down by it. It wasn’t about anyone else, it was about me and no one else. If that’s what someone else wants, then they should go for it.”

When asked her opinion on Alexis Stone’s stunt, Gráinne was struck by the thought of going ‘too far’, and why that seemed to offend so many people. The idea that if you transform yourself to look less like the culturally accepted beauty standards, you are committing a grave sin in some way;

“For the whole Alexis Stone side of things, I think the problem with that was, did he go too far in people’s eyes? He didn’t fit with what society wanted him to look like. Kylie Jenner’s lips, she was self-conscious about them, and had been over-drawing, she got them done, but now we forget that she ever got them done. We accept that this is her face. But with Alexis, everyone thinks he went too far. People getting things like that done are often afraid of other people seeing their insecurities. There’s a model of what society wants people to look like, and you’re either reaching that model or you’re going too far."

Image: youtube.com

"Rachel Green in Friends, it’s so overlooked that she got a nose job, because it was to fix what they saw as a flaw. If Alexis Stone pretended to get work done for what he saw as a flaw, but society didn’t, then it’s a problem. Other people didn’t know about my chest, but I felt that it was a burden for myself and how I viewed myself. It was literally weighing me down. Kylie Jenner’s lips were a flaw to herself, and she ‘fixed’ them and she’s happy. It’s about ‘fixing’ what people’s perception of beauty is.”

What a large group of people perceive to be aesthetically pleasing offers a mirror to that society itself. Sociological factors have a major impact on why we see certain shapes, sizes, faces, skin types, hair and eye colours etc as the desirable way to look. Despite the fact that millions of young women ache to look the same as the Kardashians, it’s what is unique to each person that is the inherently beautiful part of them.

What's 'beautiful' today may be off-brand tomorrow. Why try to keep up?

As well as their appearance, their worth is so much more than what they look like or what they way. What they feel, what they offer to the world, their identities, their language, their flaws, their intelligence, their kindness; these factors are often greatly impacted by appearance, but beauty is more to do with the mind than what the eye envisions.

“Society has an issue with it if it’s pointing out flaws that they see in themselves as well. If you see something that you really admire in someone else, you feel self-conscious about it yourself in some way.”

Trending

The 76th annual Golden Globes Awards took place on Sunday night and the fashion was just divine.

The star-studded event kicked off some of the hottest fashion picks for 2019.

But here are some of our FAVE looks from the night, as we think these celebs totally stole the spotlight. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Golden Globes (@goldenglobes) on

Saoirse Ronan stepped out in a custom-made Gucci gown – and she was SMOKIN'.

The silver floor-length dress had a plunging neckline, crystal embroidery and fringed embellishment that oozed a 1920 fashion-feel. 

Saoirse embodied the movie star feel and her role in Mary, Queen of Scots was adored by critics – G'wan, gal.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Saoirse Ronan (@saoirse_ronans) on

Taylor Swift's evening attire was also a stand-out for us as she presented two awards.

Tay-Tay looked flawless in a black Versace dress, which featured a high-thigh slit.

Our gal completed the look with a red lip and her hair styled up – what a babe.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Are you ready for it? (@taylor_blue.eyes) on

Lady Gaga's purple Valentino Couture gown was all the talk of the red carpet.

It was speculated that her outfit choice was a tribute to Judy Garland. 

Judy wore a similar dress in the 1954 remake of A Star is Born, where she played Ally – the same role as Gaga. 

However, Gaga explained that the purple gown was just coincidental and she didn't mean to copy Garland.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Golden Globes (@goldenglobes) on

Gorgeous Gaga didn't only win at the fashion game last night.

The singer went home with a Golden Globe for the Best Original Song Award for Shallow in A Star Is Born.

We can't get enough of their iconic looks – these are definitely our faves.  

What look stood out for you?

Trending

Jennifer Aniston has opened up about the strained nature of her dysfunctional relationship with her late mother, Nancy Dow.

The actress describes the correlation between their maternal bond and her complex new Netflix film Dumplin', in which she plays a pushy mother and former pageant queen.

In the new movie, her daughter is plus-size and enters herself in a competition purely to make a dramatic statement regarding unrealistic beauty standards in our society.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by faniston (@queen.aniston) on

The 49-year-old actress spoke candidly to The Sunday Telegraph about the many parallels between how Dow treated her during her childhood and Dumplin's expression of mother-daughter relationships.

When asked whether the two were similar experiences, Aniston replied “Where do we start?”

“One of the reasons I really loved the mother-daughter aspect of it was because it was very similar in a way to what my mother, and our relationship, was,” Aniston told the publication.

Nancy Dow, based on Aniston's description of her, was clearly preoccupied with her daughter's appearance.

“She was a model and she was all about presentation and what she looked like and what I looked like,” The former Friends actress commented. The star endured a highly-publicised fall-out with former actress Dow.

“I did not come out the model child she’d hoped for and it was something that really resonated with me, this little girl just wanting to be seen and wanting to be loved by a mum who was too occupied with things that didn’t quite matter.”

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Stylist Magazine (@stylistmagazine) on

The actress added that she really resonated with the film's message, which encourages the audience to embrace their flaws and imperfections.

"This movie is so special because it is about stripping away those preconceived notions of beauty, trying to become individuals and not feeling that we have to live up to some unrealistic ideal that society is feeding up to us," she explained.

"My idea of beauty is, it's what makes you feel beautiful and what makes me feel beautiful are the people around me, the life that I have. And maybe a good hair day."

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by F.R.I.E.N.D.S. (@_.friendspostsandmemes._) on

Aniston previously told The Hollywood Reporter in 2015 about Dow, saying; "She was very critical of me." 

Nancy wrote a biographical book in 1999 about their strained relationship: From Mother and Daughter to Friends: A Memoir, which Aniston saw as a breach of privacy.

"Because she was a model, she was gorgeous, stunning. I wasn't. I never was. I honestly still don't think of myself in that sort of light, which is fine." 

We think she's absolutely beautiful, inside and out. Dow passed away in 2016 at the age of 79, after a long illness.

Trending

by

Vogue Williams has revealed that she can become absolutely obsessed with her looks.

The former model, who currently has her own show, On The Edge, on RTÉ has admitted that when she sees herself on TV, it can be pretty difficult.

Speaking to Goss, Vogue said: “I didn’t realise how easy it was to become obsessed with the way you look.

 

A photo posted by voguewilliams (@voguewilliams) on

“It’s very nerve-wracking to be judged on your body like that. I didn’t realise how easy it was to become obsessed with the way you look from doing things like that."

Talking about taking part in a bikini competition, the Dublin DJ said: “I’m very competitive so I found myself being like ‘Ugh, I don’t look like the other girls’.

“I found myself thinking things about my body that I never thought about before because I’m quite comfortable in my own skin.

 

A photo posted by voguewilliams (@voguewilliams) on

“From doing that, I thought ‘This would not be for me,’ because I would be too easily influenced by the competition and easily become quite obsessed with that, but [the competitors] see it as a sport.

“I just don’t think it’s the healthiest of sports to be doing. I think that you put your body through a lot, I don’t think it’s a healthy thing to do to yourself," she added.

Trending

Bum too big, boobs too small, stomach too flabby? We all have our own complaints when it comes to our looks, but it seems Ireland’s self-esteem issue goes far deeper than that.

A shocking four in ten (45%) of us Irish women are unhappy with our appearance, with the need to lose weight and tone up topping the list of issues getting us down.

That’s according to SHEmazing!’s new Cosmetic Beauty research, which saw 994 females give their opinions on beauty, ageing and the intense pressure on women in this country to look good.

Unsurprisingly, many of those surveyed said they felt worst about their appearance when scrolling through social media or looking at images of celebrities – something anyone who uses Instagram or Snapchat on a regular basis can no doubt relate to.

A staggering 95% of women say they feel social media adds to the pressure on us females to look a certain way, while 70% say the celebrity culture is to blame.

Speaking about the “worrying” figures, SHEmazing!’s Susan Vickers suggests it’s time we stopped taking what we see online at face value.

"Young women’s newsfeeds are flooded with images of glamorous celebrities and their luxurious lifestyles… but these images are often captured by professionals using clever lighting techniques and even Photoshopping."

Of course, it’s not just our online habits denting our self-esteem – sometimes the pressure comes from much closer to home. Indeed, one in four women (26%) say they work in an industry where the pressure is on to look their best at all times.

With strain on us from so many outside factors, it’s no surprise that three in four women (75%) say they would consider some form of cosmetic procedure in the future.

Highest on the list of non-surgical procedures us Irish ladies would be open to are laser hair removal, anti-wrinkle injections like Botox and chemical skin peels.

And as for going under the knife, almost a third of women (31%) would consider getting a breast lift, and 22% would get a tummy tuck to tighten up the ab area.

If you are considering getting a procedure, Susan advises making safety your primary concern. "Worryingly, our research revealed that 34% of young women would travel abroad to source procedures at cheaper rates," she says.

"We strongly advise any women thinking of travelling abroad to research the cosmetic industry in that country, the surgeon and the clinic to ensure they are reputable.

"Remember, this is your body and you only get one."

Trending

by

Good aul Tay Tay has played a blinder this year. Not only has she taken on music industry bigwigs, performed with some of the biggest acts in music and had Ryans Adams cover her 1989 album in its entirety (that has gotta earn her some hipster street cred), but she also had a lawsuit against her dropped with the judge quoting her OWN LYRICS in the closing statements. Respect. 

We know this girl is making some serious waves in the music industry but we have also closely followed her style and boy has her hair been on quite the journey. 

Join us as we chart Tay's transformation from doe eyed country star to bona fide pop royalty by looking at those oh so important hair moments. 

 

2002

A fresh faced 12 year old, Taylor wore her blonde locks in their natural waves. 

 

2003

Ooh girl, work that country chic. It's easy to forget sometimes where Taylor come from, but the cowboy hat and purple velvet make it pretty clear. Taylor had her hair grown long with classic layers framing her face and exuding her youth. 

 

2004

At 14, Taylor moves to Nashville to begin her singing career as a country star. With a penchant for satin, velvet and denim, the young singer keeps her hair natural and tousled. 

 

2006

Tay becomes the youngest artist ever to sign to the Sony record label and releases her debut album at 16. She starts to refine her look to match her budding popstar status by defining her luscious curls and smoothening the hair. 

 

2007

The red lip and the stripped back style: here is a taste of what would become the Taylor that we know and love! She was still rocking her curls au natural and letting them lightly frame the face. 

 

2008

Gaining worldwide momentum now, Taylor rocks up to the 2008 MTV VMA's still sporting those trademark curls. 

 

2009

And game changer! Taylor opts for a refined look by sweeping her curls in a low chignon style, side bun. Gorgeous. 

 

2010

And BAM. Goodbye curls. Taylor dramatically changes up her look to coincide with the release of her third album, Speak Now. She embraces a dramatic fringe and straightens out her curls into a sleek, layered style. 

 

2011

They may not be her natural curls, but Taylor still liked to whip out soft waves for special occasions such as the 2011 Billboard Music Awards. She is finally starting to embrace that dramatic lip we love so much.

 

2012

The Red album release, the red lip, the fringe. There's our Taylor. 

 

2013

Killin it, Swifty. 

 

2014

In a blink and you'll miss it moment, Taylor has chopped off her hair, dropped the biggest album of the year, 1989, and releases hit single, Shake it Off. We were definitely obsessed with her choppy, shoulder length bob. 

 

2015

And in 2015, Tay pretty much took over the world. Still sporting her chic bob, she now likes to wear her fringe swept over to one side. We love it… PLEASE let us be in your #squad, Tay. 

Trending

by

So, picture this. It is New York City on New Year's Eve, 1979. Everyone who is anyone has rocked up to infamous nightclub of the stars Studio 54. Frequented by Michael Jackson, Diane Von Furstenberg and Andy Warhol, it was THE only place to be seen on the weekend. 

This New Year's Eve party was packed to the rafters and as the clock struck midnight, four TONNES of glitter was dropped onto the dance floor as guests shimmied their way into 1980. For months after the now historic event, if you spotted a few flecks of glitter on the collar of your brunching partner, you knew exactly where they spent their NYE.  

Here we have proof, ladies and gents, that glitter is NOT just for kids. YAY. 

Don't be afraid to add a little sparkle to your makeup looks this holiday season in a slightly less messy (but equally as glamorous) manner. 

 

1) Make glitter your focal point 

Whether it is your eyes, your lips or even perhaps your hair (yep, glitter in hair is officially a thing), make one of these the focal point for your glitter obsession. By applying glitter heavily to the eye area, for example, it is important to leave the lips clean and fresh perhaps with just a light gloss. Glitter is intense to wear so try not to go overboard! 

 

2) Use eyelash glue as adhesive 

Eyelash glue is the ideal tool to apply glitter to your face and to make sure it lasts the entire night. Spread some adhesive on a smooth surface and use a tweezers to dip individual specs of glitter into the glue and apply any way you like. The more sparkle the better. 

 

3) Play with colour

When people think glitter, they tend to think silver and gold immediately but this sparkly stuff comes in all different colours. Choose shades that compliment your make up look or highlights accents in your outfit. Looking this good means planning, ya'll. 

 

4) Get Creative

Glitter does not have to dominate your look. Apply shadows and use specs of glitter to add some interest to the eye. Play around with different designs such as a cluster on the outer lid or a strip underneath the lash line. Cute!

 

5) If actual glitter ain't your thing, opt for intense shimmer 

Okay, we get that actual glitter might be a bit too much for some but that does not mean you shouldn't sparkle. Shimmering eye shadows are a super popular way to add that eye opening glisten to the face without actually sticking glitter on it.

So indulge in a super shimmery shadow and apply to the entire eye lid crease. Remember darker shades create striking shadows to the outer corners of the eyes and white or nude shades open the eyes when applied to the inner corners. 

 

Trending