I am often a huge fan of beauty trends. Crackle and matte finish polishes? You bet. All those taupey, grey-violet (“griolet,” ugh) nail polishes you see out there? I own most of them. That Pepto pink lipstick you’ve seen on runways, a 60’s trend reborn with a Lancome Proenza Schouler collaboration (that I missed out on, ARGH!) and again today on Nicki Minaj? I own at least five, including MAC’s Pink Friday. (This particularly lipstick was limited-edition, available only online on four Fridays. After realizing they sold out within an hour, I stayed up late with five browser windows to ensure I got one in my checkout basket. I did, and I’ve rarely worn it. This happens.) I support trends and generally welcome them into my life with open arms.
Fall is fast approaching, and the runways are dictating which trends to inflict on others through my face and outfits. I have to say, Fall 2011, you are not doing much for me so far. The fashion trends I’m hearing are making a comeback are bootcut jeans and BACKPACKS. I can’t even talk about the backpack thing – it hurts too much. But I love my skinny jeans – I’m short and anything with a wider leg will make me look even shorter – so I will not be giving those up. (The 90’s are BACK, baby! Can I get boy bands back in my life too?)
Beauty is a little less painful to discuss, as it is the love of my life. So far, strong lips and strong brows are what I’m seeing, and – here where it all goes wrong in my opinion – clumpy eyelashes. Whatever makeup artist Pat McGrath says, goes. See below, Gucci Fall 2011 RTW beauty. (For more pictures, go to Style.com.)
Gucci Fall 2011 RTW Beauty - Clumpy Eyelashes, photo from style.com
Let us all take a moment to let that sink in.
Now, I’m all for drag queen eyelashes, which I have mentioned in past posts. I’m currently waiting for some packages to arrive so I can do an EPIC mascara post in which drugstore and prestige products will battle to death to win my heart. Hell, I was even hired to help develop mascara formulas based off of what is good but could be better out there. But I’m struggling to reconcile this clumpy lash trend with my own lash beliefs. I appreciate that these lashes seem to be natural (unlike the false eyelashes you see in every mascara commercial), and I understand this trend’s mod roots (Twiggy, anyone?) but I know what this looks like to me.
Everyone has done this, even though it’s a beauty sin. Everyone has used a tube of old mascara that was way past its prime because they are too stubborn to get a new one right then and there or because their favorite product got discontinued (original Chanel DramaLash, sob). Yes, I’ve done it too. And that is what those lashes look like. Especially if you happen to use waterproof – which I don’t recommend, and will talk about in another post. If you use old mascara, your lashes will clump together and you will have to fight to define them. (Not to mention, you risk an eye infection because liquid products are great breeding grounds for bacteria.) And, what particularly stresses me out about this, is that when your lashes stick together so much, older ones (that are going to fall out soon) shed even sooner! And it will be harder than usual to take off, and you’ll inadvertently pull some out.
I love Pat McGrath. It’s easy to find inspiration in her work and she gives great tips. She has created amazing products during her collaborations with brands like Dolce and Gabbana, CoverGirl, and Max Factor, but I don’t think these lashes are sexy. She used CoverGirl NatureLuxe Mousse Mascara to get this look. (I’ve tried this product – I have a strong feeling she layered it on top of another mascara. The results of using CG NatureLuxe mousse on its own looks way more natural than this, no matter how many coats I pile on.)
So what do you think? Do you like this trend? Ready to buy CoverGirl NatureLuxe Mousse Mascara and layer away? Or do you agree and think that a Tweezerman metal lash comb needs to be taken to this look?
makeup maestra 