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Top, left to right: @lileia, @sophiet, @monicastylemuse, @blackgirlkai, @badgalriri. Bottom, left to right: @jessie.li._, @faithjaggernauth, @alxgaliero, @rowisingh, @gabsgibbs.
I was on day 21 of being self quarantined, and honestly? Want me, to be honest? I was frighteningly good at it.
Even as someone who has a hard time with control, or the idea of ♐️ being told what to do ♐️, I have sat my entire butt down because, quite frankly, I would like to live. And I would like others who come in contact with me — from friends to the folks I see at the grocery store — to live as well.
I kept a work schedule, 10:30 am - 7:30 pm spacing PT, broken down with tasks hour by hour to stay on track. I took breaks to breathe and make meals. I cooked lots of things I have never even thought about making a day in my life. I took my pilates class on Zoom. I stretched. I FaceTimed my friends and family. I drank wine and fell to sleep watching On My Block on Netflix.
I was doing All The Things, right? By day 21, I was tired of “keeping a schedule.”
It was as if this constant momentum I curated actually drove me to seek more stillness. And one thing I am good at honoring is my gut and allowing it to lead — even if it’s not formally productive.
So, on day 21, when my gut told me to loosen up my structured schedule, one that has kept me mentally stable and crossing things off my to-do list, I was ready to release it for a day or two.
At the time I viewed this release as giving myself the freedom to be less productive, but as I began to feel out the motions of doing less, I realized my productivity just looked different than it had for the past few weeks.
I believe that it’s as much of a duty to be an artist as it to be a journalist. To seek understanding, to know texture, to note beats and breaths in myself and others. As I have broken my schedule, it’s opened up more space for me to do this through other areas that inform my work, like makeup.
After taking a trip to the bathroom on a day I was laying low, I washed my hands, looked at my makeup and decided I had time to play. Eyeshadow palettes laid unopened, staring back at me for months (many do have anexpiration date, so be careful), but never touched because I was too intimidated… do you watch beauty gurus on YouTube? I’m not big on comparisons, but I was afraid of messing up. Afraid of looking crazy. But this time I had no place to go. So I pulled up my saved makeup inspiration folder on Instagram, and got to work.
I’ve always admired sharp lines and geometric shapes around the eyes. I used two palettes, Anastasia Beverly Hills’ Jackie Aina Palette and Bretman Rock X Colourpop Wet & Lit Collection, and I took my time. I swatched, got a feel for pigment payoff (both were so fantastic), and I let myself improvise based on inspired looks.
I’ve never felt cool or talented enough to be great at eyeshadow looks. You’re reading the newsletter of a beauty reporter who can apply KOSAS’ 10-Second Eyeshadow in Element, on a good night, sure!
I’m proud that my first true attempt at eyeshadow didn’t look disastrous. Definitely good for the ego. Now I have a makeup date with a friend to keep practicing.
Ciao from day 28.
THROWBACK:
My profile on beauty guru, makeup artist, entrepreneur Jackie Aina, who creates an eyeshadow look so well you’d think it was witchcraft.