Brows on What?

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Confession:

The term, “fleek,” makes my skin crawl.

I don’t love it.

Not for sculpted, perfect eyebrows. Not for flawless, gorgeous highlights. Not for sharp, crisp winged liner.

“On point,” I can dig. But for some reason I just can’t stand, “on fleek.” I’m not anti-slang, it’s just this specific term.

Research suggests the term has been tossed around since at least 2003; but it came to prominence after a Vine user mentioned it to describe her own brows while en route to a party. Somehow, it blew up and became this meme-esque slang phenomenon.

I don’t get it. Maybe I’m getting old?

Brows on what? Listen, dear – your eyebrows, highlight, and winged liner look fabulous and masterfully executed…but stay out of my dang hyacinths and azaleas, alright?

Commentary: Bragging

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Recently, I received a comment on an old post from someone who believed that I was bragging about something – namely, my hair.

Surprised, I went back and re-read my post – had I published some sarcastic/ironic bragging in that post without thinking? Sarcasm can be hard to detect online, even with context.

But I hadn’t. So, just to be abundantly clear:

Nothing on Beauty Skeptic is intended as bragging or boasting.

I have nothing to brag about. If something comes across as bragging, it is:

  • hyperbolic
  • outrageously sarcastic (and hopefully obvious on its own or very briefly noted as such), or
  • …well, it just isn’t reaching you properly.

Even if I did have something to brag about, doing so isn’t particularly gracious; no one wants to read some jackass’ rambling, self-congratulatory bragging nonsense.

My goal is not to piss anyone off or rub them the wrong way. Having stated that, this blog’s mission is not bragging. I cannot control how individuals choose to interpret my writing.

Context is important – the post in question was a hair tutorial…and because not everyone who reads this blog has the same hair in the same condition as mine, it is very important to detail that information to provide context for my results because not everyone will get the same results.

Normally, I wouldn’t bother to talk about something like this, but because intention is sometimes lost in text and I thought a clarification might help. :)

Thank you, as always, for reading.

Urban Decay Freelove Dupe

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I can never hope to be a massive repository of dupe information like Temptalia is, but if I notice something neat, I’ll point it out.

So, recently, I hosted a giveaway for a single pot of Urban Decay’s Freelove eyeshadow. Freelove is a lovely pinky-peachy-gold with a frosty, satin finish.

Urban Decay Freelove Dupe (Freelove)

I love it.

I was in Ulta redeeming my birthday freebie last month when I came upon a display of the Nyx Prismatic shadows. Nyx Prismatic Golden Peach caught my eye and looked familiar, so I swatched it and found that it was an Urban Decay Freelove Dupe!

It’s SO close to Urban Decay Freelove but only 1/3 of the price ($6 vs $18)! Main difference is that Golden Peach is a tad more shimmer. Temptalia’s reviews of each suggests that Golden Peach lasts a bit longer on the lid than Freelove.

Urban Decay Freelove Dupe - Nyx Prismatic Golden PeachNyx Prismatic Golden Peach – an Urban Decay Freelove Dupe

Unfortunately, my hasty store swatch was not photo-worthy. I didn’t buy one for myself since I already have Freelove (and I’m not a dupe hoarder) BUT if I didn’t already own it and needed to decide between the two, I’d probably go with Golden Peach.

So if you missed my giveaway and can’t justify dropping $18 on a shade (I can’t either – I bought them half off), don’t despair – get this! NYX goes on sale at Ulta fairly regularly, too (40% off or BOGO 50% off are common)!

I Am Styling Inept

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Seriously. Sure, I have my bun snap thing that makes a tidy bun easier than boiling water, but if I have to do anything to my hair beyond just looking fairly presentable for work? Forget about it. You have hair wizards like Kate from The Small Things Blog who are like, “No, it’s so easy!” (No sass to you, Kate) but I’m over here, all thumbs.

I Am Styling Inept - Hot Tools 1.25" Barrel

I went to a wedding mid-June and wanted to (obviously) not look like a clown. I brought my 1.25″ barrel iron (forgot my dryer, though, the shame…was able to borrow the bride’s, though!) to try to help. Unfortunately, because I am not a hair wizard, my hair wound up in a curled, low-slung, side pony. Did it look bad? No. Was it at all what I wanted? Absolutely not. Did it hold for anything? BAHAHA. No.
 pantene_stylersmousse

Despite mousse,

tresemme_heat

despite heat protectant,

garnier_anti-humid

despite gratuitous hairspray pre- and post-curl, alas…it was hilariously bad. Fortunately, I was nowhere near being the center of attention so it didn’t matter. Not even a blip on the radar! It’s just indicative of my overall problem – I can blow dry my hair or set it in rollers, that’s about it.

You see all these makeup or other beauty bloggers who have fabulous hair constantly – I can’t help but wonder if they go get blowouts before photos? No hate, I just can’t fathom how the hell normal people conduct this level of coif wizardry.

S.O.S.

I am styling inept. Please send help. I need self-help course for hair.

Will trade makeup application and witty, sarcastic humor for help with hair. Am admittedly slightly jealous of those of you with skillz, but not enough to be toxic. Hair Yoda? Anything?

Josie Maran Argan Infinity Lip & Cheek Review

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Josie Maran Argan Infinity Lip and Cheek Creamy Oil Duo BoxJosie Maran Argan Infinity Lip and Cheek Creamy Oil Duo Box

I received the Josie Maran Argan Infinity Lip And Cheek Creamy Oil duo set as a gift a few months ago. It wasn’t something that I had, “wish-listed,” so it came as a surprise; as someone who had really only ever used powder blush, I was extremely skeptical about it.

It isn’t the fact that it is oil-based, or even that it is a cream-type blush product. But, you know, it isn’t in a compact like, oh, any other cream blush I had been familiar with. Josie Maran Argan Infinity Lip And Cheek Creamy Oil is packaged in a metal tube. How the hell do I use this?!

Josie Maran Argan Infinity Lip and Cheek Creamy Oil Duo Tubes

When I first unboxed them, I unscrewed the small black caps and tried to squeeze them out, not really knowing what to expect. At first, from Timeless Coral, there was a tiny bit of oil, then came the pigment. Everlasting Honey, on the other hand, seemingly wanted to give me only oil until I recapped, randomly squeezed and kneaded the tube around to recombine the product…only then, and after a far-heartier squeeze than it should have needed, did I get pigment. Even today, same thing – I usually have to be a little rough with the Everlasting Honey tube before use to get pigment, whereas Timeless Coral just pops right out with little coaxing.

both

I don’t have a stippling brush so I tried, on several occasions, to apply to my cheeks with my fingers. No offense to the finger-application wizards that may be reading, but there’s a reason why a lot of face products are applied with brushes or sponges; fingers just can’t get it even, ESPECIALLY blush. I resigned myself to using it as a lip product – but it had a strange flavor and escaped my lips too easily.

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Worth it? OPI Color Paints

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OPI makes a good polish. They make my (and cult) favorite red, I’m Not Really a Waitress. Their wide brushes changed the application game when they hit the market ages ago; they’re a staple in many salons and policy fanciers’ collections. Even though I am primarily a gel fanatic these days, I feel that I can typically rely on OPI for quality and consistency.

But in the last couple years, they’ve been getting a little silly. Not all of their collections have been eyeroll-worthy – the Coca Cola collection, for instance, was pretty cool. But when I saw OPI Color Paints in a recent Ulta email…well, they screamed, “gimmick!”

OPI Color Paints Minis

And not just, “gimmick,” but, “TIRED.”

The OPI Color Paints collection features a mostly-opaque silver, “base,” coat and several translucent colors to slap on top — wait.

Isn’t that similar to another collection of OPI’s I’ve written about?

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