Makeup To Wear When You're Going To Be Photographed

My two week hiatus and this post actually have a lot to do with each other. Exactly one week ago, when this post goes live, I graduated from college! It was quite a hectic few weeks leading up to graduation and the weekend itself was pretty packed with parties and visiting family that I decided to take a quick break from blogging. However, for my first post back I figured I'd give some tips about doing makeup for events where there will be a lot of photography, something that is especially relevant during this time of the year with it being graduation and wedding season.

I did my makeup like this on two occasions: for taking graduation pictures with friends as well as graduation day itself and I absolutely loved the way it looked in person and in photos (if I do say so myself). I think one of the best tips I've picked up for doing makeup for pictures (especially pictures for special events that will be around for a very long time) is to do your makeup like you do on a regular basis but make it slightly more dramatic or intense. While everyone's daily makeup will vary greatly, I will talk through some of the products that I have found to photograph very well and that I used on graduation day.

When it came to doing my makeup for graduation and graduation photos I spent the most time on my base. Because almost all of the photos I took were outside I didn't have to be too cautious with using a foundation without SPF because I wasn't doing any flash photography. For foundation I went with my go-to Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua Foundation, which was perfect because it evened out any redness without looking too heavy. I have used this foundation with some flash photography and find that it works fine without any real noticeable white cast, but if you're concerned about that I'd recommend theMakeup Forever HD Foundation. I then used NARS Soft Matte Complete Concealer under my eyes and on any blemishes. While this is a new concealer to me, I chose to use it because it gives really good coverage for blemishes, redness, and under eye circles. Because it was so hot on my graduation day, I chose this for its more matte formulation, which is great because it stays put and never looks greasy but also doesn't look dry or crepey either on blemishes or under the eyes. I then set every thing with the L'Oreal True Match Powder and used Glossier Cloud Paint in Dusk, which gave a nice rosy flush while also doubling as a bronzer/contour of sorts.

As for the eye makeup I went for matte shadows and used the Becca Ombre Rouge Eyeshadow Palette, which has become my most reached for palette. I like to use mattes for photographs and events because they will never look outdated and they provide better definition, which registers better in photographs than a load of shimmery eyeshadows do. As for the eyeshadow itself, I went with a look similar to this one that Karima did on her YouTube channel about a year ago. I then put a load of mascara on my lashes and used the Fairydrops Platinum Mascara, which I use on an everyday basis but is great for special occasions because it is waterproof (and yes I cried like a baby during graduation). Last but not least I used NARS Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in Intriguing, which is a gorgeous rosy nude that lasts for ages on the lips.

The Intentional Wardrobe

I'm just gonna put it right out there, I don't believe in the capsule wardrobe. I'm fully into the central idea of the capsule wardrobe that your wardrobe should be as edited as possible, however I personally will never do a capsule wardrobe because of where I live. Because I live in California, Northern California no less, there aren't concrete enough seasons to justify having separate wardrobes for each season. For example, during the month of September alone it can go from being 80 degrees one day to being full-on cold fall weather. For me it just doesn't make sense to tuck away a good portion of my wardrobe when the weather can turn on a dime.

With all that said, I've narrowed down my wardrobe philosophy that is best described as an intentional wardrobe. The logic is very similar to the capsule wardrobe in that I regularly edit the pieces in my wardrobe to the point where I have a collection of clothes that are easy to style together and I'm never left with that "I don't have anything to wear feeling in the morning". Also when it comes to buying clothes I am much more rigorous with myself and make sure to only buy pieces I know will last a long time and will fit into the wardrobe that I already own. I have made the mistake one too many times of buying something and never wearing it because it just doesn't fit with the other pieces I own. I feel like the capsule wardrobe has the right idea in editing and focusing a wardrobe, I just don't find it necessary to restrict myself so much by the seasons and the weather (although for people that live in places where there are distinctive seasons I can see why the capsule wardrobe is appealing). I also enjoy bringing in pieces that are for a different season and reworking them with another piece so that it works for the weather. For example, I have a black slip dress that is amazing for warmer weather but because it is short enough, I can tuck it into jeans during the cooler months and layer a turtleneck underneath it so it works as a more wintery piece. All in all this approach to thinking of my wardrobe methodically and with a stronger direction has really helped me hone in my personal style and keep me from buying clothes just for the sake of buying clothes.

My Thoughts on Graduating from College

Three years ago, almost to the day, I wrote a post all about my first year of college and in some ways I feel like it was yesterday that I was sitting at my desk in my freshman dorm writing that post and in other ways that feels like a lifetime ago. Overall, I completely believe that the past four years have been some of the best years of my life. But more so than that, they've been some of the most pivotal and challenging years. Beyond the academics, I have been pushed out of my comfort zone so many times in college and I am totally grateful for that.

With graduation being in the incredibly near future (six days as I'm writing this to be exact), I've been consciously taking advantage of being in this town and being with my friends. I think its being so present with my friends and not letting days go to waste that is making me even more emotional about the upcoming life change. I've had more fun and done more in the past school year than I probably have for the last two years in college. I'm realizing how much free time I have, how few responsibilities I have, and how much I am going to miss the dynamic that me and my friends have being at this stage in our lives.

This isn't all to say that I'm not ready to graduate, I absolutely am. I am also incredibly excited that I am moving back to San Francisco, which is my hometown and in my opinion the greatest city on Earth. I'm also incredibly lucky that most of my friends are moving to San Francisco, so I don't have to say too many goodbyes. It's still incredibly hard to close a chapter. As excited as I am to graduate and move back to my favorite city, it's hard not always knowing what's next. I have always loved going to school and its going to be incredibly hard to not have that to be looking forward to next fall. I'm excited to get my career started and hopefully this blog will be a cornerstone of my career, but its hard to not feel like life is going to be moving very fast after I turn that tassel to the left.

How My Makeup Philosophy Has Changed

I'm sure you've noticed if you've been reading this blog for a decent amount of time that the amount of beauty content on here has changed somewhat dramatically. This used to be an almost exclusively beauty blog and that has changed partially because I have been consuming a wider variety of blog content and feel inspired to expand what I blog about, but it is also because my approach to makeup has been different for about the past year or so. I still absolutely love beauty and I don't think I will ever not be interested in makeup.

The main source of this change has mainly centered around that my beauty buying habits have changed majorly. A few years ago, I was almost solely interested in buying makeup just for the sake of buying new makeup, which I don't regret at all because I genuinely enjoyed trying new makeup. To be honest, new beauty launches just get me less excited because I'm not as interested in makeup trends. I think this really is down to the fact that I have honed in my style more than ever this past year, and that includes my makeup style. But I think that's ok, everyone goes through stages of experimenting with their style and I definitely did when I was in my late teens. Now that I have a clearer vision of what I like and who I am I don't feel the need to stray from that.

This isn't all to say that I don't enjoy buying beauty products anymore, because I absolutely do and I think I always will. I think it's more that I am excited to buy things that really speak to my personal taste than I am excited to buy a product just for the sake of it being new. That's why I get so excited about Glossier launches in particular, because the brand's aesthetic is exactly in-line with my own aesthetic. Taking a more minimalist approach to buying makeup has also made me more streamlined in my beauty routine every day and I find myself experimenting the most with makeup for a night out or a special event, which I have really enjoyed because it means that I get ready faster on a daily basis, but when I do experiment or play around with makeup its more special because it doesn't happen on an everyday basis.

My Month In Film | May 2017

In an effort to get back into photography, I've committed to shooting at least one roll of film a month and I have decided to share said film at the end of every month in a blog post. All of these photos were shot on an Olympus Mju ii, which is my new favorite camera. May was quite a full month, albeit a very fun one. In the lead up to graduation in two weeks (*screams internally*) I've been trying as much as possible to take advantage of being here and seeing my friends as much as possible. 

Took a spontaneous trip to the beach to watch the sunset, and while part of the coastline blocked the actual sunset, the sky was beautiful.

The weather was absolutely amazing for the whole month and since its been so rainy in California for the past couple months it was nice to take advantage of the sunshine and go to the beach.

For my birthday my boyfriend bought us tickets to go to Disneyland for the day. One of my best friends and her boyfriend also live in LA so they came with us. It was the first time I had been to Disneyland in years and I want to go back already!

Some friends and I took a weekend trip up to the Bay Area (where I am originally from). We basically spent the whole weekend relaxing on the beach, eating, playing card games, and paddling around in the water. It was one of the most relaxing weekends I've had in a while and I don't think I've cried from laughter more than I did that weekend.

One of the things I will miss most about college is going to my favorite coffee shop to do work, good thing there are plenty of good coffee shops to go to once I move back to San Francisco.

My best friend and I did a little shoot during one weekend for graduation pictures. We seriously lucked out on both the scenery and the fact that we went right at peak golden hour.

Peony season is well and truly here and I could not be happier about it! Also that stack of books is a mere representation of the amount of books I have from my time in college. I really don't want to get rid of any of them (especially since grad school is still an option at this point) and they hold a lot of sentimental value oddly enough.

My boyfriend and I took a day trip to Santa Barbara the other weekend and it was so nice to get out of town. Santa Barbara is so gorgeous and it was so nice to walk around and see more of the town. We also went to an amazing pizza place called The Lucky Penny, would definitely recommend if you are going to Santa Barbara.

... And of course we had to make a stop at the Santa Barbara Mission while we were there.

My bedside table is one of my favorite parts of my room and I am loving reading this book by Joan Didion at the moment.