Fresh Lipstick

[disclaimher.livejournal.com]

Over the last week there have been many more makeup posts in this community than I have seen in a long time. To me, this is awesome, because makeup and it's implications on feminism is one of my very favorite things to read about.
I consider myself a feminist, but also get lots of flack from my other feminist friends for wearing a full face of makeup every day. Personally, I don't wear makeup to attract men or make myself "look better than" other women, but because I love the creativity and frivolity it allows me during my daily routine. I like the art, I like the skill I've developed, and I love looking different every day (by bringing what is inside out).

I just finished this fabulous book called Fresh Lipstick : Redressing Fashion and Feminism by Linda Scott. When I finished it I immediately thought of this community.

Has anyone else read this? What did you think?

Comments

[lovelacegrrrl.livejournal.com]

I havn't read this book....but I want to! It looks interesting. I don't think makeup is an evil thing-it's meant to be fun and show the inner self in a way. And in my case my complexion is so incredibly pale that were it not for makeup my face would be a white orb with blonde hair on a body. lol
:oD

[disclaimher.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I know the feeling. I actually love my intense paleness though. It's funny, my sister is a makeup artist and she and I get together all the time to do each others makeup for fun. She is always joking that there isn't a shade pale enough for me.

[pixie-nz.livejournal.com]

The ladies at the cosmetic counters never agree with me that I'm too pale for any Revlon or cheaper foundations until they put a sample on. Clarins is the only brand (that I've found and that we have here) that makes a shade pale enough for my skin. I love my paleness, too, but it's annoying sometimes!

And I want to read that book.

[disclaimher.livejournal.com]

My sister works for MAC, so she was finally able to find me a powder that accentuated (never mask!) my lovely pale skin.

I had just about given up.

[kragey.livejournal.com]

Mmmm, MAC!

The brand I trust for a perfect sheer foundation is Estee Lauder. IVORY is exactly my skin color.

[pixie-nz.livejournal.com]

They don't sell that here. The ladied at the stores here have never heard of it :(

[krasota.livejournal.com]

I just use cornstarch. ;)

Of course, now that I'm no longer allergic to UV-A, I'm not super pale. The cornstarch is almost a bit too pale, but it's fairly transluscent.

Cornstarch doesn't clog pores, though, and it sets makeup well.

[pixie-nz.livejournal.com]

They just discontinued the foundation I use in the Clarins range for New Zealand. It's the only one I've found that stays put all day and leaves my skin matte (I have oily skin). If I get desperate I'm going to have to buy it online.

[meth.livejournal.com]

I have yet to find a pale-enough makeup. What do you you use for, if you use it, liquid foundation?

[disclaimher.livejournal.com]

Liquid makeup takes a long time for me to apply, so I only use powder. MAC makes a full coverage powder that takes seconds to apply but covers well, and lets your skin breathe. I also have oily skin, so the powder helps to control that.

[lovelacegrrrl.livejournal.com]

Oh I love being pale, but with my coloration and with the blonde hair, it looks like I have no eyebrows or eyelashes...
:o/

[tinydancer7.livejournal.com]

i love makeup for the art of it, too. yay!

[kragey.livejournal.com]

I also wear make-up because it's fun and creative. I love new colors, styles, and everything from the basic natural face to funky looks! And I'm a HUGE Kevyn Aucoin fan, God rest his soul.

I haven't read that book, but now I'm interested. =D

[alitaorg.livejournal.com]

kevyn!!! *squee*

i think makeup is a wonderful tool for stating, exclaiming, experimenting, and playing. however, those who refuse to go to the grocery store without a full painted-on face (*cough*mom*cough*) are using makeup as a crutch. that i don't tolerate.

[returnofpiper.livejournal.com]

I'm a fan of makeup - provided people wear it because they want to, not because they think they need to. I wear it because it's fun, because I love the colors.

I have to say, I agree with all the pale skinned people. I wish I could find a perfect sheer foundation that would smooth out the redness in my skin without completely covering my freckles!

[krasota.livejournal.com]

Have you tried using a pale green mineral pigment powder?

Larénim (http://www.larenim.com/) makes one that I'm thinking of trying.

[returnofpiper.livejournal.com]

I haven't, actually. I had a green coverup that I used for a while, but it was so much work. I guess I'm just insanely low maintenance. But it would be something nice for special occasions.

I think reddish skin is the curse of the redhead.

[krasota.livejournal.com]

That's why I like powder--brush and go. ;)

My skin is sallow (yellow) with reddish tones. Maddening.

[meth.livejournal.com]

I use that type of makeup sometimes. :)

I'm not a huge fan of powder, but if I'm out of liquid foundation then I use that brand.

[anotheranon.livejournal.com]

Have not read this book, but it looks interesting :)

Re: MAC - when I can, I have a MAC habit, particularly the lipstick! If your sister is a rep for them you're so lucky!

i havent read it but i just feel like bitching. :)

[six58.livejournal.com]

some feminists give other feminists a bad name.

im a feminist. i love being a girl.

but i dont hate men. i like playing traditional girl roles. i love makeup. and small insignificant things dont piss me off.

sorry. that was just me...going off on a rant...

Re: i havent read it but i just feel like bitching. :)

[lost-988.livejournal.com]

wow..that's so me. :)

Re: i havent read it but i just feel like bitching. :)

[joliebelle.livejournal.com]

wow. that's so me too.

[eclare.livejournal.com]

What's wrong with wanting to attract men? I love that my boyfriend is attracted to me and I love having the excuse to dress up. The problem comes when it consumes your life. Feminism is about preventing your gender from denying you choices. There's nothing about make up that denies you choices. Being a woman is something to be celebrated, not ashamed of. Femininity is a good thing - however you decide to define femininity :)

[alitaorg.livejournal.com]

*applause*

[-totschlagen.livejournal.com]

To me, the whole non-makeup wearing militant man hating woman idea of a feminist is completely innaccurate.

I went to a conference a few weeks ago sponsored by the Feminist Majority Foundation and it was full of articulate beautiful women, many of which had makeup on to the full nine yards.

Just because you like to wear makeup, as I do also, doesn't make you any less of a feminist. If anything, it's admirable to break out of the typical feminist role and be yourself. There are cases where women have been forced to wear makeup to work...that's not cool at all. That's what feminism is about, really. Having the choice to be yourself and not be looked down on for it.

[auroralynx.livejournal.com]

As a feminist, I wear makeup sometimes when I feel like, er, accentuating my features, but usually I just go without because it's expensive and takes a long time to apply. There are other uses for my time and money.

It's sad when women feel like they can't leave the house without makeup. Makeup should be fun, not a necessity.

[lizs18.livejournal.com]

I'll chime in here. I'm very interested in this book. I'm a feminist and a femme. And while I certainly appreciate critiques of beauty standards and critiques of industries that profit from them, I don't appreciate personal attacks on makeup wearers and those that are interested in being what they consider beautiful. The personal is political, but insulting the personal choices of what women do with their bodies is not a feminist act.