Tag: make up

A look into the new Rom Com “Materialists”: the fashion, the make-up and beyond…

~ Emmie Reve ~ Leave a comment

My genre of choice is not the typical chick flick, rom com genre. It’s well known to be a formulaic critically panned genre. At most a guilty pleasure of smart, thinking people when they want a break from being feminists looking for depth in cinematic art. And here’s where I decided to give Materials a try. After reading a few review summaries about it being not the typical rom com, my interest was piqued. One quiet Tuesday night, I went to see this flick with my kid, and I’m glad I did. Here’s why:

The main character is flawed, but lovable because of these flaws. Dakota Johnson plays the lead heroine well. She plays Lucy, a no-nonsense numbers cruncher when it comes to her career as a matchmaker, living in New York City. She excels at the game of matching people up based on statistics and numeral dating “values”. Her flaws show heavily in that having been raised poor, Lucy now covets the flashy, cushy life that dating an affluent man can afford her. Enter Pablo Pascal as Harry, a handsome rich suitor. At the same time however, she still has feelings for her struggling actor ex boyfriend John, played by the hottie Chris Evans.

After developing the main characters, the film expertly directed by Celine Song, talks about real dating world problems, in a contemporary and realistic way…giving way to a more sober and serious rom com that the typical one. There are some funny scenes; Harry’s nod to male vanity, John’s absolutely horrible roommate situation, and Lucy’s experience listening to her client’s delusional dating expectations. But one of the more pressing topics addressed was that of the physical violence that can exist in a modern dating world where people desperate for love, are vulnerable to get victimized and abused.

Dating violence has always existed in any time period, but talking about it at length in a movie is contemporary. Not enough attention has been placed on the intense burden most single women face today because of the pressure to be married and to have children. It is still seen as the main way women are successful in life. That’s right. Being a woman in the top of her industry or earning a lot means nothing. And the status quo culture is still prioritizing getting a “ring on the finger”.Early in the movie, one of Lucy’s clients has cold feet on her own wedding day, having realized she was unsure WHY she was getting married. A reminder that getting a “ring on it” means more than fulfilling romantic destiny.

These stories in the movie Materialists, go on to illustrate how dating and love are not the same thing. Something that fairy tales and proper young ladies like myself and my upbringing were not allowed to explore. But in this day and age, it’s not a new message being expressed, it’s just a more truthful admission of this fact. In the not so distant past, marriages were politically designed unions to join the assets and reproductive values of two families or “corporations”. The smokescreen of the recent era is to erase that reality and place romantic and soulful completeness as the motive for dating. But the reality is “you can’t have your cake and eat it too”. You have to choose one or the other as Lucy did in this film.

And because this is a fashion and make up blog, let’s talk about it!!! The fashion and makeup was so on point in this movie. Dakota Johnson looked beautiful in almost every scene with hair and make-up that was fresh, feminine and smart. Her outfits matched every scene to the tee, and the male fashion was also on point. Both Pablo Pascal and Chris Evans looked amazing. Both male leads had presented themselves as if Dakota had chosen either one of them, it would have been a win win. Must mentions: Lucy’s thick but perfectly cut bangs, and her long flowing mane stole the show. Her sapphire coloured strapless dress in the first act looked expensive and tasteful, complementing her chestnut brown hair. And as she progressed into discovering her deeper romantic destiny, her frilly floral dress at the barn yard wedding visually showed her free spirited headspace and diversion from the past.

I absolutely love this look! The deep blue dress on light skin, the sleek dark hair and cute sandals. A nod to perfection!
Romantic, effortless and feminine. The quintessential get up for a country wedding, while looking modern and relaxed.
Wonderful hair and make up team on this production. Dakota’s complexion glows, her mauve lipstick so wonderfully compliments her dress, hair and eye make-up!

Are you going to give this unconventional rom com a try? please do! It will not disappoint!

Get Ready with Me for a Date Night:

~ Emmie Reve ~ Leave a comment

Getting ready for “date night” is a really basic beauty ritual that needs no explaining, in my opinion. We all do it, primp and preen and get our skin glowing for that special someone. But there is actually a lot more to it that flexing our vanity and grooming muscles. There is an order and logic to it. It’s a process, so let’s talk about that process. I will start by talking about my emotional state recently and how getting ready for this one date was so interesting to me.

So I do have a boyfriend. I guess that’s what he is, considering that it we’re monogamous and it’s pretty regular that we see each other. And it’s really difficult making time for each other with our busy adult lives. And the future is always uncertain, in terms of the longevity and meaning of the relationship. I recently feared a lot of things after some revealing text messages from my boyfriend. And I didn’t know how to deal with them. I am a hairstylist in Toronto; my day to day consists of taking care of the business of looking good, and not much else. So there it was–a wall of emotions that floored me and I didn’t know what to do for days. But as a date night with my beau approached, I did what I had to do. What I always knew how to do…prep and get ready. And believe it or not, the process of selfcare and beautification really made me feel more secure of myself and what I want and was therapy in a way.

After showering I love to just relax in my robe and plan my next beauty moves. Usually it involves grabbing a tea!

The Ritual of Getting Ready:

  1. Facial Pampering: I like to do this the night before a date, or the morning of. It’s exfoliating with a gentle face exfoliator. I used Deciem’s Lactic Acid. Then applying a mask. The exfoliating makes the skin cleaner by removing dead skin cells so that it can absorb the nutrients of a moisturizing mask and expel toxins trapped within. It’s also creating the ideal canvas for make-up application. Also the best time to do my nails is the night before!
  2. Cleansing face, body and hair: I like to do this a few hours before the date: I do the whole enchilada; shampoo, condition my hair, shave, brush my teeth. After all the cleansing, don’t forget to moisturize with a nice light body lotion.
  3. Blow Dry and Style hair. My hair style depends on the formality of the night. After being apart for a while from my beau, I needed to have a more carefree, low maintenance look. This was because I wanted to create a more relaxed vibe between us after the awkwardness of the previous week and the messages. So I opted for a tousled look without flat ironing or curling. It was very natural. To achieve this I just blow dry and add a bit of serum for shine and de frizzing.
  4. Decide on outfit: Do this before putting make up on. Even if I don’t dress until right before the date, I still need to know what colors I’m working with. After choosing the appropriate outfit, for this one night I chose a lace turquoise body suit spaghetti strap tank and flare jeans. Casual but stylish attire to match my mood.
  5. Make up time: I decided since few colours didn’t clash with turquoise I would wear a smokey beige shadow with a bit of shimmer. It was perfect. Subtle, but alluring none the less. Liquid line with a pen, my usual day to day make up. Blush, brows, and lots of mascara.
I’m a fan of mascara. I truly believe that is there is one make up arsenal that really makes or breaks a look, it’s the mascara on lashes!!
Tada! The finished look. Is it possible that something so subtle and easy looking took about 2 hours? That is the mystery of getting ready!

By the time I got picked up by him, I was looking fine. Not overdone…even with all the work and prep it took. I enjoy the process. By the end of out date, after a hard couple of weeks second guessing our relationship, it felt nice that at least I always knew how to put on a good show; even if the future is uncertain with my beau. And well…it’s who I am to put my best face forward.

Anti-quarantine Glam Make-up looks…

~ Emmie Reve ~ Leave a comment

The worldwide lock down has brought my spirits down as well. Physical distancing has bound everyone to their homes hiding or imprisoned; letting one’s appearance go is sadly is the new normal daily life. No hair or nail salons, no spas or gyms…basically no beauty allowed.  And with myself being in the beauty industry, I’ve been unemployed for six weeks now. I’m so bored with my inner thoughts and no amount of youtube, disney + or netflix can distract me from myself. I’m trying not to gain a ton of weight during my unemployed home times, and I’m basically living day to day wondering the necessity of pants. This is a dangerous time. I wanted to find a way to make social distancing more bearable. So what better than to share some glamourous full face make-ups suitable for happier days. These make-up looks I have designed are useless during the lock down, but give me something to look forward to wearing post covid, when all eyes may be on myself and the beauty of others!

Plum Smoke Romance:

I originally did this look for valentines, and I liked it a lot for the flirty sultry aspect. Plum is also a lot more inviting and interesting than the usual charcoal/grey smokey eyes.. So here is how to get it…

  1. Prepping the face…for this look, the less shine, the better. everything has to be matte and smokey. That includes the foundation, concealer and powder. I will even do my eye shadow base in a matte nude color.
  2. Define and fill in brows: pretty standard in all make-ups actually.
  3. Find a matte plum eyeshadow and sweep it on the whole lid from eyelash line all the way to the brow bone. Smoke out and deepen the plum with a charcoal violet shadow for a second coat on the entire eye lid.
  4. Using a soft eyeliner, line the top lid and smudge the line with a dark shadow to blend and set the liner. Use that same shade for the bottom lid and line the outer corners of the eyes.
  5. Two coats of mascara always, and falsies if desired. Blush is optional for this look and I kinda prefer without.

Carefree and smokey. I have dark days too.

Playboy Bunny Neutrals:

I made this look one Halloween when I contemplated donning the iconic  playboy bunny costume. The elegant body suit with stockings, bow tie, ears and tail. It’s pure feminine prowess at it’s best. The make-up for this look is a glam relies heavily and a retro cat eyeliner and shimmering nudes and taupes and goes well with any going out outfit.

  1. Foundation and concealer as always. Concealer is particularily important for a flawless matte complexion. Add powder generously.
  2. Fill in brows bushy and fluff them up fully!
  3. Matte shadow base all over top and bottom lid. Shimmer eyeshadow just on the bow bone and inner corners.
  4. Dark shimmer taupe shadow in the crease. Shimmer nude in the main center upper lid. Line with black pencil. Set the pencil line with a dark shadow, black or brown…outline the bottom lid with a bit of the same dark shadow (just the outer corners)
  5. Do a dramatic cat’s eye liner with liquid liner.
  6. Add two coats of mascara and falsies of desired.
  7. Use a matte blush on the cheeks.
  8. Finish with a red lipstick matte or gloss.

I do like to be girly sometimes. What better than to don a neutral glam look.

Ice Blush Princess:

If one could be the fairest in all the land!  Magical and fancy, pretty yet cool, behold the ice princess make-up. With ice pinks and plenty of dewy glow it’s a grown up way to show off baby doll pink.

  1. Moisturize the face with a non greasy lotion: This looks best when the skin is highly mosturized. Cool shimmery colors show every crack/crease on the face when it is too dry.
  2. Foundation and  concealer or brightening serum under and around the eyes is key to achieving that flawless glow; use face powder lightly to set. Finish brows with and filler and fluff aiming for a natural definition.
  3. Shadow work: Neutral non shimmer eye shadow base on top lid. Shimmering highlight shadow on bottom lid and inner eye corner and brow bone under the brow. Blend lightly with a blending brush. Dark mauve pink for the crease, and cool true pink shadow for the main lid area, Blend.
  4. Black eye liner tight lined to the upper lashes. Smudge the pencil line with charcoal gray shadow to widen and smoke up the line. Use the same gray shadow for bottom lid line (just the outer edges)
  5. Double coat of mascara. Falsies if desired! Spray with a dewy setting spray for moisturizing to take away any remaining powdery look!

Ice pinks are so subtle. But hopefully my shiny color palette is visible here.

So which look is the most glam and fitting for me? I like all three and am happy to have been able to try out these looksduring these sad times of having no reason to get dolled up and be glamorous. Hang in there…beauty will reign supreme again some day.