The Ginger Introvert

Hello everyone!

This summer has been unusual for me when it comes to my outfits. Typically in summertime’s past, I’ve been a big midi sundress fan. And don’t get me wrong, I still love my floral dresses and get a lot of use out of them. But this summer I seem to be gravitating towards brighter colors, shorter skirts, bright and patterned biker shorts, and (light) layers.

These types of clothes are so much fun to play with, that each morning I get up I get excited to pick out what I’m going to wear. And believe me, that’s what I want! But when I first started wearing these more eye-catching outfits, there was that little voice inside my head that went… But what will people think? Because believe me, in rural Pennsylvania where I live, not everyone is wearing bright-pink glittery spandex biker shorts, over-the-top puffy sleeves, and swimsuit cover-ups as dresses. So every now and again, I catch the odd judgmental look from those around me. Or sometimes it’s not even strangers, in the past, I’ve definitely received a snarky comment or two from a peer or a loved one.

In these moments, I remember a piece of advice that my dad gave me a while back. How will I let other people effect my emotions? Or, in this case, my behavior and the way I dress? Will I allow any perceived judgement to rule how I express myself, or will I do what makes me happy and wear what I like?

Because really, that’s my ultimate goal when I wear something that may seem a little cray and over-the-top. Dressing up is a form of artistic expression for me! And I love to share them with others, but thrifting and piecing together cool outfits just give me joy during this time of uncertainty.

So if I could offer some advice to any of you out there who feel like they’re stifling who they are in order to appease the people around them, weigh your options. What’s more important to you? Expressing yourself as you see fit, and having fun? Or making the people around you happy? It’s a personal decision, but I can personally testify that living your life by other peoples’ guidelines isn’t nearly as fulfilling as doing you.

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What are your thoughts? I would love to hear from you guys, so go ahead and start the conversation in the comments OR come connect with me over on my Instagram! My handle is @thegingerintrovert.

Until next time!

Hello everyone!

Glossier is one of those brands that when they do a drop, people take note and are instantly obsessed. Now, I had not ordered from them before, but when they announced their release of the Skywash liquid eyeshadow in February and saw the color range, I knew I had to make the plunge and see what everyone has been talking about!

As a retail worker (at the time, pre-Covid) who wasn’t earning much, I needed to be conscious of how I was spending my money. So when I saw the price tag of $18 per tube, it gave me pause. However, I talked myself into buying two. They’ll be so easy to use, I said to myself. As a “girl-on-the-go,” as it were, the makeup I use on the daily are usually products I can slap on quickly before I run out the door. I chose the colors “Terra” and “Pool” because between the two, I figured I could use these colors all year round. “Pool” for summer and spring, and “Terra” for fall and winter.

So, $36 dollars (plus shipping fees and taxes) later, my Skywash eyeshadows arrived. I did what every girl does when she gets new makeup in the mail. I swatched them first, then tried them on. First, I noticed that while I couldn’t really see into the tube itself, I got the impression that there wasn’t much product to speak of inside. Annoying, but something we all experience with much-hyped products.

Then, I tried them on. Fresh faced, after applying my usual skincare products, I slicked a coat or two of each color on each bare eyelid. Let me tell you, I was initially very disappointed. The colors are super sheer at first, and while they are buildable, the difference between the pigmentation of each color is surprising. “Pool,” the light blue, was super sheer at first and a little chalky-looking if I patted it down to blend with my fingertip. Then, with the darker “Terra” color, the sheerness of the first coat turned into an uncontrollable dark blob with the second coat. Even when I tried to blend it out and pat it down with my fingers, the “Terra” color didn’t look right, and was all kinds of patchy. I’ll confide in you guys, too… I found this out right before I started a shift at my job on the bookfloor of Barnes & Noble. I had taken to doing my makeup quickly in the car before running into work, which meant that when I did this, I couldn’t just swipe it off with some miscellar water. I did my best to fix the blotchy mess, and after wiping some of the product away with a napkin I looked somewhat normal, but let’s just say my makeup was not up to snuff that day.

Worst of all? Each time I tried to wear these eyeshadows, they creased after a couple of hours of wear. After a week or two, I gave up. I resigned myself to the fact that I had been duped, and the Skywash eyeshadows were nearly forgotten in my makeup bag.

That is, until Covid-19.

Once the pandemic reared it’s ugly head I found myself laid off from my job. Like everyone else, days turned into months of just me sitting at home with nothing to do. This lead to some experimentation with different makeup looks. Come spring and the beginning of summer, I wanted to play around with blue eyeshadows again. So I dug “Pool” out from the depths. And, in playing around, I discovered something! If I used a primer before I applied the eyeshadow, it was almost like working with an entirely different product! The color spread on my primed eyelids nicely, and though still somewhat sheer, was buildable without seeming chalky. The other secret? Not using my fingers, but using a makeup brush to pat the shadow down once applied.

But I’ll tell you something else. I don’t just use any old eyeshadow primer. I use the super hero of all drugstore primers. A primer that has blown all its high-end counterparts out of the water!

Now, you may think I’m being dramatic. But I stand by what I said. I use the Wet N Wild Photofocus Eyeshadow Primer. It is a dream to use, and here’s why. I use it on my eyelids and brows, and it makes the colors of the makeup seem richer. My eyeshadow never creases when I use it, and it lasts all day long. The best part? It’s only $5 at Walmart, and only a few cents more at Ulta! And it turned a dud-seeming product like the Skywash eyeshadow into a favorite that I use nearly every day.

Do you have any unexpected makeup favorites, or maybe a new makeup look you discovered during quarantine? Let us know in the comments!

Until next time.