The Courier
beauty.19
Monday 2 December
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Blokey Beauty: guyliner?
Annah Baines and David Leighton discuss their views on whether they think a bit of ‘manscara’ and ‘guyliner’ is acceptable, or whether it’s a crime against hu-man-ity
Yes C
all me crazy (don’t really – I’ll hurt you), but I’m pretty certain in today’s society people are allowed to do what they want without overt judgement from everyone that passes by. This is why it perplexes me that people actually have an opinion on men who wear makeup – especially if they are not trying to be a drag queen. Just a few points on this really; One, wearing makeup and being male isn’t necessarily a statement of sexuality – two, who cares? As I’m sure you have guessed by now I’m one of the “Guyliners”, although I don’t really wear it that often sometimes I do…because I like to. Just as I’m sure that some people like to wear “Uggs” and nobody comments on how nasty they are, or at least not to the person who is wearing them at the time. I have answered the door to an ASDA delivery man who has promptly responded to the fact I have nail varnish on with “Hew, what ya deein wearing that on ya paws”? At the time I wished I had the ability to melt people’s faces with a look, because his would have been a judgemental little puddle by my feet. I own (to most of my friends dismay) a poncho, it’s huge and pretty ugly when it comes down to it but I love it, so I wear it, and honest to goodness I am stared at as if I have knifed somebody. I’m getting a bit petty really but it pisses me off, you might even say it “grinds my gears” – I have nothing else to say on the subject really, other than if someone wants to wear makeup, or a leotard, the fact it displeases you is not their problem. It’s yours. Don’t comment, don’t even ask because it doesn’t matter and nobody wants to hear your shitty bitchy little comments anyway. Peace out kitty-kats. David Leighton
No A
ll makeup should look completely natural during the day and highlight your already existing beauty. A little bit of eyeliner is okay but once it’s too heavy it just looks completely overdone. What on earth gave guys the idea to wear eyeliner? Quite frankly, it just makes you look overly tired and like you haven’t washed properly since Halloween. What makes matters even worse is that boys have attempted to make male make-up more masculine by changing the names of products such as ‘guy liner’ and ‘manscara’. Although I am partial to a well groomed man, and regardless of your sex there’s no excuse for a monobrow, there’s a point when male grooming just goes one step too far. Girls are always being moaned at by their boyfriends for taking to long to get ready. Imagine how annoying it’d be the other way around, telling your boyfriend his mascara looks fine and if he doesn’t put his makeup bag down and leave right now you’re going to be late? No thank you. I do understand the desire to cover up any blemishes or skin problems and I think this is completely acceptable as long as it isn’t taken overboard. Men shouldn’t be denied the right to feel comfortable in their own skin and if a bit of concealer helps with confidence and self-esteem, it’s definitely not a bad thing. However, most boys would lack the confidence to ask for a colour match on a beauty counter for fear of being judged. This can lead to them having products a different colour to their skin and if the products don’t look natural it’s going to attract the wrong sort of attention. In addition to this, the way male stars are air-
brushed creates an unrealistic impression of what men should look like. In the same way women are partial to body hang ups because of the media’s version of female beauty, this is increasingly becoming the case for men too. If more men start wearing makeup and embracing the flawless look, men who don’t may start to feel a dip in their self-confidence. So boys, just embrace the way you look. Girls make allowances for the fact you can’t have perfect skin, or hide those dark bags under your eyes and even that your eyelashes don’t look very long. We like our men manly, not asking to borrow our foundation brush. Annah Baines
As Movember comes to an end we get up close and personal with our three boys to see who is going be crowned the worthy winner
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lean Shaven Ed’s apparent turnaround in form of last week has turned out to be a bit of a red herring. His mo-progress has stalled, that is if it can be said to have ever truly started. This is sometimes an emasculating problem for men, but the no-show of a mo’ for Ed is probably a more enviable position to be in than sport the balding mole-rat that his nearest rival Bog Standard Tom has managed to muster up. Though Ed finished third, he can at least be happy in the knowing that he is free of any criminal convictions.
Bog Standard Tom Top Contender Tom
B
og Standard Tom’s beard shave has exposed his mo’ for the rank assortment of hair that it is. This is not the kinda mo’ you’d want to meet down a dark alley, or in fact anywhere at all. Whilst Bog Standard Tom has just about clinched second place, this season does look to have taken its toll. Over the past month, Tom has shown very promising hair growth, but sadly he’s stumbled at the last hurdle and his hopes of winning have been unceremoniously shattered. Currently looking weary and diseased, let’s hope this competitor retires immediately.
Charlotte Davies shares her tips on performing the ultimate vanishing act in concealing those puffy under eye bags
A heavy night combined with an early start never fails to result in seriously tired looking eyes. No matter how much you try to conceal the evidence of your late night, those eyes just never fail to give it away. So, whether it’s heavy bags, dark circles or blood shot eyes, these quick and easy tips should help tackle the problem in no time.
1.
Using any kind of gel or roll on can really help to deflate bags and soothe tired eyes. Simple have recently released a ‘kind to eyes revitalizing roll on’ within their new Simple sense range. Its cooling formula promises to help soothe and refresh your eyes whilst giving them a brightening boost. For a further refreshing effect, try keeping the gel or roll on in the fridge.
2.
Movember Watch: Week 4 Clean-Shaven Ed
Perk up those peepers
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op Contender Tom has certainly lived up to his billing, sporting the only reasonable mo’ of the bunch. Although he resembles Ned Flanders, Top Contender Tom’s silver lining comes in the knowing that he has secured the coveted ‘Most-Mo’ Title. Congratulations to Top Contender Tom, he faced mediocre opposition, beat them after week one, and yet still remained professional throughout, sporting his mo’ to the very end in a bid to not only to raise the trophy but more importantly, Movember awareness itself.
In terms of covering up those dark circles, using a concealer really is your secret weapon. Marie Claire recently voted Nars’ Immaculate Complexion Concealer as the most effective one in disguising dark circles. However, priced at the higher end of £18, this might be a bit of a stretch if your bank balance took a hit the night before. For a cheaper alternative try Rimmels Wake Me Up concealer. And remember to always opt for a shade lighter than your foundation in order to give a subtle brightening effect under the eyes. You could also enhance this by using a nude or white eyeliner in the corner of your eyes. This will work to widen as well as highlight them and so is great for distracting away from the bags.
3.
So, you’ve eliminated those puffy eyes and dark circles, now it’s time to deal with the redness of your eyes. If your blood shot eyes are enough to frighten small children away, try using eye drops to cover it up. There is a wide range out there, but for a cheaper option Boots offer their own priced at just £3.10. This product promises to refresh and revive those tired eyes, reducing the issue of redness. Or you can pop on a slice of cucumber onto your eyelids for a quick at home spa treatment.