Wednesday, September 01, 2010

Are you willing to give up your mascara?





Vogue UK predicts we'll see some naked lashes and eyes this fall. Based on designer Christopher Kane's fall/winter 2010 ready-to-wear show, Vogue UK names the no mascara look as one of the hottest new beauty trends of the year. Looking at photos from the show, it's not just mascara that's missing. Eyes are barely defined and the liner, if any is used, is soft brown. This explains the several medium brown eye pencils that have appeared around here (I have a couple of reviews coming), but I can't say I'm excited about it.

As someone who's rather keen on looking alive and is no longer a spring chicken, defining my eyes is quite an important part of doing my makeup. Otherwise it comes scarily close to exposing the world to the way I look when I first wake up. This particular pleasure is reserved for my nearest and dearest, most who are feline and don't care one way or the other.

How about you? Are you ready for pale lashes? It works for Tilda Swinton, after all.

Photos: vogue.co.uk

29 comments:

  1. I read an article a few months ago declaring that if you skip the mascara you'll be "shocked" at how much younger you will look. I'm not convinced.

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  2. Huh.

    I gave up mascara about a year ago as a sort of challenge to myself. While I've grown to like the way I look without it, I'm surprised to see it evolve as an actual trend. It will be interesting to see if this catches on!

    Dempeaux, I feel like my face looks younger overall since I gave up makeup (including mascara; but I must confess that I have a strict regimin that includes Retin-A and Alpha-hydroxy acid!

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  3. How often do you get to follow a hot beauty trend by not buying something? That in itself makes me like the look. My mascara application is somewhat hit or miss, so I don't think I'll be making any big changes. However, I do look about 16 without it, which is decidedly not desirable all the time!

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  4. EVERYTHING works on Tilda Swinton, though! I often skip the mascara, but my eyelashes are naturally black with only a little lightness at the very tips. I don't often go without curling my eyelashes though; they stick straight down like a llama's.

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  5. I don't think it works even for Tilda Swinton.

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  6. I've always thought that mascara is high maintenance (which is not intended pejoratively, since I wear it every day). The technique is pretty involved, requiring several tools (curler, tissues, comb), and there's a high upkeep in turns of replacing it. For me, it's unmakeup, and like foundation it doesn't quite look the same as being genetically blessed with incredible lashes. A good mascara makes you look groomed and politely made up, but not like you were born with it.

    So when you eschew mascara, it automatically looks low-maintenance and highly naturalized, which is particularly nice with fresh, blooming skin. Obviously, it's limited to the young. The opposite extreme works as well; you've noticed that when you do a big, dramatic, colorful eye, you need more mascara.

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  7. NO! well.... lashes for sure no....
    Maricela
    Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ~~~ vividfusion.blogspot.com ~~~~Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ

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  8. It does work for Tilda but it definitely doesn't for me. My lashes are practically invisible if I don't wear mascara (and I go without only when on summer vacation with my closest people). And I was told by several people how much better I look with a bit of mascara on. It really transforms me form pale nothing into someone whose eyes have character.

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  9. I just don't see this trend taking off. I don't actually wear mascara on a daily basis, but I always wear it on a night out and that will never change! It just gives that extra definition and "oomph" to your look.

    Speaking of looking younger, I've realised recently that not wearing foundation makes me look younger...but I still can't bring myself to go out foundation-less, especially as I have a tendency to high colour in my cheeks!

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  10. Actually, mascara is one of the first items I do w/o if I'm in a rush to get out the door. However, for a night out, I definitely put on mascara. It just gives my eyes more definition. Gaia-I have to disagree w/ you about Tilda Swinton. Every time I see a picture of her I think how much better she'd look w/ (brown) mascara. Her light-colored eyes have zero definition againt her pale, seemingly lashless eyelids.

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  11. If you keep wearing concealer, and maybe a little brown eyeliner, it could work, especially with a transparent red or violet mouth. Sometimes I don't use mascara because it's such a chore to get off but loves to flake into my contacts nonetheless -- all brands

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  12. Absolutely no-way. I don't wear mascara allll the time but when I need to go out or dress up a tad, I do wear it. My eyes are deep set and mascara definitely makes me look alive and awake. I'm not talking about Tammy Faye type lashes, just a little stroke to open the eye.

    This will definitely not take-off.

    lovethescents

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  13. Um. No! My lashes are almost a light blond and if I don't wear mascara I look like the undead. No seriously. I have people and small children running away from me in horror when I don't wear mascara. It's tragic. I'll keep my mascara thankyouverymuch! And all my eyeshadows too!

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  14. Never. I have lashes the color of fishing line and without mascara I look awful. I have done without mascara after dying my lashes, but that doesn't last long and it's still not as good as mascara *and* dying my lashes.

    I read an article recently that was an account of an experiment to determine which makeup was the most effective at getting a date and eye makeup was the most important by far. I don't know, but I would guess that this applies more generally to people's perceptions.

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  15. I wouldn't give it up altogether, but I don't wear it at work. Just a neutral eyeshadow and plenty of dark brown eye liner. I don't care much for Tilda Swinton's no-lash look. Might be great on a young face, but not mine. I do wear less foundation as I get older (I'm 57) but still won't go out of the house without a tinted moisturizer (with sunscreen) like the Olay Definity Color Recapture.

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  16. I can count on my fingers the number of times I used mascara in the past 15 years. Even though I have straight, thin, short lashes, the unavoidable racoon eyes and difficulty of removal have simply been more trouble than their worth. I prefer to use shadowing, curling, and lining to open up and give definition to my eyes. My lash color is black, so coloring is not an issue.
    Recent discovery of the Guerlain Kohl powder liner has made a revolutionary change in my eye makeup routine, even though it takes some effort to remove. So I would never give up my eye makeup but mascara is not needed...

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  17. I go without mascara if I'm wearing concealer, a hint of blush, and red lipstick.

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  18. No. I often go without mascara, mainly if I'm going to the gym that day or feeling too lazy to put makeup on, but mascara would be on my desert island list.

    I'm intrigued by a trend that involves NOT buying new or reformulated products, though... Of course the magazines will probably insist you buy new concealers, eyeliners, and eyeshadows to carry the look off properly. ;)

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  19. I don't think I could do without mine but then again these models are gorgeous. Hence, why they are models, right? Hmph!

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  20. After being quite the mascara addict, I gave it up around a year ago and love the look of my eyes with my natural lashes. I believe I do look younger, and my eyes look more wide open and (of course) natural. Removing my eye makeup takes moments and is much less hard on the skin around my eyes. I don't have to worry about my mascara drying out, or smearing, or going bad. I'm glad to see this look is becoming a trend!

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  21. Nope, never ever, I will not be going naked in the lash department!

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  22. No Way Jo- Se !

    I would always use mascara and eyeliner .

    I might skip the shadow though
    If I was to be late

    I would then fix my face at stoplights ... No law yet agaginst that.
    The no masacara mishagas is ridiculous

    Why not wear a sign that says I am trying to look ugly this is no accident.

    Whatever happened to the notion of using makeup to look better
    not worse ....

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  23. I didn't wear Mascara until recently, as I realised at 39 that I don't look younger without it, just very, very tired!

    Tilda Swinton certainly looks great but as for not wearing mascara - she hasn't actually got any eyelashes has she?

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  24. I don't like the girl on the photo of your message, not having a mascara gives her (or reveal) something mean in their look. (I think anorexia and pale skin don't help :P )
    If it were for the model of the photo, yeah mascara would be better for them.

    In general, I remind then that my mother do not wear make-up, just red lipstick, and sure she is pretty (objectively, I mean :) ).
    And it's a good moment to remind that make-up makes is not good for the skin.

    I'm gay, but I always liked "natural beauty", I mean those who naturally have a tender soft pink skin, rosy cheek, or freckle, and so on.
    Instead, I'm amazed to now realise that some guys have eyelashes that are just a tiny bit longer as usual, and it sure seduce unconsciously a lot of people they met, in a childlike or sensuous way.

    One day, I met a straight guy, that have eyes exactly as if he had used khôl to underlined it, but his eyes are naturaly so. Amazing, isn't it ?!

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  25. About two weeks after I've read about no mascara/dark lip trend I got an infection in my left eye, so I couldn't use any eye make up at all. So, I decided to practice this knew trend (no mascara). I was wearing no make up at all (It was a very hot and humid August) and a deep plum lipstick.
    To my greatest surprise, I felt comfortable and even liked the look very much! Even though, I noticed that I've started to attract curious glances of the people.
    In three days the infection passed, so I was back to use eye make up.
    But it was an interesting experience, because when you apply a different look-it pushes you to describe yourself in a different, unusual and sometimes even uncomfortable manner-so it does makes a difference! :)

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  26. @ Simone

    http://www.filmofilia.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/tilda-swinton-535x356.jpg Tilda Swinton with mascara & maybe falsies! She does look quite pretty with it in my opinion ;3


    I have naturally black eyelashes that curl up on their own.. I guess I'm lucky reading all these comments, but I do say that mascara jazzes them up even more!

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  27. I don't think I would... my lashes are terrible without mascara!
    These models look fine as they are naturally gorgeous but I need mascara!!


    Confessions of a Beautyholic

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  28. I'm writing this in December 2012, and it seems that mascara is still going strong.
    I'm 48, with blessedly decent skin, and I look my youngest *with* curled lashes and mascara.
    I use Blinc mascara, which looks smooth and glossy, and I comb through my lashes with a metal lash comb, after two light coats of mascara. I also use neutral eyeshadows and powder eyeliner, and the effect is very soft and flattering.
    All that to say: Makeup is intended to make the wearer look healthy and appealing. If a "trend" makes you look "old and tired," I say skip it.
    Do what works for YOU.

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