Dressing Up As The Quarantine Queen For Halloween 2020

October 27, 2020


I'm going to be honest with you, I'm sad that Halloween is basically nonexistent this year. Obviously there are no parties this year, no trick or treating (not that I've done that in ages), no costume contests at bars...as a fashion lover, picking a costume and dressing up for Halloween is so fun because I get to unleash my creativity. In the past I've gone as Ariana Grande, Eleven, and Chanel No. 3 to name a few of my pop culture inspired ensembles. Back in February when I saw Birds of Prey I had already decided that Harley Quinn's iconic caution tape fringe jacket would for sure be my costume...


Of course, that was before coronavirus became widespread. As much as I would have rocked Harley's outfit, let's be real: that is made for a party, so we'll have to save it for some other time.


However, I still wanted to dress up as something, if only to take pictures for the 'gram (and the blog!) so I did some brainstorming and decided it was the perfect occasion to dress up as my favorite Disney princess, Rapunzel!



Locked in a tower, isolated from friends, growing bored of activities, in a kingdom called CORONA!? Hello, could she be any more perfect for this moment? Knowing that I was heading up to our mountain cabin for a week and that the woods outside would make for an iconic backdrop, I found this costume on Amazon, ordered some fake flowers to clip to my hair, and even brought back my Ariana Grande ponytail extension for round two. I knew there was a reason I kept it around!



Are you dressing up for Halloween? What's your costume?

The Joys Of Doing Makeup For No Reason

October 24, 2020

I've been working from home for 7 months now with no signs of going back to the office anytime soon and the height of my daily social interactions is picking up my ordered-ahead iced latte at Starbucks. I haven't gone to a restaurant in ages, let alone a party. I see most of my friends over FaceTime and Zoom calls. A wild weekend night lately is staying up until midnight watching a classic movie on my watchlist, maybe with a glass of wine and some Postmate-d sushi.


Yup, that's how thrilling my life is these days.


Despite all that, though, I've been putting on makeup almost every day, no matter if I'm venturing out to Alfred Coffee or just sitting at my desk doing work. For one, you never know when a colleague is going to spring a Zoom meeting on you, and let's be real, I have a reputation to uphold of looking put together, even in quarantine!


But beyond that, I genuinely have loved playing around with makeup while hanging out at home. I know it seems a bit pointless to get all dolled up with literally nowhere to go (and don't even get me started on the lipstick + mask dilemma) but it's a small little thing that makes me feel put together for the day and genuinely good in the face of depressing times.


My growing obsession with TikTok (you can follow me here if you want!) and learning all about makeup from incredible creators (a few of my favorites to follow for tips are @mikaylanogueira, @bexcxmpbell and @daniellemarcan) has inspired me to try new products, experiment with bold eyeshadow colors, and extend beyond my typical five minute routine to achieve that "barely there" makeup look.


We know I've always loved a bright lipstick, but I've never been particularly skilled at eyeshadow looks. However, after months of experimentation, I'm now pretty adept at a winged eyeliner and have even tried a cut crease look or two. I've pulled out palettes that have been sitting in my makeup drawer for ages and have followed tutorials for no-heat waves and other fun hairstyles. I even purchased the Revlon blow-dry brush that everyone is obsessed with on TikTok.


Sure, I may not be hitting the town in my fancy makeup, but I can always share my looks to social media and use that as a way to make sure my makeup efforts live on beyond my bathroom mirror. And above everything else, it makes me feel happy, and honestly, I think we could all use a little bit more joy these days wherever we can find it.


Here are a few of my favorite beauty items I've discovered during quarantine:

A little concealer under the eyes and a dab across any red spots is usually all I need, and it's a real game changer for looking awake and ready on those Monday morning Zoom calls. I love that this concealer covers redness without feeling too heavy or drying, too.

This hot pink lip gloss is great for achieving that "your lips, but better" look, and I'll usually swipe it on before any video meetings or if I'm filming a TikTok!
Okay, I just bought this hair dryer brush last week but I am already obsessed. It makes my hair look like it was done at the salon, and I went 5 days without washing my hair the first time after using this because my hair stayed clean, fresh, and straight for so long!
I am prone to oily eyelids, so I'll often spot eyeliner melted onto my eyebrows halfway through the day. This Stila eyeliner lasts all day, though, and the felt tip makes it easy to draw on smooth cat eyes and other wings. When wearing a mask outside, you gotta make sure your eye makeup is on point since that's what people will see, so this eyeliner is a must.


What's been your approach to makeup during quarantine? I'm curious to hear everyone's thoughts!