Being Geek Chic is a blog for stylish geeks, sophisticated nerds and people who enjoy the musings of a complete dork. Join us as we dream of driving the TARDIS, cuddle with our eBooks and test out an iPad sleeve. It's written by Elizabeth Giorgi and a team of brilliant lady nerds. Meet the team.
I’m not much of a girly-girl. I like black clothes. Gray on an adventurous day. Nothing weirds me out more than a floral pattern. And I’ve certainly never mastered the “smoky eye” - but I do want to look nice. Looking nice is key. And so I’ve set out on what one might call a scientific experiment to sort out the way to look nice without looking overdone. I’ve also got terminally dry skin, which is something the entire beauty industry doesn’t seem to think exists.
I had to put this in the frame of scientific pursuit in order to justify the high price tag of beauty products, but also because I feel as a dry skin person, we are oft ignored. Apparently the entire world A. doesn’t live in Minnesota or B. is sweating. After much work, this dry fleshed girl is pleased with the results.
So every face must start clean. Wash it once a day or twice a day, but no matter what, if you have dry skin like me you must use something that is chemical free. I like Derma E Face Cleanser. Chemicals = “dryness.” Be kind to your epidermis and spend the extra money.
Now, before I pat my face down with a rough towel, I put two nice droplets of Josie Maran Argan Oil into my hands and rub it over my damp face. The towel rubbing only aggravates the skin.
Once my face feels clean and moisturized, I use the Josie Maran Argan Stick to add extra hardcore moisture to my super dry regions. My T-Zone and eyebrows are a trouble spot for me, so I just rub it all over those spots. My whole face now starts to feel properly moisturized and smells super awesome. Josie Maran’s products are 100% organic, but that doesn’t mean they smell like Patchouli. I like that. Next I add a nice thin layer of Clinique Continuous Coverage. I know it doesn’t matter much right now, but the SPF will be nice in the warmer months.
Next, it’s time for some color. I then brush a nice bit of Physician’s Formula SPF Bronzer over my forehead, nose and just under my cheekbones followed by some Sonia Kashuk Blush. I hate a glittery blush as I am not a ballerina or a 15 year old. This Target brand does the trick.
To finish it up, I add a bit of Neutrogena Lip Balm that’s got a bit of color in it just for the extra splash of rouge while getting more moisture.
To recap, I’m using:
I’m not even going to pretend to give you general beauty tips, but this has been a proven method to prevent my skin flaking off all winter and as we know, prevent zombie face. Minnesotans can get a bit of a zombie look this time of year from the pale skin and it skin falling off only makes it worse. These steps seems to have given me the right mix for preventing such zombie/human confusion.
Every great year starts with a ton of new books… so why not start off my weekly list that way:
1. Moranthology
Caitlin Moran’s How to Be a Woman was a bit of genius, but this book… jeez man. I feel like I know this woman. Or I want to be friends with her. I can’t recommend it enough.
P.S. SO MANY BRILLIANT SHERLOCK AND DOCTOR WHO REFERENCES!
2. One Up Makeup
This is the cutest idea and it comes courtesy of myriad internet girl geeks including The Geeky Hostess and The Geeky Peacock. Go subscribe to their adorable videos.
Honestly, my eyes have been SO exhausted lately. It couldn’t possibly be from all the screen time, right?! And the list of free books is amazing. You can find that here. (P.S. Lots of Sherlock Holmes books are freebies…)
4. Get the Hobbit House Look
So I wrote this piece for Apartment Therapy this week about how to make your home look like it’s right out of the Shire. Turns out, not many of their readers want that look… which is a real bummer. But you might! And I think there is lots to love there.
I also wrote this:
Best of 2012: DIY Tech Accessories
This outfit post is brought to you by the letter P.
I’m wearing:
Lookmatic Apprentice Frame
Zac Posen for Target Cardigan (old)
Striped tee from Express (old)
Black pencil skirt from Theory (old, but similar here, but also watch at TJ Maxx, that’s where I got mine)
Steve Madden Leopard Wedges (old, similar here)
Tory Burch Dean Metallic hobo bag (old)
I’m always looking for a new way to make my manicure pop. I’m not into the crackle trend and I’m certainly not a girl who sports French tips. That’s why I love this trick.
After you paint your nails, use this simple trick to make your nails pop for free.
All you need is a Sharpie!
1. Paint your nails the standard way. Let them dry. Do NOT apply a top coat just yet.
2. Draw on your shape of choice. I’ve done a lightning bolt (LEFT) for the Harry Potter premiere. I once spelled out the word “LOVE” on Valentine’s and the Apple logo for when the iPhone 4 came out. This works with all types of Sharpie colors, including the Paint pens. I love the gold ones… A used a gold one to make a heart on my thumb in this video. (You can see it best at the 0:56 mark.)
3. Let it dry for a couple hours. Just go do something for a while. Then, put the top coat on. If you put the top coat on the Sharpie marker too soon, it will be bleed and make a mess.
Enjoy!
You need:
Nail polish
Sharpie
Top Coat
Urban Decay just posted some clearance closeouts on their cosmetics, which you really can’t beat.
Their Urban Decay tinted moisturizer regularly priced $32 is now $4.
Here’s some other great deals:
Cream Shadow in eight different colors, regularly $17, now $2 each.
Loose pigment colors, regularly $20, now $1 each.
If you’re not familiar with Urban Decay products, their cosmetics are organic, non-animal tested and paraben free. I can vouch that they are some of my favorite products out there. Go check out all the sale items here. No expiration date, they’re on sale until they’re gone, so go snap them up.
Shipping is $6, which doesn’t quite kill the deal, but stock up so it keeps price per item down.
Tangled
The Lion King
Aladdin
The Nightmare Before Christmas
Alice in Wonderland
Snow White
(Source: themostbeautifulfraud, via katiealves)
