I am having what I have taken to calling a Slug Week. It happens at least once a month these days. I work and eat and sleep, achieving little in my supposedly ‘free’ time. I spend many hours on social media — not posting, just lurking. I forget to text my friends and call my family. I can’t write or read or do anything beyond paying the barest bit of attention to the TV while scrolling through Instagram/Reddit/Tumblr (yeah, Tumblr… sometimes you need your comfort blanket, okay). Seeing it all written out, it sounds grim, but experiencing it is almost pleasant in a “no thoughts, head empty” kind of way.
I know we’re all having our own personal Slug Weeks/Days/Months during this pan dulce, but I don’t find much comfort in the well-meaning tweets telling me to go easy on myself, that it’s okay to just exist right now. I keep thinking of Station Eleven — my favourite novel, probably? — which just happens to be set in the aftermath of a devastating flu pandemic. “Survival is insufficient” is the motto of the travelling troupe of actors at the centre of the story, and to me it fits the general mood right now, too. We’ve spent over a year in this weird, traumatic soup and we’re ready to trade ‘existing’ for ‘living’, please.
Perhaps because of this, watching people make their various beauty appointments over the past week has been delightful. Everyone is so excited, and I’m so excited for everyone. Brows! Nails! Hair! These things are small in the grand scheme of things, but still. There’s a glimmer of hope in a neon orange gel manicure. A slice of optimism in a head full of foils. It’s going to be great to be frivolous again. Survival is insufficient.
And now, because it’s my beauty newsletter and I can segue if I want to, here are three quick and easy makeup bits that have been lifting me out of my Slug Weeks.
Charlotte Tilbury Eyes to Mesmerise in Star Gold
I haven’t had the energy for massively involved eyeshadow looks for ages, so my ‘one and done’ products have really been earning their keep. This is a beautiful coppery-gold shade that complements my green eyes — it’s so easy to throw on and looks wonderful paired with some rosy blush (Fenty Beauty Cheeks Out in Strawberry Drip, for example). The mousse-y formula is lovely — it creases on me, but very few eye products do not, and TBH it looks fine regardless. Just a no-nonsense bit of eyeshadow.
Suva Beauty liner palettes in UV Taffies and UV Brights
Speaking of ‘one and done’ eye looks, I have been leaning heavily on these palettes for quick, impactful makeup. There are lots of brands doing water-activated cake liners these days, so I wouldn’t say you need these ones in particular, but I like having a few shades in one palette (and the inclusion of the little brush). For my past few silly little weekend outings I’ve done the neon blue, pastel yellow, and orange. There’s something very cool about coloured liner to me and I feel cool when I’m wearing it. And that’s that.
Maybelline Lash Sensational Sky High mascara
AKA the TikTok mascara. Who am I to say no to a viral beauty trend, even if I’m a cynical old hag who believes said viral beauty trend was most likely engineered by the brand itself? (*cough* KVD Good Apple foundation *cough*) Maybelline mascaras are generally excellent, so I didn’t feel like I was taking too much of a risk picking this up — and yep, it’s great. It lengthens, curls, and separates, and I like that the brush is slightly flexible, meaning you can get right into those extremely important corner lashes. When I’m not wearing this, I’m bet into Glossier Lash Slick, which I repurchased with my #FriendsOfGlossier order. What an underrated mascara for a ‘my lashes but better’ daytime vibe! Which isn’t for everyone, I know, but it is most definitely for me.
Thank you for reading Vanity Project! Hopefully next time you see me I will be less sluglike. If you’d like to receive these newsletters straight into your inbox, why not subscribe?