Photo courtesy of Bows and Curtseys.
I know I’m not the only one curious about celebs and influencers’ favorite beauty buys as well as who and what shape their view of beauty in the biz.
Beauty has the ability to bring people from all walks of life together, whether it’s to bond over favorite beauty buys, trade application tips, or share solutions for different dilemmas. But Veronica Paige of the blog Bows and Curtseys, which is on the cusp of a comeback (so stay tuned), and I go back long before she launched her beauty blog and before I was ever an intern. As it turns out, it was the band Good Charlotte that not only brought us together but some of my most treasured friends via the GCNaptown message board—long before Facebook and MySpace were a thing.
Many of us from the message board have kept in touch as we’ve grown up and gone off to do our thing, which was why I was incredibly excited when Veronica launched her own beauty blog back in 2011. There, she shared her favorite products and tips along with all of her colorfully creative eye looks, often inspired by music (like her magnificent Muse album cover series), Tim Burton, and even Disney princesses. But she made a serious splash on social media when her now iconic rainbow liner look went viral. With her blog set to make a triumphant return, I wanted to find out who her beauty idols (hint, they’re all from the ’90s), the beauty secrets she loves to share, and, of course, what products she’s head over heels for at the moment.
One of Veronica’s ultimate beauty looks
Photo courtesy of Bows and Curtseys.
On her approach to beauty: “I would describe my approach to beauty as fun and not so serious. I love the fact that I can embody a certain mood or persona with makeup and it comes off at the end of the day. Then the next morning, you have a living, breathing blank canvas that is ready to be transformed again. I like to describe my style as a little bit whimsical, a little bit classic, and a little bit goth. My looks are never really ever the same and can be influenced by many different things like my mood, music, a poem or book I read, nature, science, photography, art…I am constantly being inspired. And I truly believe that makeup can be more than just making yourself to be ‘pretty,’ it’s also a great form of self-expression!”
Photo via @winonaryderofficial.
On her biggest beauty idols: “I’m an ’80s baby/’90s kid, so I grew up adoring Winona Ryder in Beetlejuice and Edward Scissorhands. I always loved her effortless, grungy yet classy aesthetic. I also really looked up to Gwen Stefani‘s style in the ’90s/’00s (pink hair and braces…I was enamored). Liv Tyler, Drew Barrymore, and Kate Moss are some others I also idolized. I also adore Kat Von D‘s romantic goth style and makeup looks.
On her first beauty buy: “I distinctly remember purchasing a frosty and super glittery baby blue roll-on eyeshadow and a pot of chunky body glitter from Limited Too when I was in the seventh grade, and I was on cloud nine! I felt like the coolest middle schooler ever.”
On the best beauty advice she’s received: “To never be afraid of expressing yourself with makeup and to never follow the rules. If you want to rock a bold lip with a smoky eye, then do it and ROCK IT!”
On favorite quick tip to share: “If you’re not a fan of mascara on your lower lashes because of the heaviness but still want a defined, doe-eyed effect, try using a single coat brown mascara on your lower lashes instead of the usual black. It’s all about the subtleties!”
Check out the favorite beauty buys on Veronica’s vanity below!
Photo courtesy of Bows and Curtseys.
- Too Faced Peach Perfect Comfort Matte Foundation, $36
“For years, I have been using Revlon’s Colorstay foundation in the oily/combination formula because it was the only foundation that controlled my oil without looking cakey or overdone. I have tried dozens upon dozens of different higher-end foundations and was never happy with the way my skin looked until one day I watched a review on YouTube for Too Faced’s Peach Perfect Comfort Matte Foundation and purchased it from Sephora that same day. OMG. My skin looks flawless all day and night, it’s matte but not too matte, it’s definitely lightweight and comfortable, and it smells divine (think peach tea and figs on a warm summer day).” - Colourpop Super Shock Highlighter in Flexitarian, $8.00
“Colourpop’s Super Shock Highlighter in Flexitarian has upped my highlighting game for sure; it’s an intense high-shine, wet-skin-looking highlight and can practically be seen from the ISS. And when I want an even more impactful shine, I layer a powdered highlight over it. High-impact glow with a small price tag of only $8.00! It is a must-have in my beauty arsenal. - Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Setting Powder, $38
“Last and certainly not least is Laura Mercier’s Translucent Loose Setting Powder. I have heard so much hype about this powder for years, especially for baking and setting concealer under the eyes, but I could not bring myself to spend almost $40 on a powder. One day, I decided to take the leap and I am never going back! It smooths out any fine lines and blurs my pores so beautifully and it doesn’t have [any] flashback. Definitely worth the hype and worth every penny!”