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Finally nailed that '90s alt reverie escapist look I’ve been dreaming of: achieved with a single drugstore cream shadow stick and a LOT of patience 🦇
Confession: I've always struggled with "soft glam." My heart belongs to smudgy liner and dramatic shadows, but lately, I've been fascinated by the reverie escapist aesthetic—think ethereal, almost otherworldly, but with a grounded, romantic touch. The challenge? How to achieve that dreamy, slightly undone vibe without looking like I'd just rolled out of bed or, worse, just painted on "natural" makeup. My goal was a delicate, lived-in luminescence, perfect for pondering poetry in a forgotten garden, not a forced glow. Here's how I tackled creating a soft, wistful look that feels more "old painting" than "polished influencer," leaning into that reverie escapist inspiration: The Inspiration: Pre-Raphaelite art, foggy forest mornings, the feeling of old lace and whispered secrets. I wanted to capture a sense of being lost in thought, beautiful in its quietness. Base - Skin, Not Mask: Instead of full coverage, I focused on evening out tone while letting my actual skin texture show through. "Skin Tint": Maybelline Fit Me Tinted Moisturizer (around $10). I used just a few drops, applied very sparsely with my fingers and pressed into the skin. The idea wasn't to cover, but to subtly blur. Spot Concealing: NYX Bare With Me Concealer Serum (around $8). I used a tiny bit on any redness or spots, tapping it in with a small, fluffy brush so it blended seamlessly without a visible edge. Eyes - Ethereal Wash: This is where the dreaminess truly comes to life. Lid Wash: Glossier Cloud Paint in 'Puff' (a soft, cool pink, around $20). Yes, blush on the eyes! I dabbed a tiny amount onto the center of my lid and blended it outwards and slightly upwards with my ring finger. It gives this translucent, slightly tear-stained, romantic hue that's hard to get with traditional eyeshadow. Subtle Definition: An almost dried-out brown kohl liner (my trusty Rimmel ScandalEyes Kohl Liner, around $5) was lightly smudged only at the upper lash line. Then, I took a clean, fluffy brush and blended it until it was just a whisper of shadow, not a defined line. Lashes: A single, thin coat of a curling mascara (L'Oréal Voluminous Lash Paradise, around $10) on the top lashes only. I focused on wiggling it at the roots to lift, not on adding bulk or drama. Cheeks & Lips - Whispered Flush: Keeping the whole look cohesive and softly flushed. Cheeks: More Glossier Cloud Paint in 'Puff'. A tiny dot, blended high on the cheekbones and slightly into the temples, mimicking a natural flush from a cool breeze or quiet contemplation. Lips: A sheer, balm-like lipstick. I used ELF Hydrating Core Lip Shine in 'Delightful' (around $5) and then blotted it once or twice. The goal was a soft, slightly blurred stain, not a crisp, defined lip. Time Invested: Surprisingly, only about 15-20 minutes. It's more about strategic placement and diffused blending than precise application. Real Talk & Lessons Learned: My first few attempts at this definitely veered into "mild allergic reaction" territory or just looked like I hadn't slept in days. The absolute key was less product than I thought I needed and more blending than I felt was necessary. Applying the Cloud Paint too heavily on the eyes looked jarring and sickly, not dreamy. The real magic happened when I treated it more like a watercolor—sheer layers, built up ever so slightly. A big surprise was how well the Glossier Cloud Paint worked as an eyeshadow base; it truly delivered that sheer, almost watercolour effect without creasing aggressively through the day. And letting my natural skin texture show, rather than aiming for "flawless," made the look feel much more authentic to the reverie escapist vibe. It's about enhancing a soft focus, not hiding imperfections. This look is surprisingly approachable for beginners, as it relies heavily on finger application and diffused blending, making sharp lines or complex layering unnecessary. This look might not be for everyone, but it was a really interesting dive into how to achieve a delicate, thoughtful aesthetic without feeling overly "done" or like I was trying to fit into a traditional beauty mold. It felt authentic to a different kind of beauty—one that values introspection and softness. If you're exploring unconventional makeup styles or want to connect with fellow alt beauty lovers, join us at r/AltBeautyHub—we share creative experiments, practical techniques, and honest product reviews for literary gothic, chaotic curator, reverie escapist, functionalist, and '90s alt aesthetics. Come share your own explorations! submitted by /u/solopassions to r/AltBeautyHub [link] [comments]
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reddit.com |
solopassions |
Feb 25, 2026 |
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Finally mastered that '90s alt smeared lip with a chaotic curator twist: (Hint: it involves a cream blush and no lip liner) 🦇
You know that feeling when you see an art piece or an old photo that just screams a vibe, and you think, "Can I actually put that on my face without looking like I lost a fight with a glitter bomb?" That was me last week, diving headfirst into a 'chaotic curator' inspired eye look for a low-key coffee shop visit. The goal: embrace asymmetry and unexpected textures, but still look like I meant it, not like I just rolled out of bed with last night's eyeliner. Here's how that experiment unfolded: Concept: Blending muted, almost "dusty" tones with a sudden pop of unconventional shimmer, echoing the accidental beauty of a cluttered artist's studio or an artfully disheveled display. My vision leaned heavily into the 'chaotic curator' aesthetic, where intentional disarray is the ultimate statement. Key Products Used: Base: A matte cream eyeshadow stick in a warm taupe (drugstore brand, approx. $8). Applied this somewhat messily all over the lid. Main Shadow: A deep, slightly desaturated teal matte eyeshadow (from a larger indie palette, individual pan approx. $6). This was concentrated on the outer V and smudged under the lower lash line. The "Pop" Element: A chunky, multi-chrome glitter paste with a green-to-blue shift (indie brand, approx. $15). This was my wild card, the unexpected art piece. Liner: A smudgy kohl pencil in dark brown (approx. $10). Brows: Just clear brow gel to keep them natural and a bit unruly, matching the unpolished vibe. Application & Technique: The taupe cream stick was swiped on, then blended out with a finger, intentionally leaving some edges soft and undefined – a foundation for the chaos. The matte teal was packed on with a flat brush, then softly diffused with a fluffy brush, letting it blend into the taupe base without aiming for a perfectly clean transition. Here's where it got truly experimental: I dabbed the multi-chrome glitter only on the center of the right eyelid with a flat synthetic brush, completely skipping the left eye. The idea was intentional asymmetry, like an unexpected jewel placed amidst other objects. The kohl liner was smudged along the upper lash line, then blended out with a small brush to blur it, not create a crisp, defined line. Time Invested: Roughly 20 minutes for the eyes. The rest of my face was minimal – tinted moisturizer and a touch of blush to keep the focus on the eye. Inspiration: The layered, slightly unfinished quality of a maximalist art installation, or the unexpected glint of an antique amidst everyday objects. Definitely pulling from a modern 'chaotic curator' energy. Okay, confession time: the first pass with the glitter was... a lot. I initially tried to apply it to both eyes and it looked less "curated chaos" and more "I spilled craft supplies on my face and ran out the door." I ended up wiping off the left eye's glitter completely and toning down the right by gently pressing a clean finger over it to remove some excess, leaving just a concentrated, slightly chunky gleam. It wasn't the "perfect" application you see in glossy tutorials, but the smudgy, almost lived-in feel was exactly what I wanted for that unpolished vibe. The asymmetry felt a bit daring at first, making me wonder if I'd look like I forgot a step, but it quickly became the most interesting and defining part of the look. Definitely learned that sometimes, less is more, especially when you're trying to make chaos look intentional. If you're exploring unconventional makeup styles, trying to translate wild inspiration into wearable art, or just want to connect with fellow alt beauty lovers who appreciate honest experimentation over perfection, join us at r/AltBeautyHub. We share creative experiments, practical techniques, and honest product reviews across all sorts of aesthetics, from literary gothic and chaotic curator to reverie escapist, functionalist, and '90s alt. Come share your triumphs and your "oops" moments – we're all about real talk and genuine inspiration. submitted by /u/solopassions to r/AltBeautyHub [link] [comments]
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reddit.com |
solopassions |
Feb 11, 2026 |
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Finally figured out how to nail that '90s alt hazy blush look I've been dreaming of: (Used a single cream blush and my fingers to blend) 🌙
I've been seeing a lot of chatter lately about "underpainting" – that technique where you apply contour, blush, and highlight under your foundation for a super seamless, sculpted look. But as someone who leans more into the soft blur of a reverie escapist aesthetic or the artful imperfection of a chaotic curator, I found myself wondering: could I twist this technique to create something softer, more diffused, even a little... unearthly? My mission became clear: achieve a dreamy, almost smudged effect using mostly drugstore finds, aiming for a whisper of color rather than sharp definition. This wasn't about a sculpted jawline; it was about creating a hazy aura. Here's how my experiment unfolded: The Vibe Check: My aesthetic inspiration leaned heavily into faded renaissance paintings, the soft focus of old photography, and that "just woke up from a very interesting dream" feeling. Less "structured," more "aura." My Toolkit (Mostly Drugstore Gems): For the "Underpainting" Layer: Contour: e.l.f. Halo Glow Contour Wand in Light/Medium ($9) - Applied with the lightest hand imaginable. Blush: Milani Cheek Kiss Liquid Blush in Nude Flush ($9.99) - Dabbed on with fingers, not a brush. Highlight: Maybelline Facestudio Master Strobing Stick in Nude ($9.99) - For a very subtle sheen, not a beam. For the Diffusing "Overpainting" Base: Foundation: L'Oréal True Match Hyaluronic Tinted Serum in W3-4 ($19.99) - Light coverage was key here, something breathable. Finishing Touches & Eyes: Inner Corner Brightness: NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil in Milk ($5) - Smudged lightly near the inner corner. Lashes: essence Lash Princess False Lash Effect Mascara ($4.99) - Just a touch, not full drama. Lips: NYX Suede Matte Lip Liner in Soft-Spoken ($4.99) - Used to softly diffuse the lip line. Setting Powder (minimal): e.l.f. Halo Glow Setting Powder ($8) - A light dusting only on the T-zone to prevent shine. The Technique & Time Investment: Prep: A light moisturizer, no primer. I wanted things to meld, not sit on top. Underpainting: I applied microscopic dots of the contour and blush, then immediately blended with my fingers. The goal wasn't a line, but a soft stain. The highlight went on the high points, tapped in. This delicate dance took about 5-7 minutes. "Overpainting" (Foundation): The tinted serum went on with a damp beauty sponge, lightly tapping over the "underpainting." The crucial part was not to disturb the colors too much, but to let the serum act as a veil, diffusing them. This added another 3-4 minutes. Finishing: Eyes, lips, and powder were quick – maybe 5 minutes max. Total time: Roughly 15-20 minutes. Not a rush, but definitely not an hour-long commitment. Real Talk: The Glorious Mess & Lessons Learned Okay, so here's the honest truth: my first attempt looked... muddy. I'd used just a tiny bit too much contour, and when the tinted serum went on, it just looked like a patchy, unwell attempt at a tan. Lesson learned: when aiming for diffused, less is genuinely more. The second time, I truly used what felt like microscopic dots of product. Another surprise was how much the type of foundation mattered. A thicker, full-coverage formula would have totally obscured the soft colors underneath, defeating the whole "veil" purpose. The tinted serum was perfect because it let the colors show through like a watercolor wash, creating that hazy effect I was after. Did it look like "traditional" underpainting, with crisp definition and a perfectly carved cheekbone? Absolutely not. It lacked that sharp precision. But that was the whole point! It achieved this soft, almost blurred effect that felt very much in line with that reverie escapist vibe – like my face had been painted with a soft, ethereal filter. It was a pleasant surprise how a technique meant for sharpness could be bent towards softness. If you're out there exploring unconventional makeup styles, twisting techniques to fit your own unique aesthetic, or just want to connect with fellow alt beauty lovers, I'd love for you to join us. At r/AltBeautyHub, we share creative experiments, practical techniques, and honest product reviews for styles like literary gothic, chaotic curator, reverie escapist, functionalist, and '90s alt aesthetics. Come share your real talks, your successes, and your glorious failures – we're all about the journey here. submitted by /u/solopassions to r/AltBeautyHub [link] [comments]
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reddit.com |
solopassions |
Feb 5, 2026 |
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[Offer: Sell, US only] BITE, Guerlain, Kevyn Aucoin SSE, LORAC MEGA PRO, MAC LE, theBalm blush, lots of drugstore $1 items
Please buy my stuff. Brass tacks: US only at this time, unless you'd like to buy 10+ items. I will swap for items on my wish list and probably won't look at swap lists. Prices do not include shipping but I am flexible. You can have as many free things as you want without buying anything else, but you have to pay for shipping and maybe $1 for packaging. Prices are negotiable, except for the Lorac Mega Pro. I will sell the Mega Pro palette for what I paid (about $68, shipping not included) unless anyone wants to offer more. Please comment below; after 24 hours (6:00PM PST tomorrow) I will sell to the first person to comment OR to the highest bidder. I will sell first PAY, first served. If someone comments after you but is ready to pay before you are, the other person may get your item. I apologize in advance if this seems unfair or leads to any disappointment. My explanation is that I'm not running a business, just trying to pay for/recover from my addiction. I reserve the right to not sell to new accounts. PayPal only. Please let me know if you have any questions or if I've been unclear anywhere! Flair here. Verification here. Another WISHLIST Anastasia Amrezy palette (I would buy this, too) High end lipsticks (BITE, Givenchy, NARS Audacious, etc.) FOR SALE Armani Eyes to Kill mascara: black (full size, used 4x) $10 Bare Minerals powder eyeliner: Bark (dark brown, sample, BN) SOLD Benefit Dallas lip gloss (used 1x) $5 Benefit Erase Paste: Medium (DS, used 1x) $3 Benefit Watt’s Up (DS, BN) SOLD BITE Beauty high pigment pencil 2013 holiday gift set: Quince, Cranberry, Rhubarb, Madeira (DS, BNIB) SOLD BITE Beauty lipstick duo: Lychee ONLY (Musk fell out and broke, not included, RIS, 80% remaining) SOLD BITE Beauty lip gloss: Cocoa (nude pink, .06 oz DS, swatched) $3 Bobbi Brown lipstick: Baby (nude, used 1x) $10 Burt’s Bees lip crayon: Napa Valley (deep red, used 1x) SOLD Buxom Divine Goddess luminizer (.23 oz DS, swatched) $4 Buxom lash mascara, 1 left: black (DS, BNIB) $3 Clinique CC Cream: Light (DS, BNIB) SOLD Clinique Chubby Stick lipgloss: Super Strawberry (full size, used 4x) $4 Covergirl jumbo lip gloss: Apricot (used 1x) free ELF HD blush: Encore (hot pink, used 1x) SOLD ELF Blush and contour palette (swatched) free Epically Epic Soap Co. lip balm: Anjou Pear (opal shimmer, used 1x) SOLD Fresh for Sephora birthday gift Sugar lip treatments: Original and Rose (DS, BNIB) SOLD Fyrinnae pixie epoxy (1.5 ml sample, BN) SOLD Guerlain rouge automatique LE: Attrape-Coeur (bright pink, used 1x) $30 Hourglass blush: Diffused Heat (BNIB) $27 Josie Maran argan oil (no size, but small) SOLD Josie Maran coconut watercolor cheek gelee: Pink Escape (.095 oz DS, swatched) SOLD Julep Sweep eyeshadow palette x2: Neutral (really good quality but I have dupes, BNIB) $3 Kat von D everlasting liquid lipstick: Jeffree (bright pale pink, used 1x) SOLD Kevyn Aucoin Sensual Skin Enhancer: S05 (light with yellow/neutral undertones, full size, used 3x, 99.9% remaining) SOLD Korres lip butter: Jasmine (pale pink, in tube, not tub, BNIB) $8 Laura Mercier caviar stick: Pink Opal (swatched) $18 Laura Mercier kohl eyeliners: Black Gold, Sone Slate, Black Violet, Stormy Grey, Brown Copper (set of five/will split up, used 0-4x each, not sharpened) ALL SOLD Laura Mercier lip stain: Mulberry (used 1x) $9 Laura Mercier mascara (DS; BN) SOLD Lipstick Queen: Saint Berry (brown red, used 1x) SOLD Lorac lip lustre gloss: Rudy Lustre (swatched) $2 Lorac Mega Pro eyeshadow palette (LE, BNIB) SOLD Lorac Unzipped palette SOLD Lorac Stylist palette (8 shadows and two highlights, gold shadow crushed and repressed, another nicked, rest swatched) $9 L’Oreal lipsticks x2: Jennifer’s nude (used 1x), Juliann’s nude (used 1x) $2 each MAC pro long wear blush: Rosy Outlook (pink, used 1x) $15 MAC lipstick: On Hold (pale red with gold shimmer, used 1x) $9 MAC LE lipstick: Toying Around (bright red, used 2x) $16; Strange Journey[sold] (pumpkin red, used 1x) $18; Watch Me Simmer[sold] (hot pink, RIS, used 1x, 95% remaining); Mystical[sold] (deep pink, BNIB) Marc Jacobs lash lifter gel volume mascara: Blaquer (DS, BN) SOLD Maybelline instant age rewind concealer: Fair (used 1x) SOLD Maybelline baby skin primer (used 3x, at least 80% remaining) SOLD Maybelline color tattoos LE: Beige-ing Beauty (nude shimmer, used 1x); Caramel Cool (orange copper, used 1x), Stroke of Midnight (black shimmer, used 1x) $6 each Maybelline color whisper: Lust for Blush (used 1x) SOLD Milani blush: Luminoso (used 1x) SOLD Milani lipstick: Dulce Caramello (shimmer nude, used 1x); Naturally Chic (brown pink, used 1x) SOLD MUFE aqua shadow eye crayon: 20E (copper, swatched); 28E (sold) (rose gold, swatched) $4 for 20E NARS lipstick: Dolce Vita (RIS, 80% remaining) SOLD NARS sheer glow foundation: Deauville (RIS, 30% remaining) SOLD NYX Butter lipstick: Fireball (used 2x); Little Susie (used 1x) SOLD NYX lipliner: Citrus (swatched) SOLD NYX lipstick: Hippie Chic (peach, used 1x); Paparazzi (deep pink, used 1x) SOLD NYX Love in Florence eyeshadow palettes x2: Ciao Bella (coral/grey, 1-2 shades swatched); Prima Donna (purples, BNIB) $2 each NYX Love in Paris eyeshadow palette: Let Them Eat Cake (warm colors, 3-4 shades swatched) $2 NYX simply vamp x2: Bewitching (burgundy red, used 1x)SOLD; Temptress (grape, used 1x) SOLD NYX soft matte lip cream: Copenhagen (dark burgundy, used 1x) SOLD Revlon lip butters x3: Sweet Tart (used 1x); Sugar Plum (used 1x)SOLD, Wild Watermelon (used 1x)SOLD free Revlon Just Bitten kissable balm stain: Honey (nude ink, used 2x); Complex (matte nude, swatched); Cherish (pink shimmer, used 1x) $2 for Honey, others sold Rimmel lasting finish by Kate lipstick: 1 (nude, used 1x) $1 Rimmel moisture renew lipsticks x2: Coral Garden (used 1x); Violet Pop (used 1x)SOLD $1 each Sephora eyeshadow duo: Gorgeous Pink (pink/purple, used 1x) free Sephora Green Eyes eyeshadow palette (green, gold, and purples, swatched) $3 Sleek Arabian Nights eyeshadow palette (some shades swatched, most unused) SOLD Smashbox eyeliner x2: Indigo Ink (BN); Onyx (BN) $3 each Smashbox eyeshadow palette: Flash (pinks and plums, from holiday 2013 collection, swatched) $5 Stila color balm lipstick x3: Ali (brown pink, RIS, 80% remaining) $4; Gabrielle (nude pink, used 1x); Avery (nude pink, used 1x) $10 each Stila lipgloss x2: Star Fruit (BNIB), Guava (BNIB) SOLD Tarina Tarantino conditioning lip sheen: Cameo (nude pink, used 1x) $6 Tarte Amazonian Escape blush and shadow palette (LE, BNIB) SOLD Tarte cheek stain x2: Fantasy (pink peach shimmer, DS, swatched) $4; Flush (sheer dark pink, DS, BN) $4 theBalm blushes: Bahama Mama (matte bronzer, 98% remaining); Hot Mama (comparable to NARS Orgasm, used 2x); Cabana Boy[sold] (pink plum, swatched) $10 each theBalm Balms Away makeup remover (used 2x) $6 theBalm Put a Lid On It eye primer (full size, used 1x) $8 theBalm Schwing eyeliner: Black (used 1x) $2 Too Faced La Creme lipstick: Bon Bon (RIS, 80% remaining) SOLD Too Faced primed and poreless (DS, used 1x) SOLD Too Faced Shadow Insurance primer (full size, BNIB) $15 Urban Decay 24-hr eyeliners: Stash (full size, 80% remaining) SOLD; Black Market, West[sold], Riot, Zero, Ink (used 0-1X, unsharpened) $3 each; Bourbon (80% remaining) SOLD Urban Decay Mariposa eyeshadow palette (some shadows swatched, some unused, brush unused) $25 Urban Decay revolution lipstick: Manic (deep red, used 2x) $10 Urban Decay super saturated lip color: Lovechild (pale pink, used 1x) $9 Wet ’n Wild Andy Warhol eyeshadow palette: Your 15 Minutes Aren’t up! (yellow, purple, pink, LE, BNIB) $1 PERFUME Ralph Lauren 4 for women: rollerball (BNIB) $5 Tokyo Milk: Bulletproof (mini rollerball, used 1X) SOLD MISC Chella Ivory Lace highlighter (used 2x) SOLD China Glaze: It’s a Trap-eze! (multi glitter in white base, used 1x) SOLD Essie nail polish: On a silver platter (silver, gold, and ark blue glitter, used 1x) SOLD Everyday Minerals refillable puff jar (for powder makeup on the go, BN) $1 It’s a 10 miracle leave-in with keratin hair treatment (BNIB) SOLD John Frieda Frizz Ease 3-days straight hair treatment (DS, BNIB) $2 Japonesque eyelash curler $8 Juice Beauty hydrating mist (BN) SOLD Julep nail polish: Ariana (purple with glitter, BNIB); Nan (dark peach pumpkin, BNIB) $2 each; America (red, white, and blue glitter, BNIB) ALL SOLD Michael Todd pumpkin face mask (1 oz, BN) SOLD Mor Cosmetics lip gloss: Pale pink (swatched, with decorative box) free OPI Push and Shove plus primer (mirror finish, unused but bottle is damaged - some pink polish spilled on it, does not affect product) $5 Pacifica color quench lip tint: Blood orange (used 1x) SOLD Philosophy Amazing Grace lotion (1 oz sample, BN) SOLD Rosebud salve (full size, used 4x) SOLD Sally Hansen X-treme Wear: Ice pop (rainbow glitter, used 1x) $1 Stila travel brush set and case: eyeshadow brush, buffer, crease, liner, concealer (crease used 1x, all others unused BN) $8 Tarte eyelash curler $5 Trader Joe’s pumpkin body butter (8 oz, BN sealed) SOLD submitted by /u/totawyawone to r/makeupexchange [link] [comments]
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reddit.com |
totawyawone |
Nov 4, 2014 |