Geek Chic Lifestyle #6 Makeup (By Rebecca "Bonks" Rothschild)

Oh you thought I forgot about this one? HELL NO! Look, I have no problem with you all wanting to express yourselves or look a certain way. By all means go ahead and do whatever you want. Go ahead and do the sparkles and 300 billion colors on your eyelids to go to the grocery store, I will not judge you, BUT there may be some ramifications. For example, if you want to be taken seriously as an adult by someone who doesn't know you personally, you'll have a hard time with electric blue, eye shadow mousse caked on like frosting. Mainly because they'll be too busy staring at your eyes to really pay attention to anything you're saying.

Remember this look? Sure she had a job, but that was T.V. No one in their right mind would hire anyone walking into an interview looking like this unless they had one insanely impressive resume, I mean untouchable resume. Keep this image in mind as exactly what not to do.

So, tip number one for this segement: TONE IT DOWN!!! There is a right place and a right time to go bat shit insane with your makeup, work, thanksgiving and first dates are not really ideal times. Now let's break this down.

Foundation, the name says it all. It lays down the foundation for your look, evens the skin and helps hold eye shadow and blush in place. Rules I will not let you break are as follows:

1. FOUNDATION MUST MATCH YOUR SKIN TONE!!! IF YOU CAN'T FIND A MATCH, YOU'RE NOT LOOKING HARD ENOUGH. Use the underside of your wrist as a guide to help you find a good match. If you put the foundation on your wrist, it should blend really well, that's how you know you have a winner.

2. YOU ARE NOT A CAKE! How many layers of foundation do you ladies think you need? Piling it on does not cover more flaws, it's makes them more noticeable.

* For those who have the dark circles and require concealer, I strongly recommend going to see a professional about how to apply it. It can get a little technical and typically requires some practice.

Blush, oh boy, there are so many ways ladies go wrong with this one.

Let's start off with what I like to call clown cheeks. If you have applied the blush in a why that gives you two little rose colored circles, you need to spread it around a little. If you look like you've got a sunburn, you've put on too much.

Always apply blush with a brush, that should be easy enough to remember, blush with a brush, blush with a brush. Say that three times fast. Yes, there should be no hands for initial applications, you can use your hand to blend a little bit and that's it. Also, there shouldn't be clumps of blush in the brush when you go to apply it. If you see them, just tap the brush a little bit to get rid of them before applying to your face. Start at the apples of your cheeks then spread and blend upward a little bit toward your hairline.

There are many shades to choose from. Well, let me put it this way; Work and Thanksgiving, you'll want that color to be more subtle, stick to the more pastel lookin' stuff. If you've got a hot date or wanna hit the clubs, you can put something on with more punch to it.

Oh yes, those are some seriously awesome looking eyes, great for the club and cosplay, NOT for the everyday. These kind of looks take a lot of time and effort, you don't have to do it everyday. I know you geeky ladies love your eyeshadows and glitter and everything in between, and when the occasion calls for it, go nuts! But this is something that should not be seen at most work places for sure. All you'd be saying to your employer is, "I spend way too much time to make myself look this garish, maybe my priorities are out of whack." I think you'd be amazed how much time you'll save just by going with something more simple, I guarantee you'll still look great.

*Mascara note: Yes, mascara comes in really fun colors now like electric blue and magenta, again, great for the clubs. When it comes to more practical stuff stick to black or brown please.

*Quick note on eye liner, the raccoon eyes is such a tired look. There's a new set of trick out there to try, wow me.

I know there are a ton of you out there saying, "I don't care what people think, I don't care if they judge me, this is how I want to look." And that's fine, more than fine, that's your right. I'd still love you no matter what, I put this out there for those who might want to make themselves more professional or more approachable. There have been a ton of surveys and studies done to determine people's reaction to heavy or very flamboyant makeup. Here are some of things to keep in mind.

1. Lots of men stated it puts them off, to some it even makes you appear deceiving or materialistic. Men also feel it makes you like immature and childish and even crazy.

2. Having so much makeup on all day everyday does not allow the skin to breathe, skin needs to breathe, period.

3. Women say it is a clear cry for attention and smaller groups say it makes you look like you have low self-esteem.

Well, whatever the masses say, I love all my geeky sisters, even the ones with the liquid paper faces.