I for one, have always longed for an adorable sunkissed patch of freckles across the bridge of my nose and cheeks. I’ve been naturally “blessed” with a couple of large sunspots on my face thanks to a childhood spent growing up on the beach without proper SPF habits. However, my time spent in the sun has never quite mimicked the adorable spots I find ever so charming. I know many people born with freckles who have tried nearly everything under the sun to get rid of or conceal them –a cosmetic pursuit that’s always left me puzzled and envious.

And while the obvious remark that embracing your natural beauty — “flaws” and all — certainly warrants being addressed here, I find freckles to be an asset, not a flaw. Moles, over-sized birthmarks, and blemishes are nothing to hide in my book. I’ve learned the phrase ” you always want what you don’t have,” is astonishingly accurate when it comes to our personal views on beauty. When I was young, I prayed that I would be granted with the voluptuous curves (and cleavage) of Marilyn Monroe when I grew up, but instead was dealt a different set of cards — an awkwardly lengthy frame and a modest (aka flat) chest.

I’ve come to embrace without ever being tempted to correct these traits with surgery — though I will admit to wearing a ridiculously padded bra from time to time. While I realize this is an arguably trite cliche in the age of body-positivity, my point is that enhancing your features with makeup and hair changes can be a fun way to play with certain features you find attractive, without concealing the beauty you were born with, and for me, fake freckles are the prime example of this ethos.

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Freck Friday… finally happy weekend babes #freckfam #fauxfreckles Vid by @serenawylliemakeup • Model @j.rubach

A post shared by 𝘍𝘙𝘌𝘊𝘒 𝘉𝘌𝘈𝘜𝘛𝘠 (@freck) on May 17, 2019 at 1:18pm PDT

With that being said, when I discovered a freckle-feigning beauty product called Freck, I was immediately intrigued at the idea of coloring on faux freckles over my base for a “natural” look. Aside from their undeniable adorable-factor, adding a couple spots on top of your makeup can help an over-powdered or full coverage look appear more natural and skin-like. It’s the ultimate hack for “no makeup makeup.” Apparently, I’m not the only one longing for temporary freckle either.

After researching the blossoming beauty trend, I found a lofty collection of YouTube tutorials and beauty how-to’s offering step-by-step guides for achieving the look. Makeup artist Katie Jane Hughes is fan of the look, as are YouTubers like James Charles and even supermodel Candice Swanepoel.

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Your most beautiful accessory is your smile! Get her look using the dark and light brown palettes, available on our website. #fauxfreckles

A post shared by Faux Freckles (@faux.freckles) on Feb 28, 2018 at 11:30am PST

Freck is an excellent fool-proof product that allows you to create long-lasting and natural-looking spots. I waited a month for it to get restocked before I was able to purchase, and yes, it was worth the wait. But it’s also super easy to add them on using an eyebrow pencil, eyeliner or eyeshadow that’s a few shades darker than your skin color and has a cool or neutral undertone. There’s even stick-on products to give you a super intense look too. Here’s how to fake freckles for a quintessentially sunkissed look that’s literally perfect to test out for summer.

Urban Outfitters.

Freck O.G. Freckle Pen

If I didn’t make it obvious earlier, I am clearly obsessed with this freckle-faking pen. It’s a liquid formula that dries down matte (almost like a long-wearing lip stain) after a couple of minutes, giving you time to pat in the product for a more natural look. I simply press the applicator directly on the bridge of my nose and cheeks and use my finger to soften them a bit, but you can also use a beauty sponge for extra precision. I like to add this on top of foundation and a good setting powder for extra longevity, but you also wear it alone or under a tinted a moisturizer or BB cream for a more subtle effect.

Faux Freckles.

Faux Freckles #Faux AF Palette

These faux freckles are kind of like temporary tattoos, and they’ll last up to 48 hours, making them a great option for weekend-long music festivals. What I also love is that this brand offers two different shades to accommodate for deeper skin tones as well. These adhesives are for those want a statement-making freckled look or for those who can’t be bothered with free-handing their own spots.

Amazon.

L’oreal Infallible Long-Lasting Eyeliner Pen

This long-wearing felt tip eyeliner is a great alternative to the Freck Pen because it has a pointed tip for precise application when you’re adding dots by hand and dries down almost instantly for a full day of fade-resistant wear. Simply tap the applicator onto the areas where you want to add some dots, and quickly pat with finger, brush or sponge to soften the look to your liking.

Amazon.

Wunderbrow Dual Precision Brow Liner

If you’re looking for a more forgiving (i.e. error-proof) option for fake freckles, this long-wearing eyebrow pencil is a solid choice. It’s creamy enough to give you plenty of blending power in case you mess up in the process, but not overly waxy, so you don’t have to worry about it smudging or transferring throughout the course of the day.

Buy: WUNDERBROW Dual Precision Brow Liner $12

Amazon.

NYX Nude Matte Eyeshadow

Using a taupe or cool brow powdered eyeshadow is another more forgiving product for adding fake specks. However, this method requires a bit more prep than others. You’ll want to grab an angled or super-tiny shadow/inner corner brush and add a generous amount of powder. Then, you’ll use your finger to create flicking motions to apply the product over your nose and cheeks. It may sound a little daunting, but it results in an ultra-natural effect, which you can choose to wear alone or build up with a pencil afterward.

Buy: NYX Nude Matte Eyeshadow $10

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Tinsley Mortimer’s Tortoise Sunglasses With Sonja and Leah

Real Housewives of New York Season 12 Episode 2 Fashion

Tinsley Mortimer’s tortoise sunglasses in this scene from this week’s episode of RHONY were not only worn by Tinsley Mortimer, but also for a moment by Leah McSweeney. And we’re just hoping that they contain enough protection in them so that LM can also borrow them to wear during her tramp stamp removal appointment — ya know, to make the process a bit more chic c’est la vie.

Fashionably,

Faryn

Click Here to Shop Her Tom Ford Sunglasses on Sale

Click Here to Shop Them in Black on Sale

Click Here to Shop Them in Black/Brown on Sale

Click Here to Shop Her Jennifer Zeuner Earrings on Sale

Originally posted at: Tinsley Mortimer’s Tortoise Sunglasses

Who wants to be a millionaire? We all do. What does that mean? For me it means not worrying about money, doing what I want and enjoying the luxuries that life has to offer.

As you know from my millionaire series of articles, you don’t have to be a millionaire to live like one. I may not have the bank account, but I can have the attitude; it’s a question of style and context. It’s about opening your perceptions as to the true luxury and richness of your life. Listen to the little things that speak to your soul and set it free in extravagant ways.

Let’s talk about how to use the Internet to feel like a millionaire.

An Internet Millionaire

Today I am saluting the Internet because it has delivered priceless experiences to my life. Consider what a luxury it is to find something out at exactly the moment you need to know it, by pressing a few buttons on your mobile or laptop. In the past, I had to drive to the library and look it up – when I had the time.

As technology changes there will be new, unimaginable wonders. New devices, services, applications, programs, techniques emerge every day. Bring it on! I made the decision to stay up to date technologically for as long as I can. Yes, there’s a learning curve, but I want to embrace new technology because then, instead of saying it’s too hard, or falling behind, I get a new pleasure.

Daily Fresh Flower Delivery

I have the most beautiful bouquets of fresh flowers delivered to me every day. How? On Instagram. Instagram has rocked my world. If you haven’t joined Instagram, maybe by the end of this article you’ll give it a try.

There’s a whole new crop of young florists out there, changing the world of floral design, which used to be a fusty business. These millennial florists happen to be accomplished photographers too, and share with me the most luscious, inspiring arrangements of the day.

Bouquets with refreshing new combinations of flowers. Compelling vases and table landscapes. Interesting installations in gardens and homes. I feast my eyes and soul on the flowers whilst learning new tips and techniques. I try these techniques at home with inexpensive flowers I’ve picked up at Costco or the supermarket.

I Travel Year-Round, Around the World

Ah wanderlust, I have it bad. Or rather I have it good! I’d love to go on safari in South Africa, eat authentic saffron risotto in Milan where it was created and stream through Norwegian fjords on a cruise ship. But…

I don’t travel as much as I’d like to because travel is expensive. However, I do get an authentic, incredible travel thrill every day, okay, several times a day. The “insta” in Instagram puts me in touch with life as it is lived all around the world. I feel connected and in the moment. It’s truly a vacation of the mind; armchair travel at its best.

Up close and personal: sipping a cafe crème in a Paris cafe or dangling my feet on a lake in Patagonia. I’m with a herd of buffalo on the range in Montana, followed by sunrise on the Ganges. Next, I’m riding a dogsled in Alaska, and then swinging in a cable car up to Table Mountain in Cape Town. I’m nursing a Negroni in Venice. As I gaze, I take notes on destinations, hotels and restaurants for future trips.

What’s Cooking?

One of my most acute memories of being the mother of young children was the question that besieged me every day: “What should I cook for dinner?” There was no Internet back then. But today, thanks to Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook – I am delivered menu ideas and recipes through beckoningly beautiful photographs that I want to eat right then and there. I get inspired, fired up and cook!

The quality and variety of food in my home, and my excitement for cooking, is definitely heightened thanks to wonderful food bloggers whose lives are dedicated to enticing me with wonderful things to make, bake and enjoy.

Harvard, Tuition Free

Instead of spending great sums of money to attend lectures and seminars at prestigious universities, I’m doing it online, in real time, for free. I recently took a Beethoven Sonata course on Coursera.com with a famous pianist at the prestigious Curtis Institute in Philadelphia. I can’t always attend the Women in the World Summit in New York City every April, but the event is live streamed over the entire three days. I invite my friends and turn my house into a mini conference hall as we participate from afar.

A Decorator and Planner for Free!

I can’t afford a decorator to help me update my home. But, a world of possibilities opens up when I go on Pinterest. I’m inspired with new ideas and then advised as to how to make it all happen. Same goes for party planning. Party themes, table settings, recipes, gift wrapping – it’s all there for me to enjoy and profit from.

Community and Intimacy

Contrary to people who believe the Internet is an alienating presence, robbing us from local community, and making us feel solitary as we sit alone cruising, I find the Internet has delivered tremendous community and connection to my life. I find like-minded people and I’ve even made two seriously significant friends on the Internet. The Internet brings my distant family and friends close, through chatting, messaging, emailing and the sharing of photos and videos.

Internet, you make me feel like a million!

In what new ways has the Internet enhanced your life? Do you have any favorite apps or programs to share? We’re listening and reading, below!

When most of us were in grade school,
we were mainly exposed to classical poets such as Chaucer and Shakespeare.
Mixed in might have been some limerick poems. While we were forced to memorize some
of the most famous poems, most of us had no idea what the poems actually meant.

How Poetry Has Changed

April is National Poetry Month, which
is a good time to discuss how poetry has evolved over the years, and how reading
it and writing it can help us heal. And since we’re all practicing social
distancing and trying to nurture stay-at-home hobbies, maybe this is a good
time to tap into poetry.

The most dramatic change is that contemporary
poetry has become more accessible. In other words, poems are easier to
understand, and the words and meanings resonate with us.

Contemporary poems tap into real feelings
and images that pertain to the human condition using words that we can
understand. For the most part, poets are usually quite observant and see things
that many of us might not readily notice.

As a tween, I remember falling in
love with the poetry of Rod McKuen. His work succinctly expressed feelings that
I had but was unable to clearly express.

In the 60s, when I became a teenager,
beat poets such as Bob Dylan, Alan Ginsberg, Jack Kerouac, and Pete Seger were popular,
and they continued to express situations common to the human experience.

How Poetry Heals

Healing is often done alone or as a
path to wholeness. As Sufi poet Rumi says, “The wound is the place where the
light enters you.” In other words, the wound is the pain and suffering we
encounter that puts us in touch with our inner selves. This can be the source
of our enlightenment.

Poetry helps us touch the wounded
part of us. As we move through the years, we become filled with memories. Some
of the memories may be good ones, while others may be the result of past
wounds.

Sometimes it takes years for wounds
to heal, and other times it takes a lifetime, if at all. It’s true that the
body remembers, and often times our body remembers past traumas. Poetry helps
us access those wounds through words. This can lead to healing and
transformation.

Poet Audre Lorde, for example, began
writing and reading poetry during childhood as a way to deal with growing up in
Harlem as an African-American woman of two parents with emotional walls between
them and their children.

During her childhood, she secretly
wrote poems in her journal, yearning to escape the tension at home. Writing and
reading poetry helped her navigate those challenging times.

On many levels, Lorde’s life story
resonated with me as we were both born to mothers whom we felt did not want us
and who refrained from nurturing the women we were. We were also both poets and
breast cancer survivors.

Poetry and Therapy

Often times, poetry is used in
conjunction with talk therapy. Writing poetry in a journal is a powerful way to
tap into what’s going on inside the self or in the unconscious mind. It’s also
a place to observe the inner and outer landscape.

Confessional poetry is powerful for
this. By using vivid language, we merge the intellectual and the emotional part
of ourselves.

When I was in my mid-50s I sought the
guidance of a therapist to help me deal with the deep pain of having lost my
grandmother and caretaker when I was 10 years old. I guess I was holding on to
a lot of unresolved grief.

In addition to inspiring me to write
my first memoir, Regina’s Closet: Finding My Grandmother’s Secret Journal,
she inspired me to write poems to and about my grandmother. During my therapy
sessions, my therapist read them out loud to me. It was powerful to hear my
voice in a different way.

How to Start Writing a Poem

It’s never too late to start to write
poetry. The first step is to let go and just allow life and experiences to
unfold as they were meant to unfold. Poetry is the voice of the soul, so it’s
important to remember that when writing poetry, you have to try to let go of the
rational mind and let sensations and emotions take over.

The emotion is felt first, and the
words or thoughts come during the creation of the poem. Plato considered the
poet a vehicle of supernatural inspiration.

For some people, beginning a poem is
the most difficult, but practice makes it easier. One way to begin is to start
with a feeling or an image and take it from there. Poetry is written in
fragments. Each line or fragment should have an emotion or a compelling image.

Life provides us with much material
to write about. In addition to our memories, reflections, and fantasies, this wealth
of material can also include the books or articles we’ve read and the movies we’ve
watched.

As Robert Frost deftly stated, “A
poem begins with a lump in the throat; a home-sickness or a love sickness. It
is a reaching out toward expression: an effort to find fulfillment…”

The idea or subject of poems often
comes to us when we least expect it. That’s why it’s important to always keep a
journal and pen handy.

Finally, to write poetry, it’s
important to read a lot of poetry. The best poets master details and are very
specific in their writing. They show rather than tell. Ensuring that your poem
is visual will make it compelling to read! Happy writing!

How often do you read poetry? Who are
your favorite authors and why? Have you tried writing poetry? What was the
easiest part for you, and which was the most difficult? Please share your
thoughts, and maybe some poetry, with our community!