Beth has an adventurous, fun outlook on life with a boisterous laugh that only makes you smile. Read below for what it’s like to be a twin, how she describes her style, and her tips for wearing makeup with hooded eyelids.
What was your attitude about beauty like growing up?
Probably not good. I have body image issues like many other women. I was a super tomboy, and I attribute a lot of that growing up with a twin brother. I didn’t have too many female friends until I became an adult. I didn’t have great self esteem as a child and a teenager. I consider myself an ugly duckling growing up. I wasn’t comfortable with way i looked. I saw beauty as something outside of my reach. As I got older, I started thinking about it differently. Also, I never learned makeup from my Mom because that wasn’t something she did. My mom is a tomboy too, but I love her dearly!
That’s so cool you’re a twin! What is it like being a twin?
I would say as a kid I was never lonely. I always had someone around. Other than that, my twin relationship is different than any other twin relationships I know. My brother and I are close when we’re together, but when we’re apart, we’re not good about calling or texting. When I see him, we don’t skip a beat. It’s similar to other siblings but a little closer because we’re the same age. My sister is five years younger. I remember being in high school while she was in middle school, and it wasn’t until she got older that I really viewed her as a person. My brother and I are really super different, and we took different life paths. In a way, I wish we were more similar because sometimes I feel guilty for my successful career path. His career path has been less successful than mine, so I worry about that. I like being a twin though. I would choose to be a twin again.
How would you describe your style?
Menswear inspired minimalism. I’ve been working towards a capsule wardrobe. Sometimes I’m more successful at creating a capsule wardrobe than other times. I’m very strategic about how I buy clothes.
Being strategic sounds smart, so how do you buy clothes?
I buy lots of clothes online and return about 90% of them. I try to be strategic by buying clothes that I will wear in many different situations, will last a long time, and will match other clothes. I have the same shirt in multiple shades of gray and cardigans in multiple greys and browns. If I buy jeans, I’ll buy multiple, identical pairs and wear them until they have holes in them before I buy more. I feel like I have a hard body type to fit, yet fit is super important to me. So, I’ll hunt for a long time or hang onto an item for quite awhile. Also, I’m willing to launder well, so my clothes will last. Unfortunately, my wardrobe is not in a great place right now because I just moved recently, and I’ve focused on getting clothes warm enough for a real winter.
Where did you get inspiration for your look?
I think I’ve been drawn to that kind of look for a long time. I’ve also noticed that men’s clothing is made better while being higher quality and at a better price point. As a woman, trying to find a tailored shirt not in a sheer material, without gaps or three shades of electric pink is difficult, so I started gravitating towards menswear because I’ve been a little envious how men can dress themselves. I’ve always been jealous that men can walk into a store, grab something off the rack, and look amazing. When I got interested in this idea, I went to the subreddit called female fashion advice, which has a little bit of everything. I got a lot of inspiration from that forum.
Is there any makeup you wear on a daily basis?
I wear Origin’s GinZing Refreshing Eye Cream because my eyes can be pretty puffy when I wake up. I also use NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer in Vanilla and occasionally set it with a powder. Even though it’s hard to find, I’ve also been wearing clear mascara. Lately, my choice has been mascara by CoverGirl, but any brand will do. I really, really like lipstick, but recently I’ve been wearing Vaseline’s Rosy Lip Therapy as my everyday choice.
Do you have a tip for wearing makeup with hooded eyelids?
It’s my constant conundrum, and eye makeup is my mortal enemy. I do, actually, have one tip. Lately, I’ve been wearing Benefit’s They’re Real mascara, and I put a coat of clear mascara after it dries. Otherwise, mascara is all over my face. My eyelashes rub against my eyelids, and my eyelashes also rub against my cheeks because I have full cheeks. I end up looking like a raccoon. In terms of eyeshadow, I still haven’t figure out how to tackle that problem. Any suggestions would be helpful!
How do you like to start your day?
I usually start my day by going to the gym. I set out my gym clothes the night before, so I can literally roll out of bed, put my clothes on, wash my hands and face, and get out the door in 10 minutes. Afterwards, I come home, walk my dog, shower, and walk to work. When it’s too cold out, I’ll take the bus. If i’m being lazy, I’ll instagram until I miss the bus. I spend way too much time on there.
Any advice on balancing your professional and personal life?
I try to prioritize taking care of my body because my brain is a lot more efficient when I do. I’m trying to balance by being way more efficient in the day. I try really hard to set hard time limits for meetings and schedule them all on the same days during the week. I hope I can maintain that strategy because I feel like it’s acceptable to be a person outside of work. It feels particularly difficult in our field. I do believe it is possible to get enough sleep, exercise, and be successful in my job. I’m not willing to sacrifice those things.
Are there any little luxuries you have at home?
Dan (my husband) and I have been getting into tea lately. I got Dan a fancy tea kettle that actually has different settings for different types of tea. Every night we’ll make a big pot, lounge on the couch, and drink tea. I really like spicy black teas.
Any brands or type of tea you like?
Republic of tea. I bought a big sampler pack recently, but I would pick Earl Grey if I had to choose just one. It’s delicious. Plus, Captain Picard drinks it, which is partially why I drink it.
Have you read anything good recently?
Yeah, I have! I have been reading Stephen King’s Dark Towers series. It’s a Sci Fi epic fantasy series. The whole series is about 7 or 8 books. I’m on the second book, and it’s really crazy and strange. I like it a lot.
How do you change your look for special occasions?
More! More makeup. I’ll wear Dr. Jardt+ Dis-a-pore BB cream, my current favorite mascara, and blush. The blush I’m really loving right now is Benefit’s Hervana. I also like add some highlighter. A particular favorite of mine is by RMS. I’ll finish the look with lipstick. I got into a lipstick collecting phase. For awhile, I was wearing a different one every day. Now, I keep a collection of 4-6 out on the counter, and the rest I keep in storage. Every so often, I’ll swap them out.
What are some lipsticks that you like?
In general, I prefer lip products that are more balmy as opposed to matte because my lips tend to be dry normally. After a trip to Sephora, I discovered NARS satin lip pencil in Rikugien and Urban Decay in Naked. My mom gave me one from IT Cosmetics, Je Ne Sais Quoi that I really, really like. It looks clear in the tube, but it brings out the natural color of your lips when you wear it.
And last but not least, what is your beauty philosophy?
I think lately my philosophy or goal towards beauty has been centered on feeling more comfortable in my own skin, and I know a lot of people struggle with that. The way I achieve that is not necessarily through makeup or styling my hair but through exercise. I always had a negative attitude towards my body. Now I center my philosophy on working on how I feel about my body by doing activities that make me feel comfortable in my own skin. Right now that is exercise. I want to focus on getting stronger, fitter, and toner. I recently was picked “warrior of the month” at my gym!
Brainiac Babes 