Instagram and to wear or not to wear make up.

Last week, I received a comment where a girl named Malin asked if I use the app Instagram. Well, I didn't, but now I do! I downloaded it on Saturday, and these are the photos I posted so far. Kitties, food, friends, my car getting snow suited up in winter tires, birthday, my mom and I in the waiting room at the hospital yesterday, before my surgery. More kitties. If you use Instagram and want to follow me, I'm called accordingtoannika.

Other comments, on this post, brought up the questions of "real" photos on this blog. Someone asked why I don't post photos without make up on, and I must say, I was surprised. My first thought was "but I never wear make up!". Then I realized that, hmm, in the outfit photos I do. And if that makes it seem like I'm in any way self-conscious about the way I look without it, then that's terrible. I like make up, as a part of dressing up, of putting together a "look" - but I don't care about it. When I take the outfit photos, I usually put make up on, do the shoot, then wash my face. I wear make up to parties or fancier restaurant dinners, because to me, that's part of the fun of dressing up and going out. In the photos above, I'm not wearing any make up, because there was no point putting any on.

I really don't believe that any one of us need to cover up our faces in order to be beautiful, but I also don't think there's any harm in applying simple, pain-free products to experiment with our looks. I'm aware that this is considered hypocritical by some people. In high school, I was told by a group of girls in my class that I wasn't allowed to call myself a feminist since I sometimes wore make up to school. And while I personally find that a big load of crap, I can still see their point. Trust me, I am not oblivious to the fact that women are much more severely judged and defined by their looks than men; I do see a huge problem with the way lots of people - men and women, girls and boys - feel like they can't live up to the ideals of beauty that is set by our society. And I completely understand the girls and women who object to these norms by rejecting the fashion and beauty industries entirely. That's just not the way I've chose to live my life.

Writing columns for a fashion magazine for three years, while not being a fan of women's magazines myself, I've had hundreds - thousands? - of people (mostly women) asking me how I can contribute to such a publication and still sleep at night. And well, I don't always sleep at night, but I can assure you that my sleep deprivation has nothing to do with where my columns are being published. To me, it's very simple:
1) I do not think that the problem is that magazines for girls and women exist. What I don't agree with is (some of - sometimes a lot of) their content. And I absolutely cannot see anything wrong with contributing to these magazines with the kind of content I wish they would publish more of, since I am then doing what's in my power to make a change.
2) My target audience, my readers, are without any argument girls and women. The subjects I write about are intended for them - especially for the kind of girls and women who read fashion and women's magazines. I write about being a young woman struggling with many of the same issues my readers do. Then why on Earth wouldn't I write for a publication that these women read?

Back to make up. I don't believe that girls and women who like wearing make up or pretty clothes should stop doing it. I don't think that there's anything wrong with wanting to look beautiful. As long as it's just as okay not to. As long as we don't feel like we have to. As long as we realize that there's more. As long as we all know that what we look like on the outside is part of who we are, but it's a pretty darn small part. Fashion is fun, but the moment it becomes harmful, we should take a moment and ask ourselves why. Why am I putting on lipstick or heels, why do I want yet another pair of shoes, why do I want the people around me to think I look good? Is it because I think it's a pleasurable way of expressing myself, or is it because I feel like shit without it? Am I a fashion user or a fashion abuser?

There have been times when I've washed my face at night and not wanted to look at myself in the mirror. When I've longed for the morning when I get to put my cosmetic face back on. Whenever this has happened, I've stopped wearing make up completely for a few weeks. Because it's not okay. I don't want to feel like my made up self is the "real" me, and that my natural face is something that needs to be hidden. I won't let that happen. That makes my outside a too important part of the way I feel about myself, and I need to remember that I am not my looks. I am a daughter, a sister, a friend and a girlfriend, a writer, a person who loves cats and babies and books, who gets addicted to tv series and loves to watch the same movies over and over because I like to know how they end, who enjoy photography and sketching and playing the piano, who cares about people way too much but have a hard time trusting, who likes to wear clothes and shoes that I find pretty or interesting, who cries at least ten times a day and hates that I don't have a good singing voice, who has nightmares every night and doesn't like the taste of alcohol. And so on. And so on.

I am not my looks. Neither are you. As long as we all remember this, I'm pretty sure it's okay to wear lipstick now and then.

It's Giveaway Time - Make your skin glow with Manasi Makeup!

This, my friends, is Manasi Makeup Lyster Creme Bronzer - one of the best makeup products I've ever used. It doesn't only give your skin that subtle yet visible sun-kissed glow, it also smells like the most delicious dessert you could ever imagine! (I raved about how hard it is not to eat it with a spoon here.)

I've used mine instead of blush every time I've put on makeup since I got it in June, partly because of the amazing scent, partly because it looks so much better, younger and more natural than any powder blush.

Bronzed from head to toe for Johanna Vikman S/S12. Photos by Karin Foberg.

The creator of this product is the sensationally skilled make up artist Susanne Persson, with whom I've worked for years, since she's the one who always does the make up and hair for the Johanna Vikman campaign and lookbook shoots. Manasi Makeup is her own cosmetics brand, where she develops products that she finds are missing on the market today.

Susanne in action.

And, well, since I happen to be completely obsessed with my Lyster Creme Bronzer, of course I want you guys to discover it, as well!

For the chance to be the one lucky lady who will receive the bronzer in her mailbox, all you have to do is this:

1. Follow According to Annika via google friend connect or Bloglovin'...
2. ...like According to Annika, Manasi Makeup and the Manasi Makeup Webshop on Facebook...
3. ...and leave me a comment on this post to let me know you've entered! (Don't forget to add your e-mail address so that I can contact you if you win.)

Blue Times Two.

For a 20% discount on this dress, or any other LOVE item, enter ANNIKABLOG20 at the checkout! Valid until October 13th.

Blue one-shoulder dress, LOVE. Grey knitted socks, Lindex. Orange suede wedges, Nelly.

(Photos by me.)

I did an awful lot of writing here on the blog yesterday, so I'll try to keep it short today!

I figured this was probably my last chance to wear an outfit as bare as this one before the cold weather arrives - and I took it. I wanted to create a look that smells of summer, sunblock and souvlaki: basically something I'd wear out to dinner while enjoying life on a Greek island.

To get the lip shade I knew I wanted - red, obviously, but with softer and shinier finish than I normally wear - I mixed two colors from Maybelline: I started out with one coat of "Coral Fever", then one coat of "Red Revolution", and topped it off with a touch of my amazing creme bronzer from Manasi Makeup. I usually wear it as blush, but since I wanted that sun-kissed feel, I went all in with the bronzer today - I used it on my lips, cheeks and eyelids, and mixed it with some lotion and applied it onto the collar bones and shoulders.

As you can imagine, I probably wouldn't have worn these knitted socks with the outfit, had I actually been on a Greek island. It was funny, though: I could see that the outfit looked good without the socks, but it just didn't look like me. Something was missing. I tried on the socks with the wedges sort of as a joke, and in an instant the whole look went from, well, a cute outfit, to something I would feel comfortable wearing. That's what I think is so fascinating about personal style, when you find those little things that you can use to make an outfit yours. It can be the tiniest details, and they don't even have to look good, as long as they're right for you! This time, for me, it was a pair of knitted grey socks. Apparently.

Right, keep it short. Okay. I guess I'll just watch the latest Glee episode with my kitties (my little girl absolutely loves music, so Glee is her favorite tv show - she and I really must be related!) and leave you guys to it. By the way, thank you so much for your incredible comments on my last post - I can't believe you took the time to read through all that! You're all wonderful, and you deserve the best weekend possible. You always do.

A Sneak Peak.

Yesterday I photographed the content of my make up bag, and I'll tell you, I was shocked by the amount of lipsticks inside! It sure is a good thing that the ones I use the most only cost about 2 euro each.

Sometime during the next few days I'll write a post where I go through all of the products, as a light introduction to the make up tutorials I'm trying to build up the courage to get started with... I'm still not sure I'll ever be brave enough to speak English on camera. What if you laugh at my accent? You will! I've been told it's like 50% Sviiiidish and 50% Valley Girl. "It's like, I'm like, oh my gaaawd!" Come to think about it, maybe I should just stick to photos... We'll see.

Hair/make up - Tell me what you want to know!

Since I started this blog six weeks ago, I've been asked a lot of questions about how I do my hair and my make up. Some of you have asked for tutorials or "how-to" guides. And obviously, I really want to tell you everything you want to know.

The only problem is... I have no idea where to start. I'm so far from being an expert on anything that has to do with beauty (or fashion for that matter), and I'm not sure I have anything to tell you that you don't already know, or that you can't find much better tips on how to do in a magazine or on every make up and hair blog out there. But it's of course enormously flattering that you think I might have something to share on this particular matter, and I'm more than willing to try! Though, first, I need a little help.

You see, what I'm asking is this: what would you like to know? What kind of tutorials are you interested in and what looks would you prefer to learn more about? Is it specific techniques you're after, products, inspiration, or more general advice? Tell me, and I'll do my best to satisfy any kind of curiosity you might have!

Say after me: It's no better to be safe than sorry.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Black cropped sweater, H&M. High waisted stonewashed grey jeans, Cheap Monday. DIY print t-shirt made into some kind of one shoulder tank top, from my teens, don't remember where I bought it. Grey blazer and white lace bra, Monki. Boots, Vagabond.

One of the many reasons why I started this blog was that I was so bored with my own style. I felt like there was no point dressing up, and whenever I did, I always looked exactly the same: the clothes and make up I know I look good and feel comfortable in. 

That usually meant a loose fit black dress, either boots or litas, concealer, mascara, blush and red lipstick. No, wait: that's what it always meant. No exceptions. 

And no harm in that, you could say, of course one should wear what she feels confident in! That's absolutely right. Except for the fact that I love dressing up! I love trying out new looks, being inspired by others and attempt to put my own spin on trends. And I'm sick and tired of always being safe.

So, I decided to start a blog where I could share all of this with you. A reason to put on something nice in the morning. A reason to take chances, go in the opposite direction of what I normally would, try new things and explore all of the endless possibilities that fashion provides us with.

About this look: I was going for a late 80's/early 90's feel, a style that I adore but rarely try to work myself. Make up-wise, I was going for the opposite of my usual natural eyes/bright red lips: jet-black eyes and nude lips. Ten years ago I rocked that look almost every day! Now it took a couple of hours to get used to it, but I kind of don't want to wash my face tonight, haha. (Oh wow, imagine what I would look like tomorrow morning if I don't...)