Why I wear the Mouche

You may have noticed that I draw on a little black circle "beauty mark" just below my right eye practically every time you see a photo of my face. For a REALLY long time now.... I've been meaning to share some history on mouches and why I've chosen to wear one.  I started doing this as a finishing touch to my make-up about 2 years ago after learning more about them in costume history class and becoming pretty obsessed with the idea! (Thanks to my costume history I & II teacher, Helene Siebrits!)

"Beauty Marks" had their origin in Rome around 100 C.E. Wearing these mouches or "patches" over blemishes came into widespread fashion in the second half or the 17th century and developed far into the 18th century due in part to the scars Small Pox would leave on the face. Both men and women imitated this natural mark by sticking black beauty patches on their faces which were eventually used to send signals in flirtation rituals! 

(illustrated by Rita Flores)

Mouches could also conveniently cover Small Pox scars and blemishes from wearing the white lead based make-up that was popular in the 17th & 18th centuries. It was the vaccination for Small Pox in 1796 that eventually led to the end of this make-up fashion.

These mouches could be made of black taffeta, velvet, silk, or thin leather that was cut into circles, crescents, stars, hearts- you name it. It was stuck to the skin with gum mastic- glue made from the sap of trees. As the fashion increased, the patches became more and more elaborate and were created in the shape of sailing ships, birds in flight, etc. When the patch is placed near the eye, it indicated passion, one by the mouth would indicate boldness. On the right cheek meant that the woman was married and on the left cheek meant the woman was engaged. I chose my right eye because it meant I was passionate about life and I also felt like it was the most suiting for my face! Also, I just use liquid eyeliner to create the look.

Drawing on mouches for the girls who model for Paulie Antiques has also become my signature style for their make-up. Everyone gets a mouche these days, but it's not always in the same place!

I hope you enjoyed a little history on the fashion of the beauty mark and mouches! Do you have a natural beauty mark or do you create one for yourself? What do you think about them? I'd love to know!

love, polly

The Paulie Antiques Show Episode 5 *Lime Crime Make Up Review*

         

I just recently tested out some Lime Crime lipsticks and made an episode of the Paulie Antiques Show where I try them on and tell my thoughts about them. Do you own any make up from Lime Crime? XO

The products I reviewed: Red Velvet Velveteen Lip Stain & My Beautiful Rocket Opaque Lipstick.

love, polly

What's in my train case?

I do like the "What's in my bag?" posts, but I think it's more interesting when it's a traveling train case because you can actually see what I use on a day-to-day basis. These are the items I took to St. Louis over Thanksgiving. 

Burt's Bees Lip Balm, Airspun Powder, Orange lip pencil (I use it as eyeliner), Clinique Black Liquid eyeliner, a Merle Norman blush brush, Garnier Nutrisse Anti-Dark Circle Rolling Ball, Earrings, Hair Bands, ELF gold glitter eyeliner, Marc Jacobs Daisy Perfume Roll On, Maybeline Green Concealer, Mary Kate and Ashley Purple Glitter Eyeshadow (haha... I know. I've had this since high school and only recently started using it!), Joel and Clementine set of earrings from Sleepy Mountain, Cover Girl Eyebrow Pencil, Cetaphil Gel Cleanser, 1947 Champaign High School gold ring, Tresemme hair conditioner, ELF Mascara, eyeshadow brush (I forget where from), Revlon Just Bitten Lip Stain in Flame, Tom's Deodorant in apricot. 

If you'd like to see me speak more about my make-up routine, you can watch Episode 2 of the Paulie Antiques Show: Favorite Make-up 2013 here!

love, polly