Category: Queer Lifestyle

  • A Drag Queen’s Top 5 Favorite Makeup Products (Drugstore Edition)

    A Drag Queen’s Top 5 Favorite Makeup Products (Drugstore Edition)

    Last year, I wrote a top 5 list for my favorite makeup products. While I still stand by that list and use a handful of those products regularly, they vary greatly in cost from a $10 Colourpop Glitter Gel to a $40 Anastasia Beverly Hills Contour Kit. On top of that, I’ve discovered several new products since then and decided it was time for a new list, this time focusing exclusively on more affordable products that can be found at any drugstore!

    1. Maybelline Lash Sensational Firework Volume and Length Mascara

    Available at Target, CVS, Walmart, & More – $12.99 (lasts up to 6 months)

    Starting off this list is a product I discovered recently when I searched for an affordable mascara on Target.com and sorted by the highest rated. This Maybelline mascara has an impeccably high rating average, and after using it myself, I can tell why. Upon first application, it left my lashes long and dark. I opted for the waterproof option too, so it dries quickly and doesn’t leave any marks on my upper eyelids when I blink (something I can’t stand in other mascaras.) The waterproof element is insanely effective to the point that I can’t get away with using my typical face wash and need to use additional makeup-removing products! So it is as waterproof as a mascara can possibly be!

    The one critique I have is that it’s definitely more of a lengthening mascara than a volumizing one, despite being advertised as both. I think it works best when paired with volumizing mascara. That said, I have been using this as my everyday mascara ever since I bought it a month ago. It’s quick and easy to apply, dries fast, and makes my lashes strikingly dark and long.

    1. Wet n Wild MegaGlo Highlighting Powder

    Available at Target, CVS, Walmart, & More – $6.29 (1-2 years)

    This is the perfect highlighter for a soft, subtle shine. It’s buildable so you can adjust the shine to your liking. Just like the Maybelline mascara, this has become a part of my everyday routine. While this can be used in drag, I sometimes prefer a more striking, icy color, a shade they don’t offer with this highlighter. But for a more casual look, this has been a perfect product. 

    1. e.l.f. 16HR Camo Concealer

    Available at Target, CVS, Walmart, & More – $8 (lasts up to 6 months)

    I have been using this concealer for years, ever since I first started experimenting with makeup back in 2021. It’s a great, buildable concealer for both everyday and drag makeup. The coverage is unmatched, it’s such a great price, and it comes in such an extensive shade range, so whenever I have done makeup on someone else, this is the product I always come back to.

    1. L’Oreal Paris True Match Lumi Le Liquid Blush for Cheeks

    Available at Target, CVS, Walmart, & More – $10.49 (lasts up to 1 year)

    This is a recent discovery of mine and I am truly obsessed. I had never used a liquid blush before, but like several other products on this list, it became my standard everyday blush (using two dots on my cheeks and blending them out), though I’ve used it for drag now too (using three dots for a more intense look). While I still enjoy and use powder blush, I just love how the color of the liquid blush builds, how it blends out so easily, and how long it lasts.

    1. L’Oreal Paris Haute Precision Waterproof Felt Tip Liquid Eyeliner

    Available at Target, CVS, Walmart, & More- $13.99 (lasts up to 6 months)

    This L’Oreal Paris liner is another top-rated Target product, and I would put it right alongside the Stila eyeliner from last year’s list. It’s incredibly dark and precise. It glides so effortlessly on my eyelids, making it incredibly easy to paint on a clean, sharp wing. I use it every single day and will definitely continue to use it in the future as a cheaper alternative to the Stila liner.

    And thus concludes my list of my top 5 drugstore makeup products! As a beauty concierge and drag queen, I am always on the hunt for new makeup finds and hidden gems. These products are effective, affordable, and best of all, versatile. No matter the amount of makeup you are interested in wearing, there is something here for you on this list.

  • Thomas Knights X Red Hot Debuts in Hollywood

    Thomas Knights X Red Hot Debuts in Hollywood

    Photographer and artist Thomas Knights, creator of the Red Hot movement–a celebration of red-haired men through photography and film–has a passionate mission to embrace and showcase redheads in visual media while bringing visibility to the queer community.

    Hoping to change public perception of redheads and queer sexuality, Knights has taken his movement across the globe. Now, the exhibition is arriving in Hollywood with a brand-new debut at CULTUREEDIT, a queer retail store on Santa Monica Blvd.

    Upon entering the gallery, visitors are greeted by a hallway lined with photographs of nude Red Hot models, pictured in New York and California by Knights himself. Spanning from the entrance walls to the main showroom, these photographs capture a playfulness and warmth, portraying these red-haired men as confident and empowered. With many group scenes, Knights depicts a strong sense of community and sexual freedom.

    The exhibition runs through November, so be sure to stop by CULTUREEDIT to experience this celebration of queer sexuality and redhead pride! You’ll also find Red Hot merchandise, including jockstraps, mugs, sandals, photography books, and calendars.

    Visit the exhibition at 6757 Santa Monica Blvd, Los Angeles CA 90038.

  • Halloween in Weho

    Halloween in Weho

    What I Learned at my First Halloween Carnaval

    Every year since 1987, a mile of Santa Monica Boulevard has been blocked off on October 31st for the West Hollywood Halloween Carnaval. Thousands of costumed attendees roam the street and bars, enjoying the various food trucks and live DJ set.

    My boyfriend and I attended the event for the first time last year. I wore a devil inspired drag look and he went as Ghostface from the Scream franchise.

    We arrived around 10 PM, unaware that the event runs from 6 PM to 11 PM. On most nights this wouldn’t be too late, but on Halloween, it was absolutely packed, and every bar had an infinite line. After waiting in one of them for half an hour and hardly moving an inch, we gave up. Instead of bar hopping, we decided to walk around, socialize, take pictures, and admire everyone’s costumes.

    While the event may officially end at 11 PM, the crowd certainly didn’t thin out for the next couple hours. We stayed until midnight, only to discover that getting home wasn’t as simple as calling an Uber or Lyft. With the street blocked off and difficult to access, using a rideshare meant walking several blocks away from Santa Monica Boulevard. We headed toward W Holloway Dr and N Horn Ave, waited on the curb, and tried again. Although cars were now available, the prices were sky-high. We wondered if walking even farther, perhaps into a quieter residential area, might help reduce the fare. So we trekked 1.5 miles to Wilshire Boulevard, only to find that the Uber prices were exactly the same!

    This year, I plan to arrive between 8 and 9 PM—a potential sweet spot with a lively but less overwhelming crowd. And while there’s no avoiding the steep rideshare prices, at least this time I won’t be hiking 1.5 miles in my heels to try and beat them.

  • A Drag Queen’s Top 5 Favorite Makeup Products

    A Drag Queen’s Top 5 Favorite Makeup Products

    As a beauty concierge by day and drag queen by night, I consider myself a dedicated makeup connoisseur. While I’m always exploring new brands and tools, I have my staple products I come back to time and time again. Whether you’re interested in drag or more natural looking makeup, here are my top 5 picks of drugstore and luxury products perfect for both drag and everyday makeup looks!

    https://www.walmart.com/ip/Burts-Bees-100-Natural-Blush
    1. Burt’s Bees 100% Natural Blush with Vitamin E

    Available at Burtsbees.com – $9.99 (lasts 2-3 years)

    This might be a surprising first pick, as Burt’s Bees isn’t known for their makeup products, but I cannot express how much I love their blush. I discovered their makeup line at Target in 2020 and was immediately blown away by the “bare peach” shade. I use this at work, going out, and even in drag. It’s the only blush I’ve consistently received compliments on. While they’re no longer sold at Target, they’re still available at Burtsbees.com and Amazon!

    https://colourpop.com/products/avenue-of-the-stars
    1. Colourpop Body Glitter Gel 

    Available at Ulta or Colourpop – $10 (lasts 3-4 years)

    Glitter might not be an everyday essential, but it’s a fun way to add some shine to your look! ColourPop offers these glitter gels in an impressive range of colors and are extremely easy to apply. With just a couple dabs, I apply it along my cheekbones and next to my eyes, though they work beautifully as body glitter too. The stunning sparkle will make you instantly stand out on a night out!

    https://www.sephora.com/product/contour-kit
    1. Anastasia Beverly Hills Contour Kit

    Available at Sephora – $40 (lasts 2-3 years)

    This is probably the least surprising and most popular entry on this list but for good reason! With six versatile shades for contouring and highlighting, it’s my go-to choice for sculpting my face and nose, both in and out of drag. I often use it to add depth to my eye makeup too. It’s hands down my most-used and most reliable product, with an impressive shelf life of two to three years.

    https://www.amazon.com/stila-Waterproof-Lasting-Smudge-Proof-Transfer-Resistant
    1. Stila Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner

    Available at Sephora – $24 (lasts 6 months)

    For years, I experimented with different liners. Some pens would dry up after a couple months, others stayed wet too long and smudged after applying. This Stila liner is a fairly recent discovery of mine but I have used it everyday the past three months and it’s as precise and sharp as the first day I tried it. While there are more affordable liners out there, this product casts a clean, sharp look and dries quickly (without the pen itself drying up.) I can’t recommend it enough!

    https://www.amazon.com/Makeup-Revolution-London
    1. Revolution Soph X Highlighting Palette

    Available at Amazon – $15.47 (lasts 1-2 years)

    This is one of my all time favorite products. I have yet to discover a highlighter product with as many shades and as good quality. They have enough variations to suit multiple skin tones and makeup looks. When I want a more subtle, natural highlight, I use the light tan, but if I want a more intense look, the white shade casts a beautifully bright shine. Its shelf life is also decent, mine having lasted me 2+ years. The one downside is that they don’t sell these in stores anymore and only seem to be available on Amazon but it’s 100% worth it for the exceptional quality. I can’t recommend it enough.

    Every item on this list has earned its place for its versatility, value, longevity, and above all else, performance. Whether you have an existing beauty regimen or are just getting started on your makeup journey, these are great products to explore and add to your routine!

  • No Longer a Tourist in San Francisco

    No Longer a Tourist in San Francisco

    Since moving to Los Angeles, I’ve clocked in countless hours on the 5 making the drive to San Francisco. But despite the frequency of these visits, it wasn’t until recently that I actually started to enjoy the city. Growing up in San Rafael, San Francisco was a 30-minute drive away. Once or twice a year, my dad would drive the family to Ghirardelli Square or Fisherman’s Wharf. As I got older, the charm wore off, especially when I was the one driving. Los Angeles has its share of terrible traffic and nonexistent parking, but at least you don’t have to endure such steep hills and winding streets!

    After I moved to LA, I made my way back home twice a year to visit my dad, sister, and high school friends. A couple years later–during a two-week visit–I decided to go on a handful of dates. At the time, I had very low confidence in my gender fluidity and often kept it a secret. To my surprise, however, these people were so accepting, I immediately felt safe enough to share my pronouns and identity. While one or two of the dates didn’t lead to anything, the majority resulted in long term friendships! I started to discover a version of San Francisco that I hadn’t been exposed to before: a queer version. 

    The amount of my friends in the city grew and grew, as did the frequency of my trips. I would spend weeks in advance planning who I was going to see and whose couch I was going to stay on, and on June 21, 2023, I headed north once again to celebrate SF Pride. 

    While the Pride Parade wasn’t until Sunday, the celebration started that Friday night. I stayed in the East Bay with a friend who drove us out to SoMA, starting out at the Hole in the Wall Saloon, a bar many of the earlier mentioned dates were at. You would be hard-pressed to find an empty space on the walls and ceilings here. Every inch is covered by stickers, chains, wheels, lights, records… the list goes on. The bartender that night was friendly, excited that I was from LA. He was from Orange County and “left for a reason.” –I didn’t ask. The bar’s tight quarters couldn’t help but make it intimate. A lot of the bars in this strip feel like that and draw out the same crowds. I always run into someone I know.

    On Saturday, I went to a party at a high school friend’s apartment in the Richmond District, spending time with old and new friends alike before venturing into the Castro for the first time. It was freezing outside but thankfully a lot of heat generated from the bodies crowding tightly together in line for the clubs. My friend and I waited outside of 440 Castro, apparently well-known for selling beer for just three dollars. We weren’t dressed very colorfully, so I applied glitter to my face, then to his… and then to the couple standing in front of us.

    Once we finally entered, it was nearly impossible to walk. Packed to the brim, we somehow made our way to the back of the bar where they indeed sold beer for just three dollars! We said goodbye to our new acquaintances and bolted for the exit to breathe, finishing our drinks on the outside patio before walking around the other bars and shops.

    Sunday morning arrived at last and we woke up early to drive to the city. Much to our relief, we spotted parking right away and headed for the Embarcadero where the parade would start. There we met and joined a group of familiar faces from Thursday night. The day was extremely sunny and relentlessly hot, though only for short intervals. The wind would pick up consistently enough that I began regretting the short shorts I was wearing. 

    Huddling close together for warmth, we watched the parade go by: a city taken over by the queer community: drag queens, performers, and activists marching with the most colorful and unique signs, banners and flags. Flags for Gay pride, Lesbian Pride, Pansexual pride, Transgender pride, Two-Spirit pride, and POC pride. Allyship pride, Bear pride, Leather Pride, Furry pride…  Any sub-community you could imagine was here and proud. And the crowd clapped and cheered for all of them.

    We followed the parade to the Civic Center where we were rejected from entering because security said our backpacks were too big. So we headed for the bars again. The wind finally seemed to relent, the heat showering down at last. As I sipped on a rum and coke, laughing with friends in the bar’s courtyard, I had a serene moment of reflection and bliss, taking in the warmth of those around me and how special it felt to be surrounded by such love and openness. So much freedom of expression and diversity. I had been a tourist before. And despite no longer living there, I had never felt more at home with familiar faces in every corner. This was the San Francisco I loved.