October 16, 2015

Why I Can’t Use On Fleek or Strobing in a Sentence?

strobing on fleek

Why I can’t I use on fleek or strobing in a sentence without feeling like a jerk? I mean “My makeup is so on point!” sure, I can say that comfortably but “My makeup is on fleek!” I’m cringing so hard right now never mind saying it out loud as I’d likely blush and feel like an idiot if I did.

I’m either getting old or makeup jargon and slang is getting cooler than me, not that I’ve ever been cool, geeky yeah, but I was never a Heather unless you count lunchtime poll at gay clubs with my best friend haha.

But yeah, somehow, someway, makeup brands are creating their own lingo.

It’s no longer highlighting people, it’s strobing. And your makeup isn’t on point, it’s on fleek.

Got it?

Maybe practice saying it in front of a mirror that might make you feel less like an idiot saying it in public?

Shrug…just throwing out helpful suggestions here.

As we head into Spring 2016, yes, Spring 2016 because people, the week before Christmas (or if we’re running a little late the week after Christmas) you’ll likely be hearing about the Too Faced Spring 2016 Collection that’s probably going to be on fleek. Ha see? I used it in a sentence…or did I? Not sure the sentence made sense….maybe, kinda, sorta.

But yes, with Spring 2016 I think you’re going to see a lot of strobing and fleeking and other makeup jargon that you might not understand or aren’t cool enough to use in a sentence.

But don’t worry, I’m right here, being just as not cool as you are.

Pats on the back for all, you’re welcome.

How stupid or cool do you feel using words like “fleek” or “strobing” when describing your makeup?

Comfortable with it?

Totally feel like a non-Heather when using it?

Do share!

About the Muse

Isabella MuseIsabella is just an average everyday geeky girl who doesn’t blend her eyeshadow correctly, wears too much blush, and hopes she never finds her holy grail products because she likes the thrill of the chase so much. Her mission is to bring you super honest reviews on makeup, skincare, fragrance and all things beauty. She’s in no way an expert on the topic and she sure as hell isn’t a super model. But she’s passionate about makeup and is seeking like-minded individuals that like pina coladas, getting caught in the rain, and ones that enjoy spending hundreds of dollars at Sephora without feeling buyer’s remorse. If you’re that person feel free to reach out and leave a comment or follow me on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Bloglovin‘.

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Comments

  • Maria

    Hi Muse. Strobing is a fancy name for highlighting. I use Laura Gellet highlight in French vanilla.

    • Isabella Muse

      Yeah, I know Maria. This was kinda a joke post making fun of the term 🙂

  • N

    Maybe it is a way for makeup brands to sell more stuff by giving old idea new names. Yes, I’d feel like a jerk if I used those words…say if I went into Sephora and said to a SA, ” I want my makeup to be fleek so can you show me some products so I can get my strobing on?”

    • Isabella Muse

      Yup! Just a way to get things to sound more cooler or meaningful I guess plus it’s appealing to a younger crowd. I mind find it weird but I guess if I was 18 I’d totally be about it 😀

  • Jane

    I cringe hard when I see anyone using the term “on fleek”. Another beauty blogger has used it a few times & it really seems so contrived & even a bit desperate like she’s trying too hard to sound with it. It’s like my 80-year old Mom saying something like ‘amazeballs’. It’s just creepy more than hip. LOL
    Thankfully I’ve never heard anyone in the wild actually use the term “on fleek”, which is nice!

    • Isabella Muse

      LOL Jane I laughed so hard when you said “thankfully I never heard anyone in the wild use it” LOL if I hear anyone, anywhere say “on fleek” I’d fall over and laugh lol! I mean I say really dumb stuff too like amazeballs, etc but typically that’s left to my online life! I wouldn’t say it in the real world haha! I feel comfortable typing amazeballs but saying it loud, mmm, questionable haha!

  • Denise

    I was born in 1962. If I’m baking, it’s cookies (and “baked” is something entirely different)! I don’t think I’m uncool. Just old.

  • Carolyn

    yeah, I’m too old to use “on fleek” so I don’t… I won’t say it to a Sephora sales person, she’ll think I’m one of those oldies trying to be hip (and I’m not kidding anyone! LOL!)

  • Phyrra

    I prefer highlighting to strobing. I can’t say on Fleek with a straight face either.

      • Yelena

        i can’t do on fleek, or on point. neither can i get on the yasss and slay wagon.
        strobing i could say because strobing in my mind has a wet/glass looking quality to it, rather than just metallic highlight.

  • Stephanie G

    I refuse to believe that anyone actually says “on fleek” in real life. (And if anyone actually does, I don’t want to know about it! ;))

  • Katherine T.

    Hmmm, I think it’s the makeup companies that are looking pretty desperate here, coming up with new words to try to sell makeup or create a “new” trend. I’m old too (meaning I’m over 20) and I didn’t know what strobing was, but when I googled it, I started laughing. It’s basically highlighting, which has been around forever. The first cave lady probably dyed her lips with red berries and used shiny mica in rocks for highlighting. I wasn’t around that time, but I’m sure vanity is as old as humankind 🙂

  • Ryou

    Not sure about strobing, but slang terms like “on fleek” and “on point” have their origin in AAVE (African American Vernacular English). The reason I feel like a jerk using them is because by doing so, I’m appropriating a culture that wasn’t exactly meant for my consumption.

    Of course, I might feel a bit different about it if the people of the community who started it get credit for popularizing the term, at least. However, I also noticed a trend where black slangs are usually considered “ghetto” until white people start using them. So even though I’m not white, I know I’m privileged enough to be seen in a more positive light for using those terms than those who came up with the slangs in the first place, and I don’t feel that’s fair at all. Does that make sense?

    • NancyC

      Ryou, I get what you’re saying. I was born in 61, and have been a big fan of Stevie Wonder since I was a teen. A lot of his early work, very popular songs, had quite pointed lyrics about poverty and race relations. I’m a white woman who grew up in suburbia. Many times, I’ve felt self conscious about singing along with some of those songs, like I didn’t have the right to do so.

      Your comment is very insightful…I understand where you’re coming from, even though I’m from another generation.

    • Moi Sanom

      Thank you for saying this! I was only reading the comments to see if any one here was aware that on fleek is Aave and I am actually quite disappointed that people seem to be quite clueless about this. I guess it just shows that appropriation and black erasures are strong. I am just glad that at least one person (well two from all these comments) here seem to know.

  • eunice

    i can so relate. i’m a Gen X-er and i cringe whenever i come across the word BAE. i’m not into the whole Millenial slang thing, even those from the internet. it used to be LOL back then, and now it’s KEK. *sighs*

  • Benita

    Like the term bae, “on fleek” originated in the black community and was co- opted by white celebrities sans any credit to the community that created them.

  • Ami

    This is going to sound a bit, sort of, splitting hairs, but one of the earliest posts I read on it explained that strobing was specifically JUST highlighting, possibly in more spots than you usually added to. Highlighting referred to a smaller part of the whole makeup process that included lowlights (contouring/shadows/bronzer for sunglow) and/or blush.

    Strobing = a complete makeup technique that ONLY used highlight products, using the lack of them to define shadows

    highlight = s small, specific process of the face making up package.

    At least, that’s how I’ve been reading it.

  • Brooke Jones

    I hate the saying “on fleek”. And I get second hand embarrassment for other people if I hear them say it. Does this make me a bad person?

  • danadoo

    Haha, i work with a teenage girl, and she seriously once told me that my eyebrows were “on fleek”. I absolutley died, but was damn proud of my brow skillz that day!

  • Sara

    I got my husband to tell his 13 year old daughter her eyebrows were “on fleek”….I think she about died. HA!!

  • Taryn

    I like to slay people whose strobing is so fleek that they’re amazeballs. And I don’t even know what I just said, but I’m pretty sure I meant it.