member for 23 weeks 10 hours
I flip through magazines and find pricy powders, hardly-a-bargain blushes and expensive eyeshadow. Sometimes I feel a longing to give in to my make-up demon - the one who sits in front of the mirror trying on this and that, washing it off, experimenting and testing. The demon that loves to run into stores and look up the latest products, satisfied that *this one* will be the light at the end of a dark and desperate tunnel. What looks good, what doesn't? What was worth the $30?
I have come to abhor make-up. Because I damaged my skin for such a long time, I often used extensive amounts of make-up to cover it up. Up at 5 in the morning, my mask would go on. 9 at night, the mask would come off. How depressing, to watch the color of skin wash down the drain at the end of the day, to look in the mirror and think, "Everyone who saw me today saw a lie. It wasn't me. It was make-up."
Lately I have been doing so much better that I have only been using make-up in spots where my scars are most visible. Even this has a downside. My skin is getting dark so quickly that my make-up bag simply cannot keep up. A light smear on darker skin is more noticeable than a faded scar.
Ever since I stopped wearing make-up for the most part, I have begun to notice other women who wear tons of make-up. I can usually see it right away. All those ads about blending is BS. More than half the time it looks like someone stuck their face into a bag of skin-colored powdered sugar. My mother is one. I love her, but she could do without the make-up. She looks naturally beautiful without it. I see how women clutch onto their make-up bags and it makes me sad to think that these accessories, this frosting on an already delicious case is so important, is a necessity. Who taught women that? Who taught them that they are not beautiful without make-up on?
We were born imperfect, we will continue to be imperfect. But I believe our flaws are what truly make us beautiful. My scars show how much I've been through. They aren't pretty, no. But they are a part of who I am, and that is something worth noticing.
Comments
Login or register to post a commentGood for you. You shouldn't
Good for you. You shouldn't have to cover yourself up.
I personally think that scars add character to a person. What fun is it being flawless.
Stay strong
"Fashion is not something that exist in dresses only. Fashion is in the sky, in the street, fashion has to do with ideas, the way we live, what is happening."
-Coco Chanel
Thanks I have many, many
Thanks
I have many, many scars...covering them up is just too much trouble. I'd rather let people wonder than spend a half hour in front of the mirror each morning.
"Be the change you wish to see in the world." - Gandhi
http://greendreamsveva.blogspot.com/
http://thegreenhoneybee.com
Genevieve - Great post! You
Genevieve - Great post! You really expressed how I think a lot of women feel about make-up. It's a billion dollar industry that is aimed straight at our insecurities. I also hate wearing make up and don't do it most of the time (with work and two toddlers who has time) but I still feel urge sometimes when I see pictures of me without it.
I think it's fun to wear it
I think it's fun to wear it every once in a while, when going out at night or something, but for me, wearing it every day is a hassle and I like to spend my time on other things. Plus it saves me a great deal of money!
"Be the change you wish to see in the world." - Gandhi
http://greendreamsveva.blogspot.com/
http://thegreenhoneybee.com
Makeup freak
I have to confess I'm a big makeup fan. I own every single item they sell for every inch of your face, from foundation, powder, blush, tweezers, liners, mascaras of three or four different kinds, eye shadows in every color of the rainbow (even though I only use the same black one I got at Victoria's Secret every day... It's sexy!) lipsticks, lipgloss, etc, etc.
I guess I can blame my addiction on my mother, that, since I can remember, wouldn't take the trash out if she wasn't fully embellished and wearing high heels. She wears a lot less makeup now because she has never really needed it and I suppose after three decades of painting and unpainting her face, she got tired of it. She still asks me to do her makeup on special occasions when she wants to feel extra glamorous, but I don't think is because she is not confident enough. Some people, like my mom and me, just like to add a little more spice to our hot latina flair LOL.
I started wearing makeup at 15, and back then I guess I did it because I wasn't feeling pretty enough. I always thought my three sisters were better looking, and I didn't want to fall behind. Now I'm more happy with myself and do it for pure fun. I have good skin (even though I neglect it most of the time by going to bed with a full mask on... bad girl! I should wash my face, I know...) but I really like experimenting with colors and tecniques. Lets put it this way. Some people buy shoes, some others are crazy about clothes or jewlery... I like makeup!
I agree that experimenting
I agree that experimenting can be fun...I guess we just all have our own preferences that are dependent on our experiences. I must say, I am quite an earring fanatic
"Be the change you wish to see in the world." - Gandhi
http://greendreamsveva.blogspot.com/
http://thegreenhoneybee.com
Great post! I have been
Great post!
I have been wearing make-up for ever and I too have my mom to thank for that. She NEVER goes out of the house without putting makeup on and used to discourage me from doing so. The older I get though the more I realize that less is more.
I am inheriting my father's side's saggy top eyelids and I think that eye shadow makes it look worse.
Strangely though, since my skin is so dry, putting on moisturizer and and a liquid foundation actually works really well for me. I stick with Aveeno cleansing products and Almay make up. Both are pretty gentle and have spf 15 (which is key!!) I use the best make up remover on the face of the planet called Pre-cleanse by Dermalogica. It is a mixture of various citrus oils and other good stuff. It's expensive but it is so worth it, and it lasts forever.
If you can afford a pricier foundation I recommend a brand called "Cargo." Their foundation is like heaven for your face and it is filled with really good ingredients.
I like wearing make up. Especially Mascara and lip gloss, but I try to go au naturale every once in a while to remind myself that I don't NEED make up to feel complete.
"I paint my own reality." -Frida Kahlo
I have had such bad
I have had such bad experiences with liquid foundation that I dare not venture into that realm anymore. But I always find really good moisturizers (Aveeno!) and one of my favorite cleansers is by Neutrogena. I try to keep it simple and quick, as looking too long in the mirror can provoke some old habits. Thanks for commenting
"Be the change you wish to see in the world." - Gandhi
http://greendreamsveva.blogspot.com/
http://thegreenhoneybee.com
it's everywhere
on t.v., magazines, movies, posters and billboards. people, women that are all made up with make-up because having a flawless face is what they say beauty is but the truth is this "But I believe our flaws are what truly make us beautiful." i myself don't really use that much make-up. only and maybe on special occasion or if i really need it but even then i always go for the natural or nude colors. i believe that people who wear make-up don't have enough confidence in thier own skin. plus in your picture i think you look beautiful. and not in a gay way lol. but you do.
-Jessica Trev
mmmhh....
I will have to disagree with you. I wear tons of make up not because I have bad skin and I'm trying to hide it, but because I like all the shine and glamour that unrealistic colors can bring to your face (even natural colors are not really natural). I am confident enough to go to the snootiest store without a drop of make up, and I do it when I feel too lazy to spend 10 minutes of my precious time in front of the mirror, but most of the time I wear make up because that's one of the little pleasures I can afford to spend some time on me and myself only. I see my face as a canvas, and I paint it according to my mood. I'm like one of those little fishes that change colors when they are happy or sad or scared. I guess I like to manifest myself in every possible way, and make up is one of them... I'm with you on the flaws thing though. That's what makes us unique.