The post that happens after you turn 30
Posted by Isabel on January 6th, 2006. Filed under: Me.My Mom had a rule that I couldn’t wear make-up until I was 14 (or was it 12?). At the time I hated this rule. Looking back and remembering how the girls in my classes looked with their make-up reminds me that it was probably better that I wasn’t trying to apply blue eye shadow at the ripe age of 13. Or even 14, to be honest.
When I became of “make-up wearing age” I wore it everyday. I saved my babysitting money and bought all sorts of shades and lip colors from Avon. Until I got bored of all of it and tucked it away in my dresser drawer. Only to come out for school dances and other special occasions.
In high school I thought I was above needing that sort of thing. Not because I thought I was pretty (believe you me, I was not very cute in high school), I just had other things to worry about. For instance, “what tie-dyed shirt will I wear today”, or “should I wear my brown sandal’s or my clogs with these cut-offs?”
By the time I got to college, my oily skin was driving me crazy. I would go to the bathroom between classes and wash my face (yes, with the soap in the public bathroom and dry it off with the brown recycled paper towels). Not very good for my delicate skin.
Shortly after college I was introduced to Lancome powder, in D’Ivoire 1. My savior. I didn’t care how much it cost. It worked. Which made me so happy. You could also get all sorts of free gifts if you bought it at the right time. This would explain the many, many free Lancome bags, brushes and eye make-up removers I own.
After purchasing face powder, using it, and loving it, I ventured out to the realms of eye shadow, mascara, and of course…lip gloss. Oh, how us girls love our lip gloss. (Side note: Right now in my little Coach bag I have no less than 9 type of lip gloss. This isn’t counting all the ones I have at home. It’s an obsession!)
In my middle 20’s, I used make-up to enhance myself. I still never felt like I needed it. I wouldn’t have been embarrassed if someone saw me without my make-up. Oh no, I was above games like that. Granted, I never really went anywhere without my make-up. Except for the Home Depot. But that doesn’t count, right?
Now that I am in my 30’s. Gasp. I have recently discovered the need for make-up. I look terrifying without it. I wake up in the morning and scare myself. Once I’m ready to walk out the door for work I am quite presentable. The thing I can’t figure out is, why? I don’t have wrinkles, my skin is the same texture and color it always was. What is it?
Maybe it’s the permanent lines I have on my forehead from years spent scowling.
Whatever it is, I need my make-up. And this frightens me.
January 6th, 2006 at 11:20 am
This is the same reason I quit coloring my hair or even getting highlights! I realized that one day it’s not going to be “option” to color my hair to make it look better. It’s going to be a “MUST DO” to cover up the, well, you know that color I’m talking about. I won’t even speak it’s name. Getting older for women is a bitch! Men once again, get off easy (no pun intended..sorry).
Oh, and I’m the same way with my Clinique powder! Won’t buy it unless it’s bonus week (which I need right now)!
January 6th, 2006 at 11:58 am
Isabel you don’t look like you need makeup at all…you are beautiful!
January 6th, 2006 at 1:34 pm
Hahaha! I thought I was the only one who carried around at least 6 different types of lip-gloss in my purse! You make me feel normal!
January 6th, 2006 at 1:51 pm
I’m so addicted to lipgloss too! I once counted and had 27 of them. And MAC Eye shadows? I have 24 different colors…I don’t want to do the math and figure out how much money I have spent on makeup. It’s frightening.
I just bought a Lancome powder for the first time the other day, and have fallen in love with it too! Ouch for the 33 bucks, though…
January 6th, 2006 at 2:58 pm
I know you are not frightening without makeup! I hate all the broken capilaries around my nose, which is going to require laser therapy pretty soon
January 7th, 2006 at 5:49 am
I miss the days when I could just roll out of bed, shower, and walk out the door. It’s different when you wear makeup because you WANT to than when you reach the point that you NEED to.
And I wonder what’s up with the weird skin changes? Wrinkles aside, I have sporadic acne (which I was fortunate enough not to have as a teen), red spots, and combination skin. It’s a shame I didn’t appreciate my skin more as a teenager and young woman.
January 9th, 2006 at 8:12 am
lol “Gasp.”
January 9th, 2006 at 9:43 am
Those brown paper towels were the onset of exfoliation, sister!
Every so often I look at some magazine picture of the “Natural” look and so I think, “hey, I can do this” and so out the door I stroll with just my natural glow.
Till I realize (usually once I hit the office) that my current (read: mid-thirties) natural look is more National Geographic than Cosmogirl.
Sadness, this.
January 10th, 2006 at 5:39 pm
I did the exact same thing in college with the washing of the crappy soap and drying with the brown paper. I also bought my underwear in six packs from Wal-Mart. I’m surprised I didn’t wear house slippers and sweatpants to class. Oh, wait….