Not too much! My interest wanes a little here and there as I get overwhelmed by launches or feel like I’ve seen the umpteenth shade of blue-red lipstick but is, surprisingly, still quite strong overall. I have not yet reached a point where I’ve lost interest entirely or gotten even close that!
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Yes, it has, because life! During my teens, even though I hardly knew what I was doing, clear into my late 20’s, I had a passion for it. Mostly nailing down the techniques and various shades that brought out my best. But even when life became more about my role as a Mom of 2 from 29 onwards, I did still love makeup. Just that I then spent far more time, energy and money on them. Plus, their Dad (my ex) became increasingly controlling of the money. Once I became a single Mom, everything went into our survival. Was I buying makeup during those 20 years? Yes. But nothing like now or previously! Now, with my passion for it renewed (thank you, my darling daughter, Sabrina!), I’m back on my game, honing my skills even further!
Yes, many times over the years. I was really into it in my teens and early 20’s. I had a huge collection of makeup and skin care and would play with it for hours. Later 20’s to mid 30’s I was working night shift and really just wore lipstick and on my days off I would maybe put on some mascara. Early 40’s I had a baby and breast cancer. I barely had time and energy to put clothes on but persevered and managed to take my daughter to all of her gymnastic and dance events. I was pale as all get out from poor blood counts and bald so I would put some lip gloss on because my lips were chronically chapped through that time and I had lots of sores in my mouth. I would put a stocking cap, bandana or hat on and went about my business. I often told people that there was a reason you loose your hair and that is because you don’t have energy to take care of it !! Once I finished my chemo and got back to feeling somewhat okay (about 2-3 years) I started wearing minimal amounts of makeup. In my early 50’s I started getting back into makeup because my daughter was on a performance gymnastic team and a performance dance team. I would do her makeup and all the girls who performed with her and that really sparked my interest again. I have consistently been buying, playing with and loving makeup since then. My ex-husband would always ask me how I knew what to use where and I would ask him how he knew what football player was leading the league in whatever and told him that if you’re interested in something you learn about it. I am 63 now and continue to love makeup and love shopping for makeup. I worked very hard all of my life in a career that not only challenged me but was also rewarding and draining. I am a registered nurse and have practiced continuously since I was 20 so that means I have been in nursing for 43 years. I feel like while nursing is very rewarding it is also very draining. I give a lot in my profession and need some way to recoup my energy. Makeup provides that for me.
It’s great how your interest in makeup has provided an outlet for the demanding work you do as a nurse. You are an inspiration to all of us Deborah!
Love this insight/story xx
Somewhat. It’s been difficult more recently as it’s gotten harder and harder to apply makeup as I get worse heath-wise, so it can be discouraging and a reminder of how I’m not anywhere near getting better. My interest hasn’t lessened, it can just be a tough reminder of bad things some days.
Not really. I’ve worn makeup every day for many years (except during times of illness, or when I’ve developed eye problems); if anything, I find the older I get the more interested I become, especially with new brands, formulations and textures which weren’t available when I was younger (oh, God, that makes me sound ancient!)
Hm. Ever since I started wearing makeup at the age of 14 I feel like I have always been interested. My interest has been refined and became more intense after starting a blog, but it was never gone.
Well, it did grow exponentially, as I’ve commented about in past, but lately, it has levelled off and I now try to purchase only replacement items or things that seem to be really outstanding and for which I don’t have 5 dupes! 🙂 I do get distracted by pretty new things but I really want to focus more on using what I already have since I’m often overwhelmed by everything in my “stash”.
When I started being in charge of the open heart/transplant ICU at a trauma level 1 hospital I first started wearing less makeup. I felt like I was in the trenches.
Then I got so bored with doing the same thing and wore minimal unless special occasions. I only wore a gel sparkle on the lids, mascara (sometimes), tinted moisturizer, blush and gloss.
Then my eye sight was so bad with a 10x mirror I couldn’t apply eyeliner even with contacts.That was bad.
Now with eye vitamins I only wear glasses for computer work on my phone.
I find Sephora overwhelming ( too many pretties) but thanks to this blog I’ve been inspired. I’ve purchased some great products and found renewed joy in makeup. Plus I look like crap without it.
Definitely. I only actually started wearing makeup at all about 4 years ago. My interest has been pretty strong since then, but it’s definitely wavered. The last few weeks I have only worn makeup a few times, but that’s more because I’ve been super stressed and can’t be bothered. Overall, my love of makeup hasn’t waned but I have been super into “minimal” makeup the last few months, so I guess it might appear that I don’t care as much anymore! It’s not true though, I’ve just become more invested in techniques and subtle enhancement.
A lot actually! When I first hit my teens up until I was about 17, I couldn’t have cared less about makeup. In high school, I only wore makeup for picture days, special events, and dances. Then, from the summer I started college to now, I’ve been enthralled. Occasionally I sort of shut down when too many products are being released, or if I’m really busy with work/school, but I’ve pretty much thought about/used/researched/swatched/etc. makeup every day for the past 2 years! And because of that passion I want to pursue a career in makeup artistry/esthetics 🙂
It’s not my interest which has fluctuated but my budget. That is hands down my biggest influence.
I hear you. I have a second job just so I can buy whatever I want. My full time job pays enough to support me fairly easily, but not enough for shopping, so I work 2-3 shifts at Walgreens for that extra $$$.
Yes. When I was a young girl, sometimes my mother would let me watch her put on makeup and I loved the transformation. She had the best smelling lipstick (Revlon Bamboo Bronze) and she used to wear a red lipliner with it and then blend. In my teens, I was always at my friends house putting it on (we’d use hers or he big sister’s – gross, I know, but back then no one talked much about hygenic practices) because I wasn’t allowed to have friends over or sleepovers, and I wasn’t allowed to wear makeup until I was 15 and even then it was only mascara and Vaseline on the lips. When I got out on my own and in my 20’s and discovered MAC, I went hogwild. I was like a walking business card for makeup perfection (in my mind). Then in my 30’s, I got married – bad marriage, worse divorce and was so shellshocked all I could do was go to work and come home. I gave up a lot of things and makeup was one of them. When I started re-applying it again in my late 30’s, it didn’t look the same on me and that was very discouraging. I figured I was past my prime with it, that people at my age shouldn’t wear it anymore or that if we did, it was minimal and without any extravagance or dimension. I went back to wearing just mascara and lip balm. My friend came over and saw all of my (old) makeup and dragged me to a MAC counter (she shares a love of all things MAC with me). I was very nervous because I thought they were just going to put a base on and do what I did at home (mascara and balm), maybe a little blush but that’s it because I was no longer the face of such a premier (in my mind) brand, like how certain designers won’t dress or offer clothes sizes to women/men that are a certain weight. I thought it would be like sitting down and they would humor me and just put a bunch of invisible products on and send me on my way. After the appointment I burst into tears when we got into the car. I’d ruined my makeup but I’d bought everything so I could try to replicate it at least and salvage some of it. We still went to dinner afterwards, but I felt really self conscious because it had been so long since I’d worn makeup and the waitress and a few other people had complimented me. I felt invisible for so long . . .I hadn’t felt like I’d mattered or anything. I’d let go of everything and had turned into this recluse and just worked and met family obligations and that’s it. I think it was that my friend (and the makeup artist) saw something that I thought had been long gone. It wasn’t that she made me pretty, it’s that she saw me differently, I guess. . My friend and this miracle mua didn’t see me as this self-conscious, nervous, pinch-faced scowling woman . . .they saw potential. It sounds vain but it was so much more than that – it was someone seeing what you can’t, someone believing in you and saying, “Hey, remember this? Remember when you used to walk with your chin up instead looking down? Remember when you used to walk instead of scurry and shuffle? Remember when you would look people in the eye? Remember smiling?” And then it’s like you come up for air. And you’re looking in the hand mirror in disbelief. I loved makeup, and I’d loved many other things that I just started to forget about because it was just safer and easier to keep your head down. Anyway, after that it was a mad scramble to get current with my collection and application. Much shame-returning, much learned about consumerism and marketing and fomo and then I found here and youtube tutorials and connected with a few MAC muas that I trust and still visit to this day and here we are. I don’t see my interest dying out anytime soon, but my buying has slowed way down, especially now in between releases/launches and because I only watch for a few brands.
I am so moved Pearl by your touching account of how you got back into makeup. I guess makeup symbolised a new you and a new determination to develop your self confidence and self esteem, having being dealt such heavy blows. Good for you!
Thanks, Genevieve! I think it definitely started me back on my way. ?
Holy crap, Pearlie.. you brought tears to my eyes. Life has a way of beating us up and sometimes its difficult to get our bearings and find our new selves amongst the detris. Thankfully, there always seems to be some stranger thrown in our path: angel/saviour/callithwhatyouwill who unwittingly helps us to find ourselves again. Strangers are important. So I’m always shocked at how rude folks seem to be. You never know what an seemingly inconsequential individual may have to offer you, what they may say to you, even in passing, that will have a profound impact on your life. I feel this very strongly. I love meeting new people. Even brief moments of connection. Love comments here!
“Thankfully, there always seems to be some stranger thrown in our path: angel/saviour/callithwhatyouwill who unwittingly helps us to find ourselves again. Strangers are important. . . .You never know what an seemingly inconsequential individual may have to offer you, what they may say to you, even in passing, that will have a profound impact on your life.
This. After reading this I realized that I’ve been assuming the opposite; they are not to be trusted and you have to protect yourself. You have a lovely way of putting things. Thank you for the reminder. ?
Thank you for sharing your inspiration story. I was tearing up by the end. ((((Hugs))))
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Ok, why am I crying reading this?? 🙂
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Yes. I wore it a lot when younger but didn’t panic if I met someone I knew in public if I weren’t wearing makeup. I do now I’m older though…! I don’t go anywhere now without my face done, not even around my children. I look so much older and washed out without it.
I have always been extremely interested in new foundations but because I worked in a corporate environment and under fluorescent lights, I had to be pretty basic about eye make-up so did not pay much attention to that. Also, I never enjoyed wearing lipstick so I tended to ignore that. Now that I am not working, I spend way too much time and attention on make-up because I am free to wear anything I want. And I really need lipstick now so I am focusing on that as well.
As I get older, I wear less makeup. In my early twenties i enjoyed wearing it all. Overtime I’ve come to want to see my face more, for instance I think eyes look better without eyeshadow and I don’t like the look of concealer on my face. Now all I wear is spf from elta md, my favorite bronzer from Bobbi, lip balm with spf, sometimes mascara, and If I’m going to outside the house I use a nice lip color too.
I loved reading all these responses! It just goes to show that makeup and beauty products aren’t just skin deep for many of us!
I was that baby caught playing with makeup and my love for glamour has remained strong! The budget waxes and wants, but the love is always there. 🙂
The interest was always there, but time, money, and energy wasn’t. I was really into it in my teens and early 20s.
Then my husband was diagnosed with a brain tumor in 1994, and we had our first kid in 1995 and second in ’97. Both kids were special needs. I couldn’t work because I had to take care of the kids 24/7. Between caring for everyone and high medical bills, I didn’t own as much makeup or wear it every day, all through my mid-20s till late 30s. Then I started getting back into doing my makeup and having my nails done. The last few years I’ve totally revamped and updated my collection and really gotten into it big time again. Hubby had his tumor removed in 2007, I went back to work a few years ago, and the kids are grown and not needing constant attention, so I can devote more time and money to my favorite hobby.
I’m glad your husband is alright. I’ve always liked reading your responses. You are candid and honest and real. I remember reading one of your responses, I can’t remember the question but your answer was ” . . . there are worse things”. That’s put a lot of things into context for me. ?
Thank you for your kind words, Pearl. They made my day. 🙂
Yes, hubby is back to his normal self, aside from the occasional blip of aphasia. Yesterday, he was trying to tell our younger son to unload the dishwasher, and it came out as, “Brandon, I told you to allegory!” We teased him mercilessly. 😉
Nope, never! In fact my interest has grown in the past 5 years as I have become more educated/informed about beauty products, thanks to your website Christine and the internet. I have been able to make purchases from international retailers to obtain beauty products, mostly eye shadow palettes, that I just could not get here in Australia.
Honestly I dropped off makeup for 6-7 years after MAC’s Rodarte collection, it never launched but after it was released here it just turned me off to the community as a whole. I recently (6 months ago) got back into MAC and makeup as whole but the youtube community is not the same. I’m just less of a follower now than in 2010.
Where do I begin? At four I was playing with my Mother’s makeup and loving it!!!!As I grew older, my father was very strict about me wearing makeup,so it was just frosted lip balm. UGHHH!! Finally at the age of 18, makeup was my world ( so was college). I played with makeup and loved it. Although when I look back at my pictures, I say to myself “what was i thinking”? False eyelashes,heavy eyeliner, blue shadow. I loved makeup so much that in my spare time I attended beauty courses. I learned so much from them.So now that i had the makeup going great, where was the time to apply it???? BTW work, 2 girls, finishing my 30 and above courses, there wasn’t much time for the whole face thingy. So fast forward to my 40’s , makeup was my universe. I was having a good time experimenting with all the new colors and latest products there is.Life is good now. I am blessed with a beautiful family and great job. But makeup is my passion. I have learned how to apply it and which colors look good on me. I have also learned so much from all the beauty sites, especially Temptalia and all the lovely ladies on here. Their advice has been so very rewarding. So remember ladies, have fun with your makeup and enjoy life.
I was on an off makeup for many years. Just saw an old video of myself wearing makeup and was shocked to see how great I looked! My ‘off’ times were usually when I was depressed and worn out. I remember when I first saw Bare Minerals on QVC in the 90’s and I felt actually excited and proceeded to collect as much as I could. Then I slacked off again for awhile. It wasn’t until about 2012/13 that my husband and I had our pictures taken for the church directory that I just threw on some face powder and mascara. Well, when I got the pictures back I was shocked at how terrible I looked! That’s when I started my quest to get back into makeup and how to wear it. Hooded eyes – I never heard about them – now I had to relearn my makeup techniques. So now I have assembled a nice, not overwhelming collection, and have been concentrating lately on getting my skin in top condition with skincare from The Ordinary. With some successful results.
I wasn’t allowed to wear makeup growing up and I didn’t dip a toe in it till I was 21 and with encouragement from a friend. I started using MAC products and fell in love with Harmony, Blushbaby and Gingerly blushes, but I never wore too much. It wasn’t until I hit 30 that I started to play with it more but that stopped until around 34 when it just exploded. Now I have “stash” that is just so overwhelming. I’ve given myself a “no-buy” for the rest of the year except for essentials. So hard when there are so many pretty things in the market right now. But as of late, I’m going through some tough symptoms of my first trimester and frankly if I can get sunscreen on with lip balm, its a very good day.
The older I get (and reading/receiving so much advice with advanced age less is best I’m 54) well, they got it all wrong with me I have an increasing love for makeup and doubt it will never die. I love walking the makeup and skin care aisles and just reading and checking all the new fun things. I try to avoid entering an Ulta but I find it actually less fearful than Sephora where everything is expensive and although I don’t need a thing at this present moment and even few years (Lol!) I know by entering those inviting doors I’ll be in big trouble. Something and more than one something will catch my eyes and grab me by the heart desires. Love reorganizing my stash often and keeping it in pretty containers.
My interest peaks and wanes. Occasionally everything I see looks like it has been absolutely done to death and I get very blase (hello Christmas Collections). Other times, a particular collection, season, or product will refresh and inspire me.
Every once in a while, one of the questions elicits vast quantities of wisdom. This was one such question. Thank you for truth and beauty, all.
Not really. There are times when I don’t buy as many new products and focus on what I already have, others when I’m really into new launches (that’s becoming more rare these days as the excessive amount of new releases kind of kills the excitement for me), but overall my interest has always been high since I started getting into makeup.
Yes, mostly due to depression or poverty 😛
I still love makeup, but my love for certain types of products and the frequency at which i buy and try new products has definitely waned with time. For instance, when I first got into makeup in college, I loved wearing eyeshadow. I purchased palettes regularly and wore it consistently for special occasions. Recently, I haven’t worn eyeshadow in over 2 years, and I never purchase it anymore (although I do enjoy looking at the swatches of newer palettes). Also, I’ve reached a point where I don’t itch to constantly buy and try new products anymore. I have pretty much found my holy grail products in each category, so I tend to just re-buy those products when I run out. I am still open to playing around with new foundations when I run out of what I’m currently using, and I enjoy shopping around for newer, better lip gloss formulas as well. Other than that, I stick to my tried and trues.
Sort of. I have always worn full makeup, but I fluctuate between three phases:
1. Being satisfied with what I own and not buying anything until I run out of it. Such an easy, comfortable phase.
2. Being experimental and blowing my paychecks on new and different makeup, some of which I’ll use maybe once or twice (greige lipstick, I’m talking to YOU!).
3. My current phase of buying tons of similar items. For example, right now I have about 10 dusty mauve lipsticks in various brands and several neutral eyeshadow palettes. I am currently trying to convince myself to move back to phase 1.
While I am always pretty enthusiastic about makeup, when trends are huge and I don’t like them, it gets harder to get excited about it. But what usually happens is it sticks around long enough for me to give it a try, and I end up warming to it. My interest is definitely at a high point right now, and I suppose there are times when it dips, just as my interest in clothing does, but I never completely lose interest.