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I don’t think so; my mom didn’t wear makeup, but she didn’t speak about makeup negatively. It was more of a neutral thing; unnecessary to be beautiful but there was no undertone of “makeup is evil” or “makeup is superficial” that I picked up on.
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Oh yes, most definitely! My Mom never had a stash or even near it, but she was always “done up” unless she had the flu or something drastic like that. Plus, when I was little, it was the 60’s. Valley Of The Dolls era. Cocktail parties. Barbie dolls, and Twiggy. Liz Taylor. Glamour was literally everywhere you looked. Heck, even my Hippie cousins wore makeup! The 70’s began to usher in the “natural look”, makeup went through a phase of less is more. The 80’s with their excesses came when I turned 20, and I welcomed it with open arms!
My mom didn’t wear make up but my sister did so when she had make up she didn’t want she would just give it to me. I started wearing make up out when I was 14 so that was pretty young but my sister was really supportive.
When I was growing up, none of my family or friends wore makeup, except for my mom, but only on special occasions, and it was just lipstick. Makeup was seen as something frivolous, unnecessary, superficial. My mom did let me wear makeup starting in high school. But this was way before the internet or you tube even existed (yes, I’m ancient), so I learned about makeup and application skills on my own, by looking at teen magazines or thru trial and error. And believe me, there was a lot of errors, and most the DS products back then were truly horrible (sheer-as- dust shadows, dry-as-a rock eyeliners, orange foundations, frosty lipsticks) , so I cringe thinking about some the makeup looks I came up with LOL
Not in the least bit! I have no memory of seeing the adult females in my life interact with makeup. The idea of “makeup” came to me by chance. At the age of 19, someone had randomly given me a kaboodle kit filled with [Avon] makeup for Christmas, and I’d been on my own to figure out how to use it all. I’d grown up with nothing but males in my life (Dad and brothers), so being girly was quite the struggle. Thanks to the development of YouTube and makeup blogs, I was able to figure it all. I’m glad that I did.
Definitely, at least for a while. My mom was one of those 2nd wave (I think it was 2nd wave, sometimes I mix them up, but the ones from the 70’s) feminists who rejected feminine things and thought of them as lesser. Combine that with her not really wanting kids and seeing anything “extra” with us as a chore, and my sister and I learned really quick that girly = bad. My older sister was the rebellious one so she of course embraced all things girly for a while out of spite, but as an adult pretty much stopped wearing makeup at all. I was the opposite and it took me getting out of the house (and into some really good gender studies classes) for me to re-evaluate my view of the “feminine”. I started realizing that it was actually anti-feminist (at least the current wave) to be anti-feminine, and that I really liked embracing my femininity. Particularly after I got sick a few years back, it became a cornerstone of my identity, which included liking makeup/beauty/skincare/fashion/etc.
Oh, also to add more to my rambles, now that I have the relationship with my mom of an “adult daughter to adult mother” or whatever it is, she’s actually gotten into makeup and skincare a bit as well, which I find pretty awesome. I did her makeup last time she visited and we went and got her some as well!
I grew up in that era of your mum and for a while it was thought that if you were a feminist you couldn’t be feminine – eg wear makeup. However I believed in the feminist ideals of self determination and choice, BUT I also loved my makeup and no movement was going to tell me not to wear makeup. The movement became very rigid and inflexible at this point. I am really pleased to read that now you both enjoy a good relationship.
Yeah, it is so interesting to learn about the different waves of feminism, and how they differed, and why they were the way they were. It makes sense in a way that there was a backlash on all things feminine, because it was really the first wave that was fighting for more than the vote, and they kind of had to be seen as equals to men to get things done, and at that point could only really come close by acting like men of the time did. My mom had pretty negative attitudes towards things like stay-at-home moms as well, as they were occupying a space that was “feminine” and in her eyes were then lesser. I can see why women needed that stage of feminism to get to where we are now, but I’m also very grateful I get to be a part of the latest wave instead of hers, as it’s a lot more inclusive and also a lot more socially acceptable than it was for her to be a feminist. A part of why I got so interested in makeup was the cultural anthropology classes I was taking along with the history and gender ones, as looking at this broad spectrum of human existence and seeing “gender performativity” in all of it was sooo fascinating. That’s one of the reasons I really like Lisa Eldridge’s “Face Paint” book as well.
My parents always fully supported and indulged my obsession with makeup–from one of my earliest memories of a preschool-age birthday with a toy (fake) makeup kit–which I think developed as independently as possible from my mom’s own use of it. I would play with hers, but wouldn’t try to copy or emulate her. Mostly I tried to make myself look like I was starring in “Cats”…
When I was young, I used to ask my Mama why she wears makeup even when she was just going to the grocery or the market. And now I do the same thing! I was definitely influenced by her — she always made sure she always looks good wherever she goes.
Same as you Christine! My mom still does not wear makeup, to this day. Actually, I did just help her pick out her first MAC lipstick ever a couple weeks ago. 🙂 But she never spoke negatively. When i was in high school and wanted to wear it, she let me. And then the obsession started……..
Ever since I could remember, my mom always wore a full face of makeup. Her bathroom was always stocked with products so i experimented a lot with makeup growing up. I guess I always thought that wearing makeup was normal and expected.
While I was growing up my mom always wore makeup, especially colored eyeliner. Even being a stay at home mom while we grew up, every morning she woke up early and put on make up, and fixed her hair, which is something I admire. Even when I go out sometimes I just don’t feel like doing much. But my mother and I are both totally obsessed, and it is nice to have something we both love so much. Always someone to go to Ulta or Sephora with, and we always show each other new launches, collections, upcoming releases, good sales, obscure brands that we find. I love that we share our make up obsession! (She checks Temptalia every day just like I do! lol)
My mother definitely wore makeup, but she didn’t want her daughters to wear makeup before the age of 18. Of course, since it was “forbidden” I was fascinated by makeup and would wear makeup during high school; just made sure that I washed it off before I went home. When I had two daughters of my own, my own rules were no makeup other than lip balm before 8th grade, and I also stressed to them to leave their eyebrows alone as much as possible, because I made the dumb mistake of plucking too much from the head of my brows in my 20s and they’ve never grown back (and I have to fill them in every day). They also had plenty of examples of badly plucked and over plucked eyebrows to look at in their father’s side of the family, so they heeded my eyebrow advice other than some basic cleaning up of the shape. My girls are high schoolers now and don’t wear much makeup beyond a CC cream with SPF 50 (I’ve always stressed sun protection) and a winged eyeliner. I’m actually a lot more adventurous with makeup than they are.
It surprisingly didn’t. My dad is very vocal in his opinions but at the end of the day, he let’s me do my thing. He is all about natural beauty, he dislikes earrings, piercings and tattoos. (He calls it self-mutilation). When it comes to make-up, he calls it paint. He prefers paint on a canvas, not on my face. He used to comment on every lipstick I wore but I think he has accepted it now and he understand that I like painting and colors…
No. It made absolutely no impact despite the fact my mother comes from the original “Makeup is Evil” wailing banshee group. Surely wearing it will kill and cast your pathetic treacherous soul into the 9th level of hell.
Yeah, not so much.
My mom is a very simple lady, even when it comes to makeup. She put very little in but she looks so pretty, I think that’s how I picked up on it. Now whenever I wear makeup, I like to use things that would just bring out my features a little more.
She didn’t talk about makeup in a negative way either, she didn’t shame makeup or makeup users. Growing up, people had shamed the use of makeup and my sister in law shames it. I don’t really care, I just love it and it makes me happy.
No. My mother didn’t wear it either and didn’t say anything about me wearing it, though it was pretty minimal in my teens.
My daughter has had access to my makeup all her life and most of the time she goes barefaced and only bothers with it for a special occasion or just for a change. I’m glad she sees it as a fun and creative outlet as opposed to a necessity. I’ve tried to be careful to keep her from thinking she has to wear it to look good, and I’ve always told her she’s beautiful so she knows she doesn’t NEED it.
Not at all. My mum had good skin and used standard good skincare of the time, but her color cosmetics were very limited. Revlon Fire and Ice, Cherries in the Snow, under five. Slight taupe brow pencil. No cheek color, eye color, masc, or foundation. My MGM had far more: cream rouge, foundation, subdued rose lipsticks, primarily Germaine Monteil, a little Arden. My PGM never owned any. She was from NS, and a major pro-animal bluestocking. I can thank the other grandmother for the addictive tendencies, though. I started makeup on my own, crushing wild berries and applying to face and lips as a preschooler. There was some weed that had orange powder on the underleaf. Apply to eyelids. Think I was 4, and think it related to role playing, in all those plays I dictatorially roped all the neighbor kids into. Know I’ve said I rode my bike to a nearby village to get my first l/s, sound age 9 or 10, probably to hide the fact.
not really…the only thing my mom really wears is mascara and lipstick and light foundation so she always kept it simple
I don’t think it did. My parents seem to feel neutral about makeup and haven’t said anything negative about the bold, colorful looks I’ve done before. My mom only wears makeup on rare occasions and it’s only mascara and a lip gloss or tinted balm, so I was never really exposed to makeup from a young age beyond those products. They made me wait until I was about 14 to start wearing makeup and I’d only wear eyeliner or a lipstick, and I think I’d still say 14 is a decent age to start playing with makeup.
I grew up in a very liberal family, so it was pretty clear that there would be no judgement. My mother, a very intelligent and hard working woman, always wore makeup, so there was no association with “Makeup = superficial”.
I for one love and wear makeup a lot, my sister barely does. Both was accepted.
For me it was more about not wanting to be like my high maintenance, appearance-driven mother. I mean, I obviously have an interest in cosmetics since I read this board and own a ton of products, but the goal has been to enhance my appearance in a subtle way, without surgery or even fillers.
My mom didn’t wear makeup either with the exception of lipstick and mascara. She and my sisters had such sensitive skin that anything they tried on their face broke them out. I had bad acne so I had always wanted to wear makeup to cover it up. My mother wouldn’t allow it. I really didn’t start wearing makeup until I was 18 and had my own paycheck to buy it with. I really had no idea what I was actually doing with makeup until I discovered YouTube around 23 years old. I think not being able to wear it just peaked my interest in it more.
Yes, those girls in my all girls high school wore yon of makeup.
I wanted what they had. I mimic them. Also, my cousin’s girlfriend was my influence.
I will always remember my mom styling her hair into a beehive and wearing winged liquid eyeliner in the early 70’s. She was beautiful and she made make up look fun!
My mom never really encouraged or discouraged me to wear makeup. She wore very minimal makeup, and I didn’t get the impression that makeup was bad or absolutely necessary, but I’ve always been obsessed with it.
A bit. My mother wore makeup, I would watch while she got ready. She had some rules regarding when I could start wearing makeup myself (not until I was in high school), and she took me out to buy my first set of makeup. However she was no where near as interested in makeup as I am now, nor is my sister. That passion came later on in college.
To an extent. When I turned twelve, my mother gave me a Caboodle absolutely filled with new packages of makeup. So it was completely encouraged to wear full makeup looks at age twelve. I live in the southern United States, and it is expected for women to wear makeup daily (to the grocery store, post office, to sleep in). I do not care for the cakey, almost orange base that women wear here. While I absolutely.love makeup, I do not wear it on most days. I wear it as art, not to cover up my skin as most women around me tend to do. People act weird about me not wearing it everyday, and often mistake me for being much younger than I am (as in strangers think I am in high school or am way too young to be married and I am 28). It is a big no-no here to not wear makeup, but I do not want to give in to those social expectations. I believe in skincare before makeup, and I want my skin to breathe sometimes. And I never want it to be a chore.
To SLEEP in?? Is this real? I mean absolutely no judgement here, but a whole lot of genuine bafflement!
Wow – to sleep in? I always heard that was a huge no no because it can lead to big pores (makeup settles into pores, then sebum goes to work on it, expanding the pore, then blackheads and pits). No judgment but holy cow – is/are there sleep-friendly makeup? Is this an expectation of men from the area or family or?? Again, no judgment. And also if you don’t mind sharing, do you live in Louisiana or Mississippi or around those parts?
My parents neither encouraged or discouraged wearing makeup. They never complained about my experimenting with looks as a teen. My dad gave me a compliment only once when I did my makeup and he said I looked like Elizabeth Taylor. I like your mom’s view that makeup is unnecessary to be beautiful. Makeup is fun and creative, but now that I am older I don’t feel I ‘need’ it.
Probably. I don’t think there’s been a day that I’ve been alive where my mother has left the house “without her face on.” I can’t even recall her going out in public with minimal makeup. So I definitely was raised with the idea that for women makeup is like brushing your hair or wearing deodorant, that it’s a vital part of looking “presentable.” As a result, I’ve have a similar relationship with makeup since I hit puberty. I don’t look down on people who go out without makeup on or anything, but I definitely don’t leave with house without at least filling in my eyebrows and applying a little mascara.
Not at all. My mom was an RN back in the day when nurses weren’t permitted to wear any obvious makeup, but I started wearing makeup on a regular basis at a time when exaggerated eye makeup was quite the trend. Models like Twiggy and Jean Shrimpton were my style icons. My mom’s attitude was just because she couldn’t wear much makeup to work didn’t mean I couldn’t have fun with it. My greatest makeup influence was simply the times I lived in and that is still true today.
My mom never wore as many products as I use today, but I remember getting into hers at an early age. In fact, my earliest makeup memory is playing with her foundation and spilling it on the mattress. (then trying to hide the stain) I was probably 3 or 4 years old. She was pretty angry!
I have my own daughter now, who loves makeup like I do and became intrigued with it at an early age as well. She totally demolished my beautiful LE Chanel lip gloss kit when at about that same age!!
Definitely. The women in my family always allowed me to play with makeup, but it was always with the understanding that makeup was for fun. I was never influenced to believe that I HAD to wear it. When I started to get acne as a preteen and felt self-conscious about my bare face, my mom always told me that if it made me feel better, I could cover it, but there was no shame in having acne. I’ve always felt that the attitude my family had was very positive when it came to cosmetics. Your choices about makeup should be made on what YOU want–wear it to express yourself, to feel more confident, or not at all if you’re not interested!
I grew up in an environment that was really hostile to anything labelled feminine and it definitely affected me a lot. I didn’t really learn about makeup and skincare until way after 25 because it was talked about with a LOT of disdain. I’m just glad i was able to adopt a more neutral mindset towards it.
I was the same. I got lucky with a particular gender studies prof giving some lectures on makeup and different waves of feminism and all that jazz, which really helped me start being more open to makeup and realize that being negative towards the feminine was all about internalized sexism on my part. She was so awesome, and I still keep in touch with her even though I graduated in April.
I grew up with my grandma and my mom. My grandma wouldn’t leave the house without “her face on,” even when she was 80 years old. My mom, however, has never worn makeup and generally thinks it’s a waste of time and money. She tries to respect my hobby, but she definitely makes me feel stupid sometimes with her comments. “What is that on your face?” or “You’re wearing that just to go to :insert place:?” Usually I just have mascara and lip gloss on! So yeah, probably some impact there.
Oh, yes! My mom was an artist and art teacher and always wore it. Decades ago she did things nobody thought of, using products unconventionally, etcetera. When I was old enough, she took me makeup shopping. My sister soon followed. We were both into 80s New Wave and alternative music and that came out in the looks we played with. We both still love it, in our 40s. I still have a set of my mom’s makeup brushes. We miss her…
In the beginning it did. I think I was 14 when my mom took me to Ulta to buy my first makeup and I relied totally on what she said. Minimal was better, blue eyeshadow is the devil, the like. Then my dad started to let his opinions in which were those like “you don’t look good in dark lipsticks, you look so much prettier when you keep your eyes subtle.” Same kind of presentation ideas as my mom but hers were based on convenience whereas his were based on appearance. Around 16 I discovered the joy of beauty tutorials on YouTube and started realizing that my makeup was mine and mine alone. I didn’t have to do it every day, I wasn’t unattractive when I didn’t wear it, and a full face of makeup wasn’t “something to hide behind.” It was actually kind of cool to embrace that! Since then, my parents and family still offer commentary on my makeup but as the years have gone on, their opinions are no longer rules in my mind.
Maybe. My mom is a proud woman and takes very good care of herself, so I guess some of that rubbed off on me. We’re both into beauty 🙂
My mom never really wore makeup on the regular. She was a firm believer in skincare tho with all kinds of moisturizers and serums. My sisters did wear makeup in high school, and from what I remember it was the 90s makeup. Brown lipstick, grungy smoky eyes, and thin eye brows. My mom never really voiced whether she was ok with it or not, I guess it didn’t really matter to her because my sisters liked it and she left it at that. The first time I wore eye makeup, I was in high school and eye liner and dark brown shadow were big in my school. When I first fully got into makeup I was probably 21 or 22 and it was really just on a whim. I think I saw a Bare Minerals commercial and I just went to the website and ordered a try me kit.
My mother was a fashion model in her teens in the early 1960s. (She stopped when she married my dad.) She loved makeup and wore it whenever she went out in public. She always let me watch her put on her makeup and look at her makeup. Makeup use was encouraged, and she didn’t care how “weird” or colorful I got. I inherited her love of glitter: It’s in my DNA.
My father was not around much after he left when I was 9 years old. He never seemed to mind it when I did see him. He never said anything negative about makeup.
Yes!
I was part of a very conservative Christian “Church” growing up and makeup was intensely frowned upon.
On the flip side, my mother always make me wear it for pictures even as a child because “When you look washed out, you don’t look your best”.
When I was 8 years old I started puberty. I got vicious acne and I felt I needed to cover it up. My parents had laxed slightly as they left the church around this time. I was allowed to wear cover up of either foundation or concealer, or both if things were bad or if I was going to be photographed.
Many of the people we associated with were still very conservative and they berated my parents and limited my interactions with their kids because I was obviously wrong. Boobs and acne at 8 must have been the work of Satan! I wish I was kidding but I am not.
Once I was in my teens, it got even worse as I would wear nail polish or I started trying to not look “washed out” by adding some color products to my pancake makeup. I was actually called a harlot to my face for wearing red nail polish.
To be honest with you, I wasn’t rebellious much at all but at that very moment, I became rather zealous about expressing myself through my appearance. Which kicked off a lifetime phase of “Goth”. I was already secretly listening to the music so I just made it not so secret anymore!
Def, I still remember my mom getting dressed for a night out with dad, and leaving in a cloud of Chanel No5….
she always wore lipstick….always
My mother always looked nice – some powder and lipstick was the thing way back in her day. The only negative comment I can remember about my makeup was my father telling me when I was in high school (at the breakfast table) that I had too much makeup on my face. Foundation. What I remember is being so very limited in the colors of foundation that that might be what he meant. He meant well for sure and he was probably right. I was never discouraged from buying and wearing makeup. Yay!
It was until my brother’s wedding in May 2015 thay I wore makeup for the very first time. Ever since then, I have been addicted. I alwaya felt intimidated by makeup because I knew nothing about it. I didn’t know the difference between foundation and concealer. I had a negative view on makeup because I never looked at it as a form of art. I always looked at it as people caking it on to look beautiful. Now that i’m into it, I understand that makeup is a form of art and expression and not everyone puts it on to impress others. My mom didn’t wear makeup and I didn’t have a sister to teach me. I love makeup now.
No, my mom wore modest makeup but she didn’t influence me either way. I definitely enjoy experimenting more than she does!
My parents seemed pretty indifferent towards makeup, probably because I never wore an excessive amount. My mother always had a Covergirl powder compact with her and that was the only cosmetic she ever used. My father was convinced that using mascara would cause me to go blind… but I’ve been using it for around thirty-five years and I can still see. 😉
I had an aunt who always wore a full face of makeup, complete with red lipstick. I know my fear of red lipstick is due to the lipstick smudges and stains I witnessed in my youth. It was traumatizing! LOL
Yes. Both my mother and grandmother wore it. They treated it like a special ritual and I loved watching them apply it and couldn’t wait until I was old enough to wear it. I even remember the sweet smell of the makeup. My grandmother had this beautiful table with a makeup drawer and a big mirror she sat at when she applied it. Such fond memories!
My mom would wear foundation, power, blush & lipstick but never eye makeup of any kind. I was the first of my friends to wear makeup so when I turned 13 for my birthday I got an Aziza eyeshadow palette from Hudson’s and I was over the moon but before that I would wear eyeshadow from the dime store and as they say the rest is history!!! I love makeup and never discouraged my daughters from wearing it when they turned 13 so now our youngest wears it all the time – high end makeup and our oldest doesn’t … go figure!!
My mother would always wear makeup before leaving the house for anything. She had one or two of each kind of makeup item, plus about a dozen lipsticks, all drugstore or Avon. She used a hand lotion for moisturizer, and Ponds Dry Skin Cream (original formula) as a night cream. She had 3-4 fragrances. A very modest collection by today’s standards. I don’t recall that she tried to influence me in any direction about wearing or not wearing makeup. She let me experiment with her makeup and fragrances any time.
Absolutely! My mom has been wearing makeup since she was a teenager. I used to watch her put on makeup everyday and think she was crazy. I hated makeup and I swore up and down that I would never wear it and the never paid attention when she tried to teach me. Smh. But now I’m addicted! Thanks mom for creating a monster! 🙂
No I don’t think so either. My mum wore foundation, “rouge” and lipstick when she was going out and that was about it. I know she used Ponds cold cream on her face as a cleanser and moisturiser and she had beautiful skin. Makeup was never seen as bad or awful. Just the products at the time were pretty terrible I would say.
Absolutely! My mother is pretty classic and wears a minimal amount of make up, she’s a natural beauty with fair skin and hazel eyes, very classic bone structure. She doesn’t buy a good deal of make up, but it’s always excellent quality. My Dad’s side, however is the true make up addict, my father is Indian (South Asian), and my grandmother and aunts were obessed with cosmetics, and started my love for Guerlain at a ridiculously young age. Those women would plan holidays just to buy cosmetics, skin care and perfume, since we couldn’t get decent brands or certain products in Canada in the 80’s up through the 90’s. The nice thing was my father never perceived beauty products as luxury items, they were necessities for women to buy in silly amounts monthly, because that’s what his sisters and mother did. My frugal Irish mother would object to the amounts, but if I ever needed make up, Dad was the one to talk to. He still knows all the top brands at 83!
My mom wore lipstick only, and my grandma wore lipstick and face powder only when she got dressed up, so I really didn’t grow up around people wearing makeup as a daily ritual. I, however, fell in love with playing dress-up, and got my first nail polish and eye shadow trio when I was 7 (it was 1972, so the shades were luscious sky blue–oh yeah…) . I wasn’t allowed to wear anything out of the house of course, as it was only to be worn while playing dress-up at home. In fact, the first time I was actually allowed to wear brown mascara and blush outside of the house was our formal end-of-year dance in 9th grade.
For the most part I was discouraged to wear any makeup by my mother. She saw it as an unnecessary expense and got very angry when I brought new product into the house which I had to pay for with my allowance and saved up babysitting money.
Makeup became somewhat an obsession for me, and things have not changed much to this very day. I spent every spare moment at the library combing through copies of Seventeen, Glamour, Mademoiselle, and Vogue. I bought every book on makeup application from Barnes and Nobles whenever I saw that they had been marked down. I would roam the cosmetic aisles at department stores and just stare at everything at the counters, take notes and make lists of what I would like to buy next. I even had a notebook full of swatches of every eyeshadow, eye pencil and lipstick that I owned.
Funny thing, though, my daughter has absolutely no interest in makeup at all.
My mom was a classic, old school, Southern belle. She got up before dawn to do her hair and makeup even though she was a stay-at-home mom. She said it made her feel ready for the day and anything that came her way. When my sister and I were growing up, she always told us that we were naturally beautiful and didn’t need makeup but it was the 80′ and we couldn’t seem to wear enough, lol! Thurty years later and I still don’t leave the house without my “face on”. Old habits die hard, lolol!
Absolutely. My mother was a model at Neiman Marcus in Dallas in the 40’s and she knew how to dress, do hair and impeccable makeup. I grew up under her tutelage and my first lipstick was from Neimans….I learned from her and to this day, my love of all things lovely has remained constant…thanks to my mom.
I’m pretty similar to Christine. No one in my family wore make up except an occasional lipstick on special occasions. No one disapproved although I sensed some Rom one of my grandmother’s. Even my sister’s didn’t wear makeup.
My daughter and granddaughter both love makeup though.
*Rom = from.
Yes my upbringing definitely impacted my view of makeup. I’m a women of color. And my mom wore makeup but it was the wrong skintone for her. I remember noticing this as a child. I was born in 1963. And makeup for women of color was problematic. I saw some way out there makeup through the sixties and seventies. At about 16 years old I decided I’d be a lipstick and mascara girl. That I didn’t now how to apply makeup and not look like a clown. So I wouldn’t try. About two years ago I decided to learn how to apply makeup in a way pleasing to me. Me turning fifty might have had something to do with it lol. The last two years I’ve discovered a love of makeup. I mean I want to do it professionally. I wish I’d tried long ago. But I’m glad to have discovered it at all. Makeup has come a long way.
I wanted to comeback and make it clear that I’ve had some clown makeup days. Lol. Whether from makeup failures or my skills failing. But I’m old enough to know now that this is part of learning. Heck, it’s makeup, it washes off. Enjoy it!
Definitely! My mom had an awesome stash and I used to get into it *all* the time growing up. She’d get so annoyed with my using her stuff all the time (mostly because it was good stuff from Macy’s and Nordy’s and that), but I just loved all the shimmers and the pigments and the brushes. I loved trips to the counters with her — I’d ask the brand reps to try products on me (my mom would just roll her eyes, but the counter girls thought it was cute… I think lol).
I was the same with some of her skincare products (but never the eye cream or moisturizers… we had a pact that those pricey items were off-limits lol), and especially her fragrances. I’d raid mom’s perfume collection ALL the time — I was the best smelling kid at my elementary school. 😉 Eventually, once I was a bit older, she started getting ME products at the counters, too, which was epic. And so began my obsession with skincare, makeup, and fragrance. I’m super grateful for these early experiences 🙂
Yes it did. I have mixed feelings about it all which is just a nice way of saying while I learned a few things, it was pretty sh**y. I grew up in a single mom household and there was precious little to go towards the necessities, let alone spend on makeup for a teenager. I wasn’t allowed to wear makeup until I was 15, and even then it was very closely monitored – I could use Vaseline on my lips, brown eyeliner under my lower lashline and mascara, that was it. She would say it’s because she didn’t want me looking older than I was or “ew, you want to look like one of those girls?”, but I knew deep down it was because we didn’t have any money, and any money we did have, she did not want to have to spend on my makeup. My mom only wore eyeliner, mascara, lip liner and lipstick but she heavily invested in her skin care (and still does). I’ve learned a lot about skin care from her over the years and appreciate her influence, but I don’t talk about anything makeup with her at all because it’s just easier not to hear her crap about it (“of all the things to invest in, you pick makeup?”). Thankfully I have a close friend that shares my love of makeup and I can talk with her about it and we support each other’s hauls 😀
My upbringing definitely impacted how I view makeup. I grew up in a home where skincare, personal grooming and enhancing one’s natural features were the norm. My Mother always had a vanity and wore makeup. She still does. Her perfume collection is vintage and to die for. She is 76 and her makeup is somewhat modest now, but she still keeps up with the latest skincare and makeup products. Currently Clinique cola pop blush and Marc Jacobs lippies are part of her “winter rotation” lol. Mom has some great makeup collectibles and generously shares them with me. I’m a lucky girl!
My mom always wore liquid foundation, plum blush, black or brown eyeliner and mascara with a medium tuned lip. Always tasteful but never anything different. When I started wearing makeup in Jr high my mother was very strict about how much and what products I could wear. I always liked makeup but never got really into it. I, much like my mother, had a very simple routine that almost never changed. As I went through my 20’s my eye shadow style styles became a little more refined but still the same old colors. When I was getting prepared for my wedding all that changed though.
While gettinging ideas for my makeup I also looked at products that would be best. I’d let my routine slip a bit and was in need of a revamp. A trip to Sephora and I discovered make up for ever and stila, soon to be followed by bite, n.y.x., benefit, and urban decay among others. It soon cause an obsession and a pleasure to learn and explore the world of cosmetics. Now I give my mom style tips (at her request no less) and have her trying new things for the first time in decades!
Yes, it did! My mom is very carrer-driven and a haurd worker, but she always makes sure that she’s wearing makeup in public, that her clothes are tastefully combined and reflect her style… I am pretty much the same, I like to wear makeup and dress nicely.
Definitely! My mother is not one to buy expensive cosmetics, but she’s always worn makeup (at least, some mascara, eyeliner, and lipstick) except in times of great distress, like when she was widowed. I have always seen make up as a positive thing, and even as a tomboy kid I’d still take the sample cosmetics my mother gave me and experiment. Some of my earliest memories are of seeing young women in 90s (heavy) makeup and loving it.
Oh yes!! My mom is Japanese born and had me on Shiseido skincare since I was 14! Then she help both my sister and I get age appropriate makeup, too. I didn’t like to fuss much with it until I was 18 or so…
Biggest influence was probably high end…I always purchased and wore stuff from the dept store… But then I did work at Macy’s so had the employee discount.
Sooo much. My grandmother was a 50s/60s glamour queen – brocade dresses, champagne heels, architectural hairdos, lipstick and lashes. I started asking for makeup when I was 10 or 11, so my mother let me wear a nude pink eyeshadow and clear lipstick just to placate me.
Makeup and all things cosmetic is a must in my super, prissy, feminine, Southern family. If you didn’t have anything on, you’ll get the comment “you look sloppy” because not fixing yourself up with makeup and not dressing up is seen as rude and not caring about yourself or society. I grew up with the mindset that no matter how rich or how poor you are, no matter if the world if falling apart, you are going to put yourself presentable, shine those shoes, put some lipstick on, hold your head up high and have some dignity for yourself!
My grandmother and mother always went out with a full face and decked out jewelry even when it’s just going to the grocery store. I got into makeup quite early and never looked back! My mother and grandmother had tons of cosmetic products around and I grew up having a vanity(still do). I am proud of my upbringing! I love feeling pretty and being a feminine woman.
Absolutely! My Granny was was a makeup maven & Loyal Fashion Fair client! My Mother took things to another level….. She could beat her face like no other at that time, I mean her makeup skills were impeccable! I can recollect on the many times I’d hear people’s compliments of how gorgeous her face would be! That is a clear understanding of why I love makeup!
If anything in my upbringing affected how I might view anything makeup related, I feel it was my lack of an upbringing in that area. I did well instinctually but was very isolated from what others did and it jaded me as well as affect the amount of friends I had.
I mean, yes and no—my mother didn’t wear much makeup at all (she had a favorite Lancome lipstick) when I was a kid, so I never got into makeup. I didn’t have any “glamorous” women (or men!) in my life growing up, but that didn’t make them any less fabulous 😉
I finally got on the makeup train a few years ago, just because it interested me—I love playing around with different textures, especially eyeshadow!—and just because other people in my life don’t really wear makeup doesn’t mean they don’t support me using it, you know? For example, my mom now wears a bit more (cream blush, bb cream, under-eye brightener) because I learn new things and test new products and pass my knowledge on to her!
My Mum would only ever wear makeup for “special” occasions (weddings, parties ect) And it would only ever be lipstick, maybe bright eyeshadow, it was the 80’s, and WAAAY too much mascara… Like so much that she ended up with what looked like 10 eyelashes on each eye & they were wider than they were long, they looked like tarantula legs.
Mum was never one to wear makeup day to day, she never used skin care products, not even moisturiser, she rarely washed her face & when she did, it was with regular body bar soap, she never used a toner or any kind of serum at all. She rarely used sun screen & would regularily lay out in the backyard slathered with coconut oil to tan up.
She ended up with terribly dry skin & quite pronounced wrinkles by the age of 30 from all the sun tanning, lack of moisturiser, excessive caffeine consumption & from smoking cigarettes for 30 odd years.
I remember thinking that I didn’t want to suffer the same fate, so from the age of about 15, I started a rigorous skincare routine that I practiced religiously.
I would use sunscreen daily & do a face mask every other night.
I was in love with everything to do with skincare but since cosmetics were considered something “special”, that truly captivated me.
I would practice different makeup looks for hours, trying to perfect my skills.
At first, all I could afford was DS stuff but when I started earning decent money, I began collecting HE products.
I now have a pretty substantial and some would say “over the top” collection but it’s my my hobby & I consider applying makeup as my “zen time.”
So I can’t thank my Mum enough for helping me find my passion in life & an outlet for my creative side.
I was raised by my mother and have three sisters, the oldest of which functioned as a second parent in a way. One brother was always locked up and the other died when I was 8. I was always fascinated by makeup and loved watching my mother get ready to go out dancing and I would always zip up her dress and do the clasps on her bracelets.
My interests were luckily never discouraged as some parents may have done to some boys. Two of my sisters were very into things like those roll on lip glosses and the sliding tins of lip balm in various fruit flavors and they wore huge hair and always had frosted lipstick. I remember them using Stagelight Makeup which was an affordable but still pretty flashy brand. My Mother and oldest sister were very into cosmetics like MAC and Make Up For Ever in the 90s and I remember reading my sister’s copy of Kevyn Aucoin’s Making Faces.
I remember my mother and sister buying these Make Up For Ever (When Nordstrom carried the line) lip palettes full or bright colors like orange and fuchsia. They looked like little watercolor kits and were much larger than the current ones they sell. More like the size of the color corrector palettes. They also bought star powders.
So makeup was a wonderful thing to witness as a creative child. My mom would ask me which colors I liked and such so I still got to participate as a boy even though I was not wearing makeup. Being surrounded by women including glamorous cousins and aunts was very interesting to me.