Hockey Games and Vet Appointments or: Why I Wear Makeup

One of the few things I like as much as makeup: the Islanders

Later tonight, I’ll be going to a hockey game (Let’s go Islanders!) with friends. As I was deciding what to wear earlier, I started thinking about my makeup and what kind of look would be right for the occasion. That got me thinking a little more broadly about how, where, when and why I wear makeup. 

Right off the bat, I’m not someone who won’t leave the house without makeup. There are plenty of places that I go without wearing a stitch on my face besides sunscreen and tinted lip balm – doctor and vet appointments, the grocery store, the bank, and the post office.

In all fairness, it’s laziness that keeps me from putting makeup on in most of those cases. When my dog has a 9 o’clock appointment at the vet on a Sunday morning, I’d rather sleep in an extra 10 minutes than take the time to put on foundation, blush and mascara. When I’m running into CVS for a minute because Diet Coke is on sale, I just can’t be bothered to sit down and sort through my makeup bag. (I always take the time for some kind of lip product, though. My pale as a ghost face needs some color after all.)

In most cases, though, if I don’t have to choose between sleep and makeup, I’m pretty much always going to take the time to put something on my face. I mean, I work from home and some days I only leave the house to walk the dog and bring in the garbage cans.  I still take the time for makeup even if it’s only a tinted moisturizer and mascara.

When I think about it, it’s not because I’m insecure or lack self-confidence without makeup.  Or even that I think I look so much better with makeup on than without it.  I wear makeup most days because I enjoy the whole experience of putting it on – I like looking at all my pretty boxes, tubes, and jars in all their dazzling colors and mixing and matching to come up with something beautiful.

I have zero artistic skills and seriously wonder how I passed 8^th grade art, but when I’m doing my makeup, I  feel like an artist – playing with all the colors, textures, finishes.  Placing the color just so to make my face look thinner or more sculpted. Choosing the right shades to make my eyes or other features pop.

I love putting on makeup.   

It’s that simple. 

Other people might think it’s vain, silly, a waste of time.  Whatever.  That’s okay.  It makes me happy, and that’s all I need to know.

What about you?  Do you wear makeup everyday? Are you uncomfortable leaving the house without makeup?  Why do you think you wear makeup as often – or little – as you do? Are you like me and just enjoy the whole experience of putting it on?    

Oh, and in case anyone’s curious, I decided to keep things light for the Islanders’ game – Hourglass Illusion Tinted Moisturizer in Shell; a light dusting of Laura Mercier Mineral Powder in Soft Porcelain; Tarte Amazonian Clay Blush in Exposed; Foxy, Booty Call and Tease from the Naked2 Palette; Maybelline Falsies Mascara in Black;  and Maybelline Baby Lips Lip Balm in Peach Kiss. Quite a few products, I know, but the overall look is pretty natural.

Maybe next time, I’ll try a wild blue and orange eye look in honor of the Isles but I wasn’t quite feeling that today.