{Giveaway is Closed}
In spite of the fact that I was a major tom-boy growing up, makeup has been a huge part of my life since I was around 14 years old and began experimenting with those lip glosses and blushers from Woolworth’s. Oh, how exciting it was to pick up those shiny containers of makeup and start using them on my youthful face.
(Thrifty clothes finds from yardsales: Chico’s skirt and Ann Taylor shirt, shoes from TJ Maxx, necklace from yardsale).
I wasn’t officially allowed to wear much makeup until I turned 15 or so and boy, did I have some fun then! I didn’t go overboard with makeup (until those over the top 80’s hit, then I confess I got a wee bit carried away), but I remember how it made me feel to get that color on my face. My eyes glowed and came alive. Mascara made those blonde lashes of mine come to life. Blusher on the cheeks gave me a rosy glow. Oh, how I fell in love with makeup back then.
It’s been a love affair ever since. Without a doubt, makeup is the single biggest transformation a woman can do to make herself feel good. Like she can conquer the world with the right shade of lipstick. Gather courage with artfully applied blush and highlighter.
Evening out skin tones comes first, along with applying coverup under the eyes. Those undereye circles can be ugly you know. 🙂 Get the face primed with makeup and then you have a face ready to add color. I use eye liner to bring my eyes out front and center, usually a gray or blue/gray or even brown.
I finally came to the conclusion that brown shades on my eyes actually make my blue eyes bluer, so now I alternate between browns and grays. Three shades of eye shadow are always added, with the darkest shade contouring the eyelid to show it off to the max. Mascara is the final touch, making those eyelashes extra long and lush, the better to flirt with you know?! Oh, how adept I became at putting on the makeup and making myself the best that I can be. Not that I’m an expert, I’m not.
Yep, as mentioned above, here’s a funny pic of the girls in my family, circa 1985, Mother/Daughter banquet. Big hair ruled and apparently I thought that more makeup was the bomb back then. Heavy handed any? I definitely took that tight skin for granted. My sister will probably kill me for putting this up, she was still a brunette in those days. 🙂 Wasn’t that Lauren a cutie-pie back then too? And our sweet mama has always been a pretty lady.
So began my journey with makeup. And it hasn’t stopped to this day. Now, my young and dewy face is a thing of the past and middle-age has arrived (uggh, when did that happen?!).
What’s a girl to do?
Well, for one thing, makeup still covers a multitude of sins. I don’t care how naturally beautiful a woman is, makeup definitely enhances that beauty and not one single woman I know looks better without makeup. Not a one! Have you see Oprah without her makeup? Or any Hollywood celebrity for that matter? Sort of makes me smile when I see a celebrity without her makeup and looking so plain and normal. Yep, they look just like you and me. Makeup helps us all and I’m a huge proponent of cosmetics to make me look and feel better about myself.
Talking about this subject is easy for me. These days, working from home, I often go a couple of days without putting my makeup on, but I can tell you I sure don’t feel pretty without it. And if you saw me, you’d most likely agree! 🙂 I can totally look like a hagatha some days.
Makeup enhances and just gives me that inner security that I need to get out there and face the world. With my face made up and dressed in some stylish threads, I’m a new woman.
Back in June, I went to a college reunion along with about 100 people who graduated from the college we all went to back in the 70’s. It was a lot of fun. Getting dressed up and feeling good about how I look at this stage in my life was a big part of the experience. We all want to look our best at a high school or college reunion. We still want to feel cute and matter. I did feel good at my reunion and here I am with a couple of my long-time friends from college, Susan and Chris. We all felt good for that matter and yes, we are all wearing makeup. 🙂 (if you click on that link above to a post about the college, you can see what me and Chris looked like from the yearbook photos that year).
How about you? Don’t you feel SO much better when you have your full arsenal of cosmetics on the face and a cute outfit on? I know you do! Being made up just does something good for a woman.
So, when I was asked to try out the new COVERGIRL LashPerfection™, I was thrilled to accept. Try out new makeup? I don’t need my arm twisted for that. I was sent a new package of Black/Brown and started using it that very day.
I used to be a snob about makeup and only shopped at the department store counters. You know, the pricey stuff. I’m not that particular anymore. I’m just fine with inexpensive mascara, as long as it performs well.
Can I just tell you this?
If you really want to humble yourself, ask your practically flawless now-29 year old niece to take close-up pics of your eyes all made up and try to get a decent one without showing all the sags and wrinkles. She will be happy to oblige, all the while looking at the after pics and your eyes in person, with an equal mix of pity and I’m-so-glad-I’m-still-young smugness on her face. 🙂
Love you, Lauren! As much as it seems to be in the way distant future, this aging thing will happen to you too one day.
Cropping helps! This will do nothing for your self-esteem, but I’m keeping it real and showing you anyway. 🙂 Look you can see my contacts floating up close and personal. I’m blind as a bat without my gas perms.
COVERGIRL LashPerfection™ in Black/Brown performed very well and got my stamp of approval! It went on smooth, didn’t do much clumping (which I hate) and wore very well. I hate when I get a new mascara and the wand is so clumped up with mascara that it’s hard to brush it on without it clumping up my eyelashes. Did that make sense to anyone but me? Clumpy mascara is not my friend. This one did a nice job and I would definitely recommend it.
So, tell me girlfriends…don’t you just feel better when your face is all made up and you have on some stylish clothes?
While we’re on the subject of make-up and looking great, you might want to check out the “Looking Your Best” posts in the Life Well Lived section of BlogHer.com. There are some great application tips and ideas for switching up your look for fall!
I’d love your take on makeup! Do you love it as much as I do for a self-esteem booster?
Great news! I’m giving away a $50 gift card from Drugstore.com!
You can try out some products too!
- BlogHer.com Prizes and Promotions page
- Sweepstakes Rules.
- Covergirl’s Website
Rules:
No duplicate comments.
You may receive (2) total entries by selecting from the following entry methods:
- Leave a comment telling me your favorite beauty product, what ONE product can’t you live without? Not brand name, just item, like lipstick, mascara, etc.
- Tweet about this promotion and leave the URL to that tweet in a comment on this post.
- Blog about this promotion and leave the URL to that post in a comment on this post.
- For those with no Twitter or blog, read the official rules to learn about an alternate form of entry.
This giveaway is open to US Residents age 18 or older.
Winners will be selected via random draw, and will be notified by e-mail.
You have 72 hours to get back to me, otherwise a new winner will be selected.
The Official Rules are available here. Enter between October 4 and November 4th, 2011.
Sarah says
Foundation most definitely…ever since I found a foundation in my shade it has been a miracle! I prefer more natural cosmetics and it makes my skin *a lot* better. 🙂
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I’m super happy my preferred brand of mascara finally re-started doing waterproof!
Heather Spooner says
I absolutely can’t leave the house without wearing some concealer. Thanks for the giveaway!
Lindy says
Rhoda, this is a fun post! You look so pretty in your 80’s picture. I must say I loved that time of big hair and lots of make-up. I am very pale, so really need to wear lipstick, blush, and mascara to look alive. Your new mascara looks very nice on you!
jean tepper says
Lipstick! Love the color it adds and it keeps my lips moist.
Pam says
I can go without base makeup and blush if I am in a hurry, but I never go out the door without mascara. Even working out and at the swimming pool. I feel nekked without it.
Sharon says
I’ve got to have my liquid foundation and blush. Those are my top two with mascara a close third.
kate blue says
hmm..only one thing??? Bronzer! (I wasn’t allowed to wear any makeup till maybe around age 19…now, I never leave the house without it!)
Mary says
Must have the moisturizer and foundation! Wrinkles are taking over!
Shelley says
Lip color of some kind. Love all the different types of products available and they keep my lips from drying out!
Carol says
I have very light eye lashes and I could not go out without my mascara.
Jen Y says
Mascara, I really don’t feel pretty at all without it.
Melanie says
I must have brow pencil!
tracylynne says
I have only used one kind of fdn my whole life and I never leave home without it…
Lori says
It would be a toss-up for me between brow powder or mascara–without them my eyes disappear! I’m totally with you of the subject of make-up. I even put it on if I’m just staying home for the day. I don’t feel dressed without it!
Margaret says
foundation to cover those lovely “liver”spots. Why do you suppose they call them that?
DanaR says
That would have to be mascara! I have long eyelashes but they are red! Ugh.
Karina says
a new make up routine helps me get through the times when i hate my hair
Mami2jcn says
Lip gloss is what I can’t live without.
Bonnie says
Lipstick girl here is my favorite!
Karen R in CT says
I love two products: tinted moisturizer and a good primer! I’m with you on the mascara – haven’t bought a big department store brand in a long time. Love Covergirl mascara in particular too.