Remember when you were a little girl. You watched your mother put on her make-up and transform herself into a beautiful woman. You couldn't wait for the day when you too could make yourself up into the pretty woman you were destined to be. If you are like most girls, you probably quietly went into your mother's room and applied her make-up so you could be just like her. When you finished, you thought you looked beautiful but more than likely looked more like Baby Jane than Miss America. Ok, I am dating myself; if you don't know who Baby Jane is, rent the movie. It's a hoot.
For most girls, their first real grown-up tug of war with their mothers is about make-up. I remember in the sixth grade seeing other girls wearing a little lipstick. I desperately wanted to wear some light pink lipstick. I was sure that this tiny bit of make-up would change my life. I would no longer be a shy wallflower. I would become the star I was destined to be. My mother said NO, NO, and double NO. You are too young to wear make-up. I said, "But other girls wear lipstick." If those girls jumped off a cliff, would you follow them? So cliché. I guess all mothers fight seeing their little girls grow up and make-up is one of the first signs that a change is coming over their babies. Like most girls, I used my allowance to buy some cheap lipstick and wore it only at school. I am sure I looked lovely. I do remember that the lipstick did make me feel better about myself.
Yes, make-up, even poorly applied, makes us feel better about ourselves. We feel younger, sexier, and certainly prettier. I bet Cleopatra got up the morning before she killed herself and had her slaves make her up to look beautiful so she would look better in death. She was concerned about her looks even as she stared death in the face. Now I know some women refuse to wear make-up for various reasons. Whatever the reason they refuse make-up, it's up to them. I doubt they are reading this article anyway.
One problem with most women, including me, is that we have gone through or are going through periods when our make-up routine isn't the best. We all make mistakes that keep us from looking our best. These are a few of our most common don'ts.
1. Some women simply wear too much make-up. They become clowns instead of lovely ladies. They buy foundation that is too dark and too thick and apply it with a paint brush instead of a sponge.
2. As we age, our make-up should age with us. Less is always better when applying cosmetics, but as we get older, we may need a few extras. Don't look at the latest fashion magazine that caters to young girls to get make-up tips. Go to your local department store and get a make-over if you aren't sure how to grow older gracefully.
3. Wearing too much eye shadow, mascara, or eyeliner. Often this results in a cheap look or as we would have said in high school, trampy. Even though we are seeing more and more blue eye shadow, it isn't a good look for most of us. When mascara is applied with a magic marker, you end up looking more like a Goth girl than a pretty modern woman.
4. If you aren't careful, your make-up can easily look like a mask. Use your powder to blend in all of the colors. Be sure to blend your foundation, blush, and face powder. The colors should coordinate and create a fresh look.
5. Many women use lip liner to create fuller lips. If applied correctly, lip liner does create this effect. Used incorrectly, you look garish like the aforementioned Baby Jane. Never put lip liner outside the natural outline of your lips. Lip color should coordinate with your other cosmetics and your natural flesh tones. As you age, darker lipsticks give a garish look so be careful with the colors you choose.
6. Not understanding that there are different make-up looks for different occasions is also a mistake many women make. If you are going to work, unless you are a hooker, your make-up will look more understated than if you were getting ready for an evening on the town.
7. As we age, we tend to have dark circles under our eyes. Don't put on too much concealer or use too light a tone. When you use concealer, remember to blend it in with the rest of your make-up.
8. Not keeping your face clean and fresh with a gentle cleanser is a big no no. You should never go to bed at night or apply make-up without a fresh face.
9. One mistake that is universal is not changing your make-up brushes or sponges often enough. I bet if I were to go into your make-up case, I would find some brushes that are old and worn. Replace them at least every six months.
10. Never and I do mean never use mascara that is more than three months old. You are putting this cosmetic right on your eyes and old mascara can cause eye infections.
Everyone wants to look her best. With the proper application, cosmetics can be your best friend or your mortal enemy. In our world, looks count. We don't all look like beauty queens but with the proper make-up application, wonders can be performed. We can go from frump to pretty darn good looking in a matter of minutes if we spend the time and exert the effort to learn the techniques to make ourselves up in the proper way. If you have no clue, remember there are many ladies in the make-up departments of stores just waiting to help you. If you want the lady to come to you, contact an Avon lady in your area. She will quickly become your new best friend.
Remember that although beauty may be only skin deep, it does affect the way people treat us and the way we feel about ourselves. It's amazing that something that only takes ten or more minutes a day can completely change our lives.
After years as an educator and more degrees than she can count, Frances Coleman now writes professionally. She is a prolific reader with an advanced degree in research techniques. Read more make-up tips at her Hollywood Makeup Magic website.
