Random Memory: First Time Applying Make-up

In an effort to spice up my blog, I thought I might put random thoughts and memories up and chat about them.

The other morning I was putting my make-up on in a rush. I had just applied my eyeliner and was getting ready for the mascara when my blond eyelashes, sticking out from my lined eyes, reminded me of the first time I ever applied make-up.

It was a warmer day, I might have been 12 or 13, and my mom ran inside to some place, could have been a bank, the grocery store, tanning -I don't remember but I recall staying in the car while she completed her errand. I played with the music (my favorites were the Oldsmobile cassette tape that came with the car and had Cyndi Lauper's Time After Time or Conway Twitty's greatest hits - hey, it's what was available), toyed with the car's controls and when that got boring I decided to rummage through my mom's purse (apparently whatever errand occupied her time only required her wallet). I found my mom's make-up: a bulky black eye pencil, a brown eyebrow liner, hot pink blush, blue eyeshadow, and some mauve lipstick. I decided to take a stab at becoming beautiful. Having never applied eyeliner the lines I made on my eyes were thick, squiggly, and incomplete. The blue eyeshadow was applied much too dark. The pink blush served more as paint for my cheeks than a gentle rouge and the lipstick collected more on my teeth than on my lips. I looked hot. By the time my mom got back to the car she was shocked but so amused (although not wanting to laugh in my face) that she concealed her laughter and said something very simple like "What's that all for?" I told her I was bored and she dropped it. She could have launched into a bit about how I was too young for make-up (though nowadays girls are wearing make-up by 8!) or how I shouldn't mess with her stuff. Instead she just put the car in reverse and carried about her day. I paraded around in the make-up like I was Cindy Crawford and eventually started asking for my own. Course all I could afford on my lawn-mowing and weed-pulling allowance was Wet-n-Wild, but it did the trick.

I looked down at the collection of make-up I had before me now, in present day, and smiled at the memory of it all. The cheap Wet-n-Wild and the crazed glitter and Ben-Nye products have been stored and shelved in favor of soft shades of Clinique liners and mascaras, Bare Minerals foundation and Chanel quads and lip gloss. Funny how just 10 years ago the purpose of make-up for me was to be as bold and dark as possible and now I purchase make-up based on how "natural" it will look.

It's funny how we grow and mature. It seems like such a rollar coaster in so many ways and aspects. I remember hating "crotch rockets" as a teenager only to own one at 19! I remember turning my nose at expensive and/or designer products in favor of a sale priced item. I recall the days when I loved wearing some flimsly, scantily clad outfit and now I find myself gravitating to more coverage and classic, almost retro styles.

Makes me wonder what I'll be like 10 years from now. Will I grow even frumpier? Will I wear no make-up like I did during my TSA stint? Will I be a total fashionista? Will I be a borderline cougar and wear outfits that would have made my 21 year self blush? I dunno. I can't wait to see though.