This week, I have got through two birthday parties (Akra Jr is now 6 years old and Li’l Bhaji is 3 – how did that happen?!) and I looked after a friend’s lovely (but energetic) three-year-old for a whole day.
It’s not surprising that by the end of the week, people were asking me if I was okay – I looked “really tired”. Not a phrase that fills you with confidence about your appearance or does anything much other than make you feel even more wan and old.
As someone who hardly ever puts make-up on (unless it’s for a special occasion – like an evening out, or anyone coming near me with a camera), I’m used to getting comments along the lines of “looking pale”. I’ve lost count of the number of times nurses have insisted they take a blood test for anaemia when I’ve gone in for something else completely unrelated, only for it to come back negative as always. Putting on the war paint before stepping out my front door is never a habit I’ve got into, or really wanted to before now.
At what point do you finally admit to yourself, that perhaps a daily touch-up might not be such a bad idea?
As a wholly unscientific experiment yesterday, I put make-up on. Not one person asked me if I was feeling all right or if I was tired (surprisingly, as Li’l Bhaji had kept me awake most of the night, suffering from a bad cold he caught from jumping on his bouncy castle all day in the rain).
The cost of this lack of well-meaning confidence breakers was 20 minutes of my life gone (15 minutes to apply in the morning and 5 minutes to remove it again that evening), my pores feeling as if they were suffocating, and the general nagging feeling that I was looking as if I was trying too hard just to walk to school and nursery a couple of times.
Despite my tomboy roots, however, I have previously managed to force myself to be more girlie and care about my appearance over the years.
I’ve had my colours done and while I still wear jeans all the time, at least the tops I choose complement my complexion and figure these days.
Once the grey in my parting started to be more noticeable and annoy, I started to colour my hair regularly (and to be fair, it hardly takes much more effort or money when using a mobile hairdresser who attends to you in the comfort of your own home).
I have a waxing appointment once a month – but that’s sheer laziness as I can never remember to shave frequently enough and those depilatory creams cost a small fortune – at least a regular appointment you don’t skip if you can’t be faffed and it’s only monthly.
I think that’s the key. The “beauty regimen” I follow is due to laziness and convenience. I just can’t see anything convenient about wasting 20 minutes a day on make-up.
Mind you, if it saves me 20 minutes a day of morale-sucking conversations concerned for my health, maybe… just maybe… it’ll be worth it.
8 responses so far ↓
1 dropdeaddusty // 15th May 2007 at 8:25 pm
Hey, don’t sweat it…pale is the new tan, after all. :-)
2 Liz // 16th May 2007 at 8:34 am
I think it’s a worrying situation when society becomes so enamoured of youth and glamour that even every-day people don’t recognise a paint-free face as normal. Which of course is a philosophical statement, and doesn’t help you at all with you decision. Except perhaps to give you a tirade against the next person who kindly asks if you’ve been getting enough sleep.
3 Alley Katt // 16th May 2007 at 6:20 pm
Sod it. I wrote a big message about my wife, and internet explorer “could not display the web page”.
Suffice to say, if you go to my blog: http://mondrak.livejournal.com/9086.html then you will see why my wife is currently wearing make up and may not after July. :)
4 Pewari // 16th May 2007 at 9:34 pm
dropdeaddusty: *laugh* yes. See, I’m fashionable before my time… the haggard look is IN!
Liz: I know what you mean, but at the same time sticking to principles is a lousy morale booster in the real world :(
Alley Katt: ooo that does sound good! Tell her she’s doing great :)
And I’ve also had a lovely chat with a friend on MSN who has told me all about the wonders of Clinique’s very pale tinted moisturiser (have avoided them in the past because tinted moisturisers usually are too dark for my skin and make me look orange) – so watch this space.
5 Paula // 16th May 2007 at 10:21 pm
I was going to suggest a tinted moisturiser. I don’t use make up unless I am going somewhere special (so that would be never then) but I used a tinted moisturiser on most days, the Olay Everyday thing is what I use. I have just totally embarrassed myself by forgetting its full name but there are other makes too so you will find something! It offers sun protection too.
I am on a tight budget so can’t afford much more than the under £10 ones! They do the job though.
6 Mia // 18th May 2007 at 8:29 am
I began wearing make up every day at around the age of 15. I virtually never go out without it – the only times I do is on those occasions when my job calls me out of my bed in the middle of the night and even then, I often stop to put just a little mascara on first! But without fail, if I am bare-faced in public, I get a raft of concerned comments about my wellbeing. I feel so self-concious and if I catch sight of myself in a mirror, I barely recognise myself.
Ironically, my usual make-up application – concealer & powder base, bronzer/blusher, brown eyeshadow and black masacara – is so subtle that lots of people don’t even think I wear it at all! But they sure do notice when I go without.
In other words: I am a make-up addict. But boy! do I envy those who look or feel ‘normal’ without it so I’d say sod the occasional knockers and wear your bare face with pride. Don’t end up like me!
7 MF // 18th May 2007 at 4:42 pm
You should come to China, where pale equals beautiful! People would envy you!
8 Pewari // 18th May 2007 at 5:30 pm
Paula: will have a look at that :)
Mia: eek! Well I am intending to give my face the weekends off at the very least (if only to give my skin a chance to breathe!) Has been rather glorious not to have anyone ask about my health this week though… dilemma…
MF: lol – is haggard envied too?
The views expressed in these comments are not the views of the publisher. However, we believe in the rights of others to express their legitimate views and concerns. Any legitimate complaint emailed to pewari@may.be will be seriously considered and the post reviewed as desirable and necessary.
Leave a Comment