Tuesday, July 8, 2014

Things I've Learned


As a professional makeup artist, you’d expect that I wear makeup every day, right? Well, I don’t.
I like makeup. I like the colors I get to choose from. I like that I can up my “mojo factor” instantly and change it frequently to fit how I’m feeling each day.

I don’t personally wear makeup every day, but I don’t judge those who do. It’s their face and their body, so it’s their choice how they present it to the world.

I always took being a cosmetologist’s daughter for granted. But I realize how wonderful it is that I’ve never had to pay for a haircut or color and that my stylist knows my hair better than anyone. Once, on vacation, I had someone else cut my hair and didn’t like it; my mom always gives me the best cuts (and they’re free as long as I blow them dry myself).

My favorite thing about having my mom for a stylist, though, is that, most times, she let me do what I wanted. If I decided my new cut was too short, she assured me it would grow. If I chose the wrong color (remembering a time with way too many blonde highlights), well, I could always change it back. No big deal. Mom tended to let me make my own choices, with exception of a few times when she gently suggested that I try something else that might compliment me more.

I always smile inwardly when I see someone walking down the street with bright-colored hair. I think to myself, Good for them.  My makeup philosophy consists of the same three elements:
  1. Don’t be afraid to be a trendsetter instead of a trend-follower. Be daring.
  2. Have fun with it as much as possible (pretty much like everything else in life) and,
  3. Wear it every day or no days – it’s up to you!

When and where you choose to wear makeup is your choice.  If you decide not to wear it every day, well, maybe you’re of the philosophy that you have better things to do with your time, like read books or go for a bike ride or climb a mountain.  Good for you! I hope your pastimes bring you much joy.

If you choose to wear makeup every day because you think that every day is special and you’d like your look to reflect that, that’s just as fabulous to me. A positive outlook will flatter you more than any lipstick shade ever could.

Side note: I LOVE spending time with both groups of individuals because they are celebrating life and enjoying it how they think best. Neither is wrong, just different and I’m a huge fan of different.
No matter how acne-free or acne-prone your face is, no matter how sparkling white your smile is, or perfectly applied your makeup -- what counts is who you are.

Everyone has bad days, but I’ve noticed that, when I’m applying makeup to someone in a sour mood, it just doesn’t work the same. I’ll think to myself, What is going on, this is the EXACT same product and technique I used on the person before them. Why isn’t it looking as good? Makeup will never look the same from one person to the next, for sure, but how that person feels about themselves has a whole lot more to do with it than you would think. I’ve seen it firsthand and I’m a believer.

When someone sits in my chair to get their makeup done and they are already happy, I know that they will be extra happy when it’s completed. For those who aren’t, well, I’m just a person who applies it.  I do my best every time, no matter how big or small the job, but the rest is out of my hands.

When I go to the gym, I don’t expect someone else to do leg and abs workout for me so my body can get fit. It just doesn’t work like that.  I have to do the work to get the result I want.  Makeup won’t change you. Neither will someone else doing your workouts for you.

I hope to be one of those 80+ people at the beach someday and, if I want to wear a bikini and don’t have the body for it at that age, well, anyone offended can close their eyes because I don’t body shame and I won’t be body shamed.  My body is a gift from God (and my parents) and how I look is how I’m supposed to look. People are different. I love that!

Regardless of whether we decide to wear makeup, dye our hair bright colors, or wear a bikini to the beach, we all look our best when we love ourselves – too many blonde highlights or not.

Peace and Love.