It is hard to be stunningly beautiful.
I’m thinking, anyway. Sitting in my
kitchen this morning looking at the sections of the Sunday paper that now come
on Saturdays, I realize how many pages of the sale supplements from high-end
department stores that are devoted to make-up. I actually started out looking
for a quality dough hook for some planned homemade bread on this rainy, cool
day, when the sheer quantity of pages containing very expensive cosmetics side-tracked me.
I, admittedly, am not high maintenance
when it comes to makeup, or even particularly skilled at the proper appliance
methods. A few years ago, I discovered Cover Girl skin tone corrector, but
until then, the facial application I bought with most regularity was Chap
Stick. Last year, I bought a curler for my eyelashes that I have yet to use
because it just looks painful.
Now I, like you, know many women who if
caught naked in the middle of the night with their house on fire, would be
carried out by a fireman; bare-bottomed, clutching their makeup bags while
applying mascara. These are the same women who tie up their bathrooms for hours
getting things just right. I’m only in mine for the length of time it takes my
husband to carry the groceries in. But today, for whatever reason, I decided to
take a closer look at the many, many products that make the beautiful,
stunning, and me – well, simply stunned.
I learned that you start with a “fixing
spray”, this helps hold makeup on, followed by a quality moisturizer that gives
you a smooth surface with which to um…work on. Next is a primer that “makes
pores disappear”, and then, a concealer. (This process, by the way, is eerily similar
to steps taken to refinish an old dresser).
Now, If my math is right, these four
items total $185 (this week anyway), and you apply them before even getting to
any of the makeup that is visible on your face! Here’s my problem; steps five and
six are foundation and blush. In my makeup bag, these are items one and two and
done!
I
am not even going to address the eyes! They have their own sales catalog, their
own marketing department! From the stool at my kitchen island, I looked at my
face in the toaster and thought ‘should I be doing more?’ Nah……. I decided to waste
no more time and head head out shopping for my bread hook to get my yeast
rising.
Now,
in our mall, the only way to get into Macy’s is through the makeup department.
Spaced equally among the counters are very eager sales women (sometimes men)
that look like they have spent years avoiding the sun, and have been trained to
spot facial imperfections.
Here, the well-dressed, perfectly
coiffed customer gets greeted with a knowing smile that says “yes, we have that
shade, do you need to replenish?” With me – they pounce. “Would you like a
makeover?” or “Let us give some color to your face”. Usually I can make it
through without responding, but today, after my morning cosmetic lesson, I felt
armed with enough knowledge not to let their arrogance go unchallenged.
“No
thanks, ladies. You are looking at a middle aged woman (if I lived to be 112),
in jeans, topsiders and sweater, who is very comfortable in her own skin. A
little blush and mascara – I’m good to go. You both, on the other hand, could
use a little color… so why don’t you put your employee discounts to work….and
don’t forget the moisturizer, it gives you
a smooth surface to work on.” When I finished shopping, I had to walk
outside to get to my car in the cold rain to avoid going back through their
department. There is more than one way to get color in your cheeks.
OMG the funniest yet besides the pizza oven blog..
ReplyDeleteWell I know how much you loved the pizza oven blog so I will take this as a high compliment. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteOh my! Your a brave woman. Good for you! I do wear make up for special events but genrally just moisturise and clense. I had a makeover oncein a department store but i was shocked at tge resuly, i looked like a woman of the night lol. Isoon went to the bathroom to wipe it all off before venturing out in public.
ReplyDeleteSometimes those snooty ladies have to be put in their place! Thanks for reading!
ReplyDeleteIt's a darned good thing I am naturally beautiful!
ReplyDeleteOh, how nice that must be LOL!!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for the read!
ReplyDeleteWell.....Did you find a dough hook?!
ReplyDeleteNo! There was a kitchen store in the Cherry Hill Mall, but it closed. I have a Kitchen Aid mixer and HAD a great dough hook, but can't find it. I fear I through it out by mistake. May try Amazon today.
ReplyDeleteWell, I had to google that. Didn't know what a dough hook was....:))))))))))
ReplyDeleteThat's okay! I didn't know there were so many steps to putting on makeup! I guess I have been wrong all of these years LOL!
ReplyDelete