Wednesday, August 18, 2010

A week without makeup

...is like a week without sunshine. No, soft toilet paper. Wait, even worse - a week without chocolate - for me, anyway.

But I survived. A whole week without a full face of makeup. When I traveled down south to Myrtle Beach, I accidentally left my entire makeup bag in Ohio. I was completely distraught about leaving my cat, drove away from my apartment in tears, and left my coveted makeup bag behind.
I knew that I wouldn't "need" makeup for the morning/early afternoon hours at the beach, because I would be laying out, all slimed up in sunscreen. However, I had no face to put on after showering up to go out in the evenings. It just felt weird, and threw me completely off kilter the entire week of vacation.
I know what you're probably thinking - It's the beach, who cares?


The thing about makeup and I is that it makes me feel awake. It makes me feel "complete" - it's been a part of my daily routine for over 15 years. And going a whole week without it made me feel like I was forgetting something every single day! I felt kind of lost... and not like myself. It took me half an hour to get ready instead of 50 minutes. I looked strange. I looked sleepy and lifeless. I found an old, dried out tube of Revlon Colorstay Lipstick in Fabulous Fig,in my suitcase - which worn alone without the rest of my mask looked a little vampire-ish. It really looked stupid with a slightly sunburned nose! I trashed it after the first day and went Au-naturale the rest of the week.


For the most part, my makeup routine is simple. I use a tinted moisturizer for the face, just a little concealer here and there, lightly fill in my sorry excuse for eyebrows, apply coffee colored lipstick and eyeshadow, some liner, mascara, and bam - I'm set. However, if i neglect to wear any of the above on any given day, co-workers ask me if I'm sick. "Are you feeling ok today?" "You don't look like you feel well". "Are you sick?" "Didn't get enough sleep last night?" So you see, most of the problem clearly lies in what I think about what others think of me, not so much myself - I'm comfortable looking at myself in the mirror, completely makeupless. My husband can't tell a difference (at least that's what he says!)I just don't like being asked if i feel well four hundred times per day, and additionally, I feel super strange changing any part of my "getting ready" routine.

This past weekend, on our short trip to Pittsburgh, I forgot my favorite hair brush. Remembered the hair dryer... forgot my prized Paul Mitchell hair brush. The only brush that can smooth my thick, miserably nasty frizzy hair. So... i frustratingly finger styled wet hair as i blew it dry, which led me to this conclusion: I NEED DOUBLE EVERYTHING. I need to build a "travel beauty bag" and not have to pack things each and every time I head out on an adventure. The thing is... this is going to get mighty expensive. I hate travel size crap, it runs out too quickly and i have to remember to re-stock. I'm looking for full sizes of every single thing I use on a daily basis, including an additional Paul Mitchell hair brush and hair dryer. and hair straightener. I think I'm going to be on drugstore.com for a really long time! Anyone have any $$$ they can donate to this super important cause? (of course, I'm completely kidding.  But i look forward to sharing my Drugstore shopping cart with you when it's all said and done.)


One more thing: whatever happened to Caboodles? Can you still buy them?





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21 comments:

Amanda said...

I am the same way about my makeup routine (and I keep all mine in a Caboodle I've had since 10th grade)! My boyfriend says I look better without it, but I don't think so because I have a lot of acne scars.

If it wasn't for that, I wouldn't even wear as much as I do. I forgot my makeup on a trip once but thank goodness my mom was on the trip and we use practically the same makeup!

Carol, The Answer Is Chocolate said...

A week without makeup is like a week without chocolate! Not gonna happen. I know, it's vain, it's silly but like you, it just makes me feel better. Glad there's someone else who understands!

Christine said...

I feel the same about my makeup! My kids actually can gauge within minutes, the time we will leave the house to go somewhere, based on my face! I don't even wear a lot...but it's my routine...

Katie said...

Good for you! I would have gone out and bought at least a mascara (my go to makeup item).
I've gotten over the "always have to wear a ton of makeup" mindset the last couple years. I used to ALWAYS have to be made up if I were in front of people. My husband also thinks I look great without it, so sometimes on weekends I only wear a little bit.
Oh and they totally still make Caboodles, at least they sell them around here. :)

Ashley said...

I'm totally with you about the makeup! I feel naked without at the very least eyeliner and mascara!

I still have a Caboodle! I have a bunch of old jewelry in it!

Love the blog makeover! Cute cute!

Emily said...

Oh my goodness, I get anxiety just thinking about going an entire week without makeup. Sounds like you survived...and the Caboodles and Clueless references made me smile. :)

Amber said...

Well, I'd give up makeup before I'd give up chocolate :) HA!! But I hear ya, I feel naked without at least my undereye baggage concealed along with my minearal foundation! I look 10 years older, I think. Hubby doesn't. LOL. Oh Caboodles...I used to own so many of those. I wish I still did!

Melissa B. said...

I'd say a week without chocolate is far worse than a week without makeup. I just went a week without chocolate OR red meat. We ate fish every day. And, as for the makeup thing, I pretty much abandoned that routine years ago...

Crazy Shenanigans-JMO said...

Caboodles!! I think you can actually still buy those!

I don't know what I would have done if I would have left my makeup bag! Even as I was sweating to death in florida I put my full face of make up on. lol

Brittany said...

I would not have survived! I honestly would have went out and bought at least foundation, bronzer, eye liner, and mascara!

There is no way I could have lasted a week! I don't feel complete until I do my make up routine!

KT My Lady said...

If you do have to part with make-up, the beach is the best place for it! I don't think I put on any while on vacation, and it was fantastic.

Anonymous said...

I'm a make-up girl too. If I had to only choose one thing, it would be hard, but it would probably be mascara. I feel it makes my eyes "pop" a little more (much needed with age!) However, over the years, my sorry ass eyebrows need help too, so choosing only one product is SO difficult!! OH! And lip gloss! MUST have SOMETHING on my lips at all times!! Oprah did a no-make-up challenge awhile back, however, she made the participants video and take pictures. You should have done that too!

Kerri said...

I feel the exact same way without makeup...I don't wear a ton...but I definately need what I do wear. I have dark circles...and I often scare myself when I look in the mirror without makeup!
LOVE your new header! Did you do it yourself?!

AubreyRose @ My Simple Everyday said...

Yes! I feel so naked without make-up on... I wish I didn't need make-up to feel beautiful, but I really do.

It doesn't help that people always say I look "tired" without makeup.. I just want to say, "No, this is just how I really look! Leave me alone! Thanks for reinforcing that I look disgusting without eyeliner!"

Stacey @ Chasing Cloud 9 said...

I've gone lighter with my daily makeup since I stay home now, but I still can't leave home without something on! Especially since my daughter pointed out that I have 'purple under my eyes'.

They do still make caboodles! I don't see many that look like what I had as a teenager, but I do have a pretty black box that looks like a train case :)

Brittany Ann said...

I feel the exact same way about my "face." And I, too, consider buying doubles of everything! And sometimes do!

Faith said...

i can go a week without makeup ... but a week withou chocolate i think i would die, lol. :)

Diana said...

I hate the thought of leaving my cat behind too when we travel to OK to visit family. I haven't left my beauty supplies... yet. I'm sure you looked just as pretty without makeup though.

LOVE the new header btw! :)

A Wedding Story said...

Oh girl, I am all about bringing the Caboodle back! ;)

Beca said...

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Sarah said...

You can still buy caboodles...they have a website!!! I've seen them at Wal-Mart too!!! That's so funny because I'm the opposite, I feel weird with makeup but I have started wearing it regularly!