Today I had the opportunity to go to the MAC store here in Washington and get a make-over. The actual make-over part was pretty fun, the lady was nice and taught me some techniques. As I looked at myself during the transformation I was in shock for two reasons:
a) It didn't look like me anymore- I mean it was, but it was starting to look more and more NOT like me and
b) I didn't realize that amount of stuff can go on one person's face.
We left the store a whole lot poorer, and with plenty of supplies to have a top class face. Here's what it looked like:
I spent the rest of the morning feeling like a rockstar but as I'd catch myself in the reflection of a mirror or something I still wouldn't recognize myself. As the day went on I felt less and less sure about my 'new look'. People said they liked it, and by the the all-knowing media's standards it looked 'great' but I just couldn't quite get past the fact that I had a bunch of stuff on my face. Now here comes the more personal part, which nonetheless I'm going to share cause it's pivotal to the story: An accidental comment from my mom later in the day pushed me over the edge. I was skyping with my sister and mother who are currently a few states away and as I was showing them what I'd bought, Kierstyn leaned over to her fiance and said "Don't worry, I won't ever drop a ton of money on make-up when we're married" and my mom said "Yeah, that's because Kierstyn looks pretty without it".
Now by no means was that meant to insinuate anything- sometimes we just take phrases when we are feeling vulnerable and it 'speaks to us' or something. But here's the deal- it hit hard. I felt like I wasn't pretty without it, or had no hopes of being so. The 'likes' on facebook that were wracking up on the picture above weren't really helping to diminish that belief either. So, with the tears somewhat welling up in my eye-lined lids, and being the teenage girl that I am, I turned to one of my best friends. He's pretty much a no-nonsense guy when it comes to girl drama and made me come to the following realization:
Make-up, while it can enhance your look, should not be your look.
And with that I want to reveal how much work goes into looking like the me that is pictured above. They say a magician should not reveal their secrets but I think it's important to know that people don't just naturally look like magazine covers and photoshoped images (not that I'm saying I did, but, you get the point). My grandma took these originally so that I'd be able to remember what she did on how to get the look, but since I'm never going to use this much stuff on my face again, it's time to expose. He we go.. first, she started on the eyes.
For the eye shadow alone, she used about 5 different colors, paint pots, and highlighters. Then 2 liners, and mascara so we are at a total of 8 PRODUCTS.
Then she did the brow and she used a highlight and a darker color so now we are at a total of 10 PRODUCTS.
Then she did the face. This is the most embarassing part to post, but people need to see it so... here we go. She used a primer base, then the cover up, then a mineral sheer, then a light rouge. Then she sprayed a set spray thing on... so that 4 products more. Now we are at- 14 PRODUCTS. You starting to see where I'm going?
So after she started spreading it around I looked slightly more human, but only a bit. She added a contour line of blush and finished off with a face spray that evens out powders and whatnot so now 16 PRODUCTS.
She added a final lip color of 'Viva glam' lipstick and I was finished. With the use of about 6 different brushes and 3 baby wipes I was at a grand total of 25 VARIOUS THINGS used on my face to create the look you saw above. So after pouring over that comment from my mom a few times and talking to my ever amazing friends, I realized I shouldn't have gotten so caught up in all of this stuff. The facebook 'likes', 'comments' and messages I got about how I looked "so pretty" seemed ever so slightly superficial. I'll keep the profile picture up as a reminder but here's the bottom line.
Don't let make-up define you. I'll still use a bit of it, I still love what I got today, but never let someone put so much on you that it changes how you feel and look to such an extent that you have a major breakdown. As I scrubbed of the make-up today, and my tears mixed with my face wash I'm so grateful I had this huge realization. So, to anyone still reading this- love yourself for who you are. You can use make-up, but don't be afraid to love your face in it's naked and natural state, blemishes, glasses and all.
