20170528

What Makeup & Beauty Means to Me


I think makeup and beauty are up there with veganism and religion (or lack of) as things people immediately make assumptions about you and your motivations before they've even bothered to find out your thoughts and feelings on the topic. However, in my opinion people’s reasons for loving beauty are just as varied as the people themselves, so I thought I’d do a post today talking about my perspective.

I know a lot of people are fascinated b the ‘end result’ or YouTube tutorials wouldn’t be a thing, however for me it’s not really where my passion lies. Makeup can be amazing and transformative, however changing how I look to others isn’t something I’m that interested in; in fact I’m sure 80% of my makeup looks all look the same to the casual observer. My application skills are ok, however nothing to write home about, which is why I’ve always said this space isn’t a tutorial blog (essentially, you’d get a lot more out of just watching a Lisa Eldridge video!) Sometimes it’s about the finished look, but to me it’s more about the experience.

I can’t be the only person who finds something therapeutic about putting on makeup. That 20 minutes in the morning is the time I prepare myself for the day mentally and decide what version of myself I’m going to be. It can also make you feel prepared for those days when you need a bit of strength. Whether it’s for a funeral, a discussion at work you know won’t be easy, meeting your partners parents for the first time or going for an interview, a spray of the right perfume or a coat of the right lipstick can mentally stabilise you. Though of course on the average day, it can just about getting a few moments of peace that are just about you - not work, your kids or any other responsibilities you have on your plate.

Moving onto products, that’s when we start to get warmer, because they really do get me! I honestly couldn’t care less if my Becca highlighter is virtually the same colour as my Anastasia one; the subtle differences in finish and undertone, as well as the sheer joy of makeup means that both have a happy home in my makeup collection. In fact, it’s almost less about what they actually do to your face and more about the prettiness in the pan and the satisfaction of swatching the product and thinking ‘wow’.

I also love makeup and beauty products for what they represent and the memories they evoke. I can’t crack open a bottle of MAC Studio Fix Fluid without catching a whiff of that paint-stripper-esque scent and being instantly transported back to being an 18 year-old fresher getting ready for a night out. Or being reminded of the first time I tried it, after my mum finally took me to get properly colour-matched following several mishaps with Maybelline Dream Matte Mousse... The custom-made Bite Beauty lipsticks I created in New York takes me back to that sunny day in Soho whenever I glimpse them in my drawer. The sheer brown nude of Fresh’s Sugar Lip Treatment in Honey has long been a workday staple and has seen me through many a job interview, including the one for my current role. And the scent of Nuxe’s Prodigeuse collection will forever remind me of sun-drenched holidays in Spain and Croatia. Throughout my teenage years, MAC lipsticks always symbolised the height of cool, especially in an all-girls school where makeup was banned, and I’ll never forget getting my first ever one. The trademark vanilla scent, being able to show off that I had one...how ridiculously drying the matte finish actually was!

Most importantly of all, in my opinion, beauty connects people. There are very few things that three generations of women in a family will instantly be on the same wavelength with, however heading straight over to the Bobbi Brown counter on a shopping trip is one of them! Whether it’s recognising a perfume and complimenting your colleague on it to break the ice or lending a new friend your lipstick in the loos on a night out; it acts as something you can instantly connect with a fellow beauty-lover over. I absolutely love hearing about the products people keep in their handbags or makeup bags; it’s kind of like palm-reading for me! You can tell if someone’s always on the go from the five Clinique Chubby Sticks they own, that they’re low-maintenance when the one beauty product they won't be without is YSL Touch Eclat, that they’re committed to excellence when one of just two lipsticks they own is a Tom Ford whose bullet is almost completely flattened from how much it's been used. Not to mention, it gives people from across the world a common topic to talk about. Even on my blog, I’ve had the opportunity to hear from people in countries I may never visit who feel a connection with me over a shared love of Charlotte Tilbury lipstick. And I think that’s pretty amazing!



What do makeup and beauty mean to you?


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35 comments

  1. I love this post :) It was lovely to hear your reasons for why you like make-up and I think mine are very similar. I love sitting at the beginning of a day and chilling with my own thoughts whilst dabbing a beauty blender across my face and filling my brows in. It's so therapeutic.

    Thank you for sharing. I hope you have a lovely Sunday :)

    Chloe @ https://girllgonerogue.blogspot.co.uk/

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  2. Lovely post! I couldn't agree more, I do love watching fancy makeup tutorials on youtube but thats not where my passion lies either. Just taking the time out for yourself in the morning just feels great!

    Lucy | Forever September

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  3. This is such a lovely post, interesting to read about deeper meanings of beauty. I love taking the time to do my makeup, and the experience of buying makeup is something I'll always enjoy. Makeup does make me feel a little more like me - once I've got my face on I;m good to go!!

    Emily x | emilyclairewrites.com

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  4. I am happy I could've read this post, because the world should know that makeup is not just about looking better. I've been thinking about posting something similar too. Makeup and beauty products means to me a lot and it's not just because people look prettier after that. It helped me with my self confidence and opened the door to amazing people through the blogging. I'm very grateful.

    Michelle Morchella

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    1. I can definitely relate to that :) it opens the door to so many things beyond the obvious xx

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  5. You are correct about people making assumptions as soon as they found out I am beauty obsessed. Mainly they think I'm wasting money or high maintenance and some even think I like showing off because I love luxury makeup but for me, it's an experience as you said. And I also love collecting makeup. I love trying the different formula, experimenting with a different look and it's my little me time.

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  6. People always think I'm spending too much money on beauty products and makeup but it's my passion and something I like to collect almost, as in, some people collect stamps and I like to have a lot of makeup haha! Totally agree with you on it being theraputing to Apply as well :)

    http://claresloves.blogspot.co.uk/

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  7. Great post. I love beauty products and hate the fact taht people assume that because I like them Im ust be stupid. x

    Emma | Reverie de Paris

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    1. I hate that too, I always just think they must be pretty shallow people if they judge those they haven't bothered to get to know :) xx

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  8. Such a lovely post. I definitely agree with you that putting my makeup on in the morning is definitely a therapeutic experience for me and I love how I can change my look up and give different products a try; making this a slightly different, slightly new experience each day. Makeup to me is an expression of my personality and allows me to create a new persona. To feel sexy and confident I may wear a red lip or I may opt for a pink eyeshadow if I want to feel a little girly.

    Toni x
    www.clarkecouture.co.uk

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  9. You're totally right - it connects people in a way that a football connects men of all different ages (not just men, I know, but at a family get together no matter what the ages, the males end up with a kickabout). I love seeing what products other people use and getting tips or giving advice too.

    I love applying my makeup because I feel that it hides the signs of my illness and I can be more "me"with it on, rather than the "ill version of me" that people see otherwise xx

    Beautylymin| LuxurySkincareGiveaway

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    1. Yeah I can definitely see the parallel with football xx

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  10. Jasmine I loved reading this and am literally smiling as I'm typing this out and felt like I needed to tell you that! I can so relate to everything you said. My makeup looks don't really change either but yes I find it therapeutic too, it's my space, my time and what I call my Zen. I love varying shades of something too and I think those subtle differences matter. Great post xx

    franklyflawless.com

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  11. Such a lovely post! I relate to everything here! Makeup makes me confident and feel great!

    Fix Me In Forty Five - A Beauty & Lifestyle Blog
    Blog Lovin' // Instagram
    xx

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  12. I love this post so much!
    I'm a big fan of the end result of makeup, but I don't think looking like a different person with makeup is a good thing. I'm slowly learning that it's important to love my face without makeup before I even think about applying makeup.
    A Sparkle Of Grace

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    1. Yeah I rarely feel like I look dramatically different haha - it's a bit annoying in photos actually! xx

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  13. I agree! I've had people make all sort of presumptions just because I like to wear make up - regularly! I love those minutes spent applying my makeup every morning! I'm also enjoying the connection with other women because of makeup, especially through blogging and Instagram. It's been great! X

    Toni | sheergloss

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  14. This was such a great read! I ever considered these aspects of makeup and beauty until now. I never thought makeup to be anything therapeutic let alone something that connects people. I rarely wear makeup because somehow I've believed that it's solely for covering imperfections. As the years have progressed, I have seen it as an act and now I'm seeing another facet of it through your lens. Maybe I'll start enjoying makeup when I start seeing it differently now.
    I might never be a makeup guru (which I frankly don't wanna be) but I can at least enjoy it and now always feel like a drag queen each time I apply one!
    Thanks for sharing.
    ~ Asaake
    www.asakemi.com

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  15. I completely agree! I love mixing and matching my makeup collection, organizing it, trying different combinations, just looking at it in general haha!

    Beauty From Katie

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  16. This was such an amazing post and just reminded me of some of my own moments. I am so proud of my carefully curated collection and just owning and looking at beautiful makeup makes me ecstatic
    Neha | dreamsandshades.com

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  17. Love the post! I just love how makeup transforms you and boosts confidence

    Beauty Candy Loves

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  18. This is such a beautifully written post Jasmine, really enjoyed it. I'm exactly the same as you, I'm all about the process of makeup, I'm not that great at application, I just enjoy it. I think for me it stems back to loving shops like Homebase and art shops when I was younger as I used to collect all the paint swatches. It's just like me now and makeup. I love all the colours and the textures, and definitely agree how it connects people so well. Lovely post xox

    The Makeup Directory

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    Replies
    1. That's such an interesting thought - I can definitely see the connection there :) xx

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  19. I love this post. I am exactly the same! I can actually be really good at makeup if I wanted to, am qualified as a makeup artist etc. but tbh I just love doing my own thing which is to look as good as possible without really looking like I'm wearing much unless someone was like ON top of me staring at my face, when people say Oh your skin is glowing etc. I LOVE it so much more than if someone said oh that's a nice blusher you have on. Sarah from Iheartcosmetics xx

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  20. I love applying makeup! Especially my eyeshadow, it's so therapeutic!

    www.upyourvlog.com

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  21. Thank you for your comments :) it's so interesting to hear your perspectives xx

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  22. This is such an important conversation here.

    It's tiring when people make unkind remarks about an interest in beauty, as if it shows the person to be superficial or unintelligent. I've become immune to it now, but a few years ago I felt quite embarrassed to say I really enjoy skin care or the process of makeup.

    Now, my friends ask me about skin care and what products I'd suggest and why.

    I'm in awe of this online space where so many share similar interests and we can talk freely.

    Shanelle || SLovesAutumn

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    1. I love being asked for recommendations by friends and family :) xx

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  23. Came from Sally's post mentioning blog posts that had caught her eye. Absolutely loved reading this, makeup and beauty is such a massive part of my life and brings back so many memories for me, I had far too many mishaps with dream matte mousse too that's for sure! x

    jodiemelissa.com

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  24. I love this post and I totally agree that makeup is so much more than just like the end result!

    xx Sofia | SOFIAADOT

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  25. I think being a makeup artist has allowed me to fall even deeper in love with makeup. I started doing makeup for the same kind of reasons that you write here, but learning the deep and detailed history of it made me love it even more.

    Meghan | The Lipstick Philosopher

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  26. Love this post. I love makeup because of how it makes me look, but I also love the experience! I love putting it on and having that time to make myself into whoever I want for the day. Great post!

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