I got to wondering about this question recently, because I got nosy, and because I’ve noticed an increase in the number of people interested in makeup, be it the techniques or makeup products in general.
I noticed this most significantly after the opening of Sephora stores locally. At one time, I thought Sephora would just open their stores and then slink away with their tail between their legs after a year or so, the way they did in Hong Kong. So, it surprised me to see that they’re still around and expanding.
When I step into a Sephora store, I’m also quite fascinated by the number of people in there buying and playing with the makeup on display. Collections are snapped up like hot goreng pisang, and the number of Instagram accounts out there dedicated to just makeup, is mind boggling!
So, since I know that I have a ready audience here (You would like makeup if you’re reading my blog! :D ) I thought I’d ask you – What made you love makeup?
For myself, I got into wearing makeup quite late in life. I went through life in university with just 1 brown-red lipstick and 1 compact powder foundation that I only trotted out when there were social events. I don’t even remember wearing makeup before that! I was pretty conservative and pretty sheltered. I still am in some ways ;) For some reason, no one I knew seemed to be that much into makeup – based on what I could tell. Maybe I was just naive LOL! :D
I only started exploring a little more once I started working and felt I wanted to look a little more presentable at the office. Also, I was starting to earn my own money, so I felt a little better about spending it, even if I was primarily spending it at the Maybelline counter :D
I’m not sure what the tipping point was for me, but from 1 lipstick, 1 powder and 1 blush, I decided to start experimenting with more colours and eye makeup. Early attempts were a disaster, and I was always just using my fingers for applying everything! I almost feel sorry for the people who had to see me back then haha! :D
Yet, for some reason, I felt that the right makeup made me look better and that started my interest and on-again, off-again love with makeup. I would be obsessed with finding the right foundations or experimenting with different blush shades, even if they didn’t suit me, or just buying a new lipstick, because I felt like crap. I’d wear eyeshadow in strange shades like chartreuse and turquoise, and think I was edgy and cool. I was in a way, and I was fortunate not to be called out on it at work! :P
Throwback to the time when my friend, Xin and I had free rein at the Bobbi Brown counters during the MWS x BB event in 2014
So, for me, my love for makeup was about experimenting ways to enhance how I look. It was rarely about buying the newest and the latest, or pretty prints or designs. It wasn’t about buying luxury makeup and hoarding them. I think for me, it was just about wearing makeup that I thought made me look better (or at least more interesting), fresher and more presentable, and finding out how to channel that “my face but better” look.
And that’s what I love about makeup. That I can stroll out after a terrible night’s sleep, feeling like death and yet have someone compliment me on my glowing skin (Thank the makeup gods for concealer, illuminators and foundations!); or that I can slick on a strong red lipstick to boost my confidence to deal with a room-full of chauvinistic men who think your opinions are fluff till you grab them by the balls – figuratively speaking, of course :P Or when you meet your nemesis while looking immaculate and polished, and notice that flicker of envy in their eyes that makes the sadistic side of you crow with delight. I like that about makeup – it sometimes brings out the Disney Villain in me. I just make sure I don’t use the Disney Villains as my template! LOL! :D
What about you? What made you love makeup?
I’d love to know, because I’m sure we didn’t all wake up one day and think “I need that newest makeup palette and all the lipstick colours in the rainbow!” So, if you have a little time, share your story with me – inquiring minds want to know :D
Paris B
I was a dancer performer in high school. There’s no budget for makeup artists and our parents did horrible jobs on our faces so I did my own research (no internet then!), watched a lot of TV, read magazines and learnt how to do makeup for myself and my friends who performed with me.
Good job! I remember the stage makeup at school. UGH UGH! LOL
I’ve always loved make-up, since I was a kid. I remember always playing with my Mom’s make-up when she wasn’t at home, or sneaking around my Grandma’s vanity table and putting a pink blush on my cheeks. I can’t really put a finger on what drove me into loving make-up but I know it’s pretty and fun and a boost of confidence. Make-up makes me feel ladylike and made-up, like I’m ready for the world, as silly as it may sound hahahahahaha
It’s not silly! Till today, when I have my face on, I’m ready to take on the world! Slick on a red lippie and I’m on TOP of the world :D Thanks for sharing your story – My mom didn’t wear a lot of makeup, just powder and lipstick. I remember her eyeshadow palette was so old, it was crumbling!
My first experience was when my mom had several lipstick samples from Nutri Metics (short, stubby size with weird smell LOL), I think that was during primary school. My dad grumbled how we looked awful with the lipstick testing but I loved every moment as there were so many colours to try!
I think the main reason why I love makeup is the colour experiment. My mom always tease me about how I’m a total nerdy science stream and don’t understand literature and arts. But I think there is part of me enjoy the other world of not science especially art :) So that might influence my makeup love :P
My most favourite thing is lipstick since my first makeup experience (see above, haha). The first few I bought were either pinkish or purplish – heck, still same until now LOL I also love the true RED – old hollywood, fire engine, red carpet (I even have lipstick with this name!), all those red names that point to my favourite red shade. But only when I was in late 20s that I finally wore my first red – I was still single and I thought, this is when I start to own myself without any care and worry of what society would say about me!
The rest of makeup family came here and there. Eyeliner is my next favourite as there are various colours, types and eye looks to try. It’s a experiment lover’s dream came true :P
I have love-hate with eyeshadows. I like to try colours but it’s always hit or miss, pretty tricky, haha. And I always fall victim to those limited products with interesting shades combo or shades names LOL
So to conclude, I’m a makeup lover with lipsticks and eyeliner obsession and hoard habit of limited eyeshadow collection :P
Oh lordy, I remember nutrimetics! Haha… I think my Mom got me one of those multi colour lip palettes once from some direct selling company. Dry, awful colours, but fascinating for me :D I love lipstick too – it’s one thing that I can be 100% sure I can put on properly, unlike eyeshadow or even blush. I remember the first time I bought a liquid foundation, it was so thick, my Mom asked if there was something weird with my face. I cleaned it off pronto LOL
Agree about lipstick. I don’t think you can do wrong with applying lipstick compare to other makeup products. The best thing about lipstick – it can transform your face better than other products – be it negative or positive effect LOL
One of my earliest experience with applying makeup was when I represented my school to a drama competition (I was in small role, only one line, haha). My friends did mine as I’ve no idea what to put on and at that time, I felt like the makeup felt so heavy on my face and I still have the picture of our group while I was wearing makeup, I think somehow my eyes looked smaller and sharper, hehe. When it was time to remove my makeup, my friends said just use toner – I actually used toner for few years as makeup remover until I knew the actual makeup remover LOL
You have to be pretty slow not to be able to apply lipstick! I’m serious LOL! So, not unsurprisingly, that’s the one makeup item I think most women will own. At least one la! :D But I also agree with you about its transformative powers. The best way to switch your look from day to night is to just change your lipstick! Oh and I actually cringed at using toner to remove makeup! LOL! But you know, there are people who still don’t know better, or who don’t mind because they don’t use a lot of makeup often, so don’t see the point of having a makeup remover? It’s probably like me and nail polish – I used to wear them but very rarely, so I’d pick them off my nails instead of using a polish remover! Terrible! LOL!
Eyeliners are also good to change the face but it’s way harder to properly apply compare to lipstick especially when you’re in hurry and no mirror :P
Even if they don’t use makeup, they still need makeup remover if they use sunblock or anything with SPF. That what I learned from a skincare counter and I agree as I need to get my skin clean before I do ablution for my prayers and it’s better to keep my skin looks and feels healthy – whether the sales girl wanted to convince me so I buy their products, that’s another story, haha.
I’m not sure where the idea of toner as makeup remover came but at that time, I tried both toner and baby oil to remove my makeup but the lipstick is the hardest to remove – don’t know what back then lipsticks were made of, maybe same ingredients as permanent markers LOL
When I do a no-makeup face, I only do a base, cheeks, brows and lips. I leave my eyes bare – it’s faster and more fuss free that way… but then of course, my eyes look really sepet la LOL! Oh and yes, sunscreen needs a remover, hence why double cleansing in the evening is a must! With so many options available, that are affordable as well, there’s no reason not to!
Discovered makeup in my mid-40s. Prior to that my focus was towards raising a family. Maybe 1 sad lipstick and eye shadow duo from Silky Girl. Didn’t see the need for makeup then as I was a stay at home mom raising 2 boys.
When I started my acrylic business back in 2010, it was my customers who would come over and talk to me about makeup. Well, the rest is history.
Am just trying to catch up and can’t believe there are so many wonderful things to buy to make me feel pretty lol
You caught the bug at a good time, Romana! Before this, the only way I could get any brands I saw online was through swaps or if friends travelled overseas! Now, we have all the convenience of online shopping and new brands coming in, and I think your collection far surpasses everyone I know! Haha :D
Eyeliner made me love makeup! I was in the mid 20s when I got properly hooked with makeup — That was the time when blogs and youtube tutorials were starting to populate the cyberspace!
Yay for Sephora!
Yay for Sephora indeed! You got into makeup at a good time too – I think the time of blogs and Youtube really fueled the whole makeup renaissance :D
My mom was an Avon Lady back in the day! She had a ready stream of customers in her colleagues as she was a school teacher and I loved it when her order arrived every few weeks or so – delivered by the Avon delivery man and the sweet smell that came out of that box – wow! There were always mini (teeny tiny) samples of new lipstick and all sorts of wonderful things in there which I played with. So I grew up surrounded by makeup and developed an interest. Also, I was a pimply teenager and their foundations helped even out the scars a little (well, I packed it on for sure – many many days of make up fails!). Then I started earning and purchasing makeup and as I look back, I have come a long way in my understanding of colors and what works for me as well as what does not.
Ooh Avon lady! :D What fun it must have been for you – it’s funny how I grew up without anyone guiding me into the world of makeup. What have I missed out on! :P Like you though, I’ve learned what colours, textures and formula work for me so these days, I manage to pick out more hits than misses. Thankfully, since prices are now astronomical too!
“For myself, I got into wearing makeup quite late in life. I went through life in university with just 1 brown-red lipstick and 1 compact powder foundation that I only trotted out when there were social events. I don’t even remember wearing makeup before that! I was pretty conservative and pretty sheltered. I still am in some ways, For some reason, no one I knew seemed to be that much into makeup – based on what I could tell. Maybe I was just naive LOL!”
These sentences describe me to the “t” (stole your line..). The only makeup I knew were lipstick, powders and eyeshadows. Bought one liquid foundation in my late twenties that made me look like a character from olden day Chinese opera. So buried that in my backyard. A colleague of mine introduced the world of youtuber’s and makeup/ skincare bloggers to me about 15 months ago. So at the age of 40, I learnt a busload of terms. Who knew people baked, caked, highlighted and illuminated their faces!!! So… began the foray into world of colours again with liquid foundations, brushes, eyeshadows, liquid liners and blushes. And that’s how I discovered your blog. There have been hits and misses but somewhat found a comfort zone now. Eyeshadow and liner still eludes me though. Somehow creasing and mixing shadows are not my forte. So did the next best thing – eyeshadow sticks…
No more panda eyes at work now. Still cant brave myself for the red lipstick though..
Hello Santhi! What is eyeshadow stick? To prevent eyeshadow creasing, I find the best of the best eyeshadow primer is still Nars Smudgeproof. I have gone through 3 tubes of it already since discovering it. Along the years I also have tried other primers but nothing works like Nars! :)
Not Santhi, but I think she means the cream eyeshadow sticks like the Laura Mercier Caviar sticks or the Bobbi Brown long wearing eyeshadow sticks. I have to admit that the NARS primer is quite something.
Hahaha your foundation story is just like mine! I bought 1 liquid foundation, put it on and had my Mom ask me what was wrong with my face. I think the colour didn’t suit me (too dark and pink) and it was applied too thickly. I was so mortified that I immediately wiped it off and never used it again! LOL I think eyeshadow sticks are a Godsend too! Really, it’s so easy to get powder shadow wrong, but cream shadow always works much more easily. I’m still not very good with powder shadow but I know I have my creams and sticks so I’m safe ;) AS for red lipstick, there’s no need to go full on red the way I do. If you want to feel a little more swanky, just pick a colour that’s a little brighter/redder and that will do the trick!
I started wearing makeup in high school. The only thing we could wear was lipgloss and a bit of mascara. For date night I would use a bit of powder and a little eye shadow. As the years went by, I discovered makeup artfully applied could make me look better. I fell in love with lipsticks, eye shadow, liners etc. It’s only been within the past 3 years that I began to use foundation, contour and highlighter. I am also totally enamored with Charlotte Tilbury and Tom Ford. In my opinion they have the best lipsticks. I love Cle de Peau for concealer. As the years passed I have become a real makeup snob.
Haha thanks for being so honest about being a makeup snob! :D I think we all arrive there one way or the other. I too slowly eased into wearing a full face of makeup. I still don’t contour and highlight, but it’s only in the past 5 years that I’ve learned to do my brows, liner, eyeshadow and foundation properly! That’s why I love lipstick – few of us can botch THAT up :D
I haven’t been commenting in ages. But this post made me wanna!
What made me love makeup was makeupalley, YOU, and YOU! Specifically when you sent me that giant pack of eyeshadows, and I started readling your blog! Haha!
Thanks for starting me on a crazy journey of spending,… I mean beauty :-D
Hahaha Gosh those were the days! :D Makeupalley was a big catalyst for me as well! Opened up my eyes to the world of makeup and brands I never knew existed
When I was little grandmother always let me put on her lipstick when we would go out. I would watch in awe as she put on a perfect application sans mirror every single time. My grandmother always looked pulled together when she wore that lipstick. Gold tube, frosty pink lipstick that smelled like lipstick if you know what I mean. I used to buy a lipstick or eyeshadow at the drugstore but it wasn’t until I started high school that she took me to my very first Shiseido counter. I was hooked after that. But it was always about skincare first and then makeup. I love beauty because it’s time for me to just focus on me.
When I grow up I want to be like your grandmother! :D For me, both my grandmothers had hard lives so their only real indulgence that I ever saw them use was some powder. Still, they had amazing skin, all things considered! I think makeup has had a lot of flack over the years, where it’s deemed to be frivolous. But as you’ve said, it’s something that allows us to focus on ourselves for just a few minutes, and sometimes, that’s all we need.
Helloooo! I’ve been away for so long again! Love when you send out memory searching, thoughts provoking post like this one! :)
Let’s see… In my university years I was very much confused with translucent poweder, compact, liquid foundation etc etc. I didn’t even know which one applies first. That shows you how limited my knowledge was!! Hehe I’d apply eyeshadow without any eyeliner or maskara and thought that was all I need. Plus a lipstick. So, one lipstick and one or two eyeshadow singles saw me through most of my uni years.
Then I worked in M&S as part time during my postgrad studies. And I would see beautiful ladies with beautiful makeup so I started discovering eyeliners… But only eyeliners. Oh I loved the instant change it brought to eyes with just a bit of eyeliners drawn on!
When I started working proper job, I had only one liquid foundation which I applied only if I had to attend somebody’s wedding parties. For work I still only apply a thin layer of transparent powder and eyeliner. I guess my skin was good back then so there was no need for concealer or foundation daily. :)
And Then came the time when I had to express breast milk at work for my first baby. And it was so boring sitting for up to an hour expressing these precious liquids. And that time I got to know makeup tutorials from YouTube, in particular, Michelle Phan. I love how easy she showed us how to do makeup step by step and was wondering where I’ve been all these times when YouTube tutorials were so readily available! Anyway, from there I started googling for products review and stumbled upon your blog. And then…!!! My lipstick and foundation collections start expanding exponentially!!!!! :p
Hello stranger! :D Glad to know you’re still keeping in touch ;) Thanks for sharing your makeup story! I was a nerd all through school and uni so unsurprisingly, I barely wore any makeup nor even really cared about how I looked even though I had bad skin. Fortunately for me, few people around me did either LOL! I don’t remember anyone actually wearing makeup at all, except for some lipgloss. Certainly not with the type of makeup we see today on the young ones :P Oh confession time: I’ve never watched Michelle Phan! I remember reading about her rise to fame, but I think the internet was just too slow back then for me to get into videos LOL! I’m still a dinosaur :P
I have always loved makeup and anything colourful and beautiful! I used to sneak into mom’s room to play with her makeup and walked out with badly smudged blue eyeliner! I was never allowed to wear makeup until I was 18. When I became a student in the US, I would throng the drugstores and end up with 8 different mascaras! My American roomies would wake up at 6am to do hair and makeup for a class at 8am, something I find amusing till today! By the time I was working (on radio) there was no more such thing as “face for radio”. I had to put my face on because we used to get loads for visitors and clients come over to say ‘hi’. Makeup companies started giving out samples of products. Thanks to YouTube, I finally learned how to blend eyeshadow, all in my 30s. My younger colleagues used to ask me why do I always look “put together” when I come to work. My answer was always, “When I look good, I feel good, and I sound good.” Hah! :)
Ooh I think things were much more different in the US with their crazy wide selections of brands and products, than in a provincial Uni in the UK where even getting to a Boots involved a half hour trek LOL! Maybe that’s why no one really had much, if any, makeup on. I always thought that radio announcers had it easy, unlike TV presenters – so it’s interesting to know that you actually have to look decent – can’t imagine doing the morning show looking decent though – who does at 4am?! :P
Working in Japan changed my perception of makeup. I had very little interest in makeup when I was in uni; in fact, I think I only had one lipstick and some godawful cheapie eyeshadow palette from Superdrug. In Japan, heck, even the students wore makeup to school albeit subtly. I looked like a real plain Jane in comparison so I started to see what was out there. And with Japanese makeup, I was utterly spoilt for choice. Even convenience stores had their own range of makeup from Shiseido. That was when I fell in love with makeup and started to experiment. Of course, with experiments, I had fail moments too (I still have that one photo of me with bright blue eyeshadow painted across my lids with zero blending. This was in 2005, not 1985! :P ). Those were the days when I had a lot of fun with colours.
These days, I’m more interested in getting the base right than I am fussing about with eye makeup. In fact, I’m getting pretty lazy with lippies too. But when it comes to base makeup, I want that fresh Korean style look, as though I just had a really good facial. :)
Ooh Japanese ladies look so put together all the time! I remember when I was there and no one looked messy or ungroomed. I definitely felt a little out of place in my tourist garb and appearance :P I’ve reached my zen zone too, and it too involves my base. I get my base right and if I”m really lazy I just slap on a bright lipstick. Hang the rest of the makeup ;D
For me it was because I was breaking out so bad that I didn’t even dare to see my face in the mirror being scared that it will crack from my awful acne and warts. I started with BB creams and worked my way to foundation. Lo and behold, I got so immersed into makeup that I just love every single thing!
Aww that’s good to know that you were able to build up your confidence with makeup :D When I had really bad skin, I actually never thought about putting on makeup ta all! Maybe it was because I wasn’t exposed to it and there was this perception that putting on makeup would just make it worse. It was back in the days before BB cream and lightweight foundations and concealers after all, and these counter people would make you feel awful about having bad skin :(
I first entered the world of makeup introduced by my cousin.she was already into makeup and she knew more than i do.even though when i was young my mother would just put red lipstick on me when we went for family function.but that was only it.The first makeup i bought was from silkygirl which is a lip gloss in shade vintage rose.i still remember it as my go to lip product.i was 15 that time and then during high school i used mostly eye shadow and lip gloss no liner at all..after entering college which made me realised that people use a lot of makeup and that’s how i fell in love with makeup.i started experimenting with colors brands to see what look good on me by watching youtube videos and seeing others on the skills made me want to learn more and now at the age of 25,i am very much in love with makeup and will continue do so till i can.and now the cousin who introduced makeup to me recently told me i really know more than her into makeup now. :)
Ah how the tables have turned! :D I think makeup is a fun little hobby and fulfilling too, when you get it right. Plus, it’s so easy now to learn with all the Youtube videos on hand! I can’t get over the whole contouring thing though, so that’s one look I’m likely never to sport, but it’s nice to learn anyway. And college now is quite different from what it was at my time – hardly anyone wore makeup when I was in college! :D
I love contouring.i feel it gives more structure to my face.but i will only do it when i have weddings or dinners.it make me feel extra special .i try to be minimal with my makeup when i am off to college,black gel liner and a lipstick and i am good to go :)
You know that was 2 items more than I ever wore to college! :D I still can’t contour to save my life. I better try LOL!
I was a ‘late bloomer’ too. I love expressing myself through makeup and find the application process calming. I also find the new releases interesting!
I have to confess being a little jaded with new releases of makeup, but I can’t deny that the brand outdo themselves everytime, either with the pretty packaging or new formulations. Gotta keep the masses happy and invested! :)
I think I’ve always loved makeup. Even if I was not wearing it, I still collected it. TheMe days, I have amassed too much makeup. Oh lawd, when I was moving, it was basically makeup I was packing lol. I had stopped experimenting with makeup in high school when I decided to use pink one day, I guess I was into the pink/mauve mode even before it became popular a couple of years ago in Korea :-)
Anyway, my white girl friend told me that it was ugly and that I looked like I got bruised/hit! After that, I stopped experimenting with makeup.
I still collected, but I only wore it to special occasions.
It really wasn’t until the YT makeup guru boom that I got into BB CREAMS and other worldly brands of makeup.
Now, I’m sort of an expert in my circle of friends. They always ask me what I’m using or buying next. Although I don’t blog, I do it by mouth. Lol
See, you don’t have to be a blogger to be a social influencer! I’m sure your friends learn a lot from you and you’ve come a long way from being told that your makeup was ugly (Which was mean btw) I am a little wary about using red/pink shades around my eyes for this reason though. I don’t look like I’ve been hit, but I look like I’ve been crying and that’s never a good thing. But the nice thing is that at the end, it’s just makeup. Clean it off, and start anew! :)
I got into makeup relatively late in life too! I think my perception of makeup when in high school was of other girls who would cake on their makeup, so I wasn’t much of a fan. For me it started during my university days when I started venturing into that “no makeup makeup” look! Still recall one of my first few encounters when I walked into a shop and saw a pot of light pink powder. I swatched it and thought looked pretty nice for a blush, then took a look at the label at the bottom to realise it’s supposed to be an eyeshadow =.=” it was one of those “oh my I’m so out of my comfort zone” moments! Funnily I bought it and it’s still one of my favourite eyeshadow colours!
Fast forward many years later and I’m now an occasional makeup wearer with much better (I hope!) idea of what works for me and what colours I can generally pull off. I find all the YouTube videos are so useful- my favourite makeup artist is Lisa Eldridge! I’ve found her videos so helpful, and I really enjoy how different makeup looks can lift my mood, or transform how I look. So bottom line: it’s not always a bad thing to venture out of our comfort zones!
Hahaha Eyeshadow as blush – you know what? One of my earliest blushes was an eyeshadow too! I picked up a peach eyeshadow from Make Up For Ever during some sale, and I practically used it up because I was using it almost daily as a blush (since I didn’t know how to use eyeshadow back then) I say, do whatever makes us happy and works eh? :D It’s nice to know that we’ve all moved on and worked out what works for us. Makeup disasters are an amusing memory, but it’s also nice to know that we don’t make those disasters anymore! :)
I only start wearing makeup (eyebrow pencil & lipbalm only) after my brows got over plucked by one MUA (makeup was for attending company dinner at my 1st job). Now I’ll tell MUA not to touch my brows unless strays on my eyelids.
Only recently that I get confident to wear red lipstick & eyeliner to work. I guess the older I get, the less I care about what others might think about my makeup.
& thanks to you, I wear sunscreen almost religiously ???
Have a nice day, ParisB! ????
Yay for wearing sunscreen religiously! I’d say it makes for a good religion – Thou shalt wear sunscreen everyday! will be my first commandment :D Oh I’ve experienced scary brow stories too! There was once when I had my brows trimmed so short that it made my face look unbalanced! It was then that I learned of the joy of brow pencils and how brows can change how you look. It really is impressive! Oh and that’s the other great thing about growing older – not caring about what other people think or say. The confidence that only comes with age and wisdom ;)
I started to look into makeup due to the music I grow up listen to, the visual kei bands (or v-kei). V-kei band members always have makeup on their face as part of the music concept and to think that they are all males! That’s when I told myself, “well, if those Japanese guys can look pretty in makeup, I want to prove that girls are pretty too!”
So I experimented with a pencil eye liner first by drawing on my eye lid every other day as ‘practise’. Then to all other products.
That is so cool that you got into makeup because of guys wearing them haha! :D But what a good impetuous. I’m not familiar with the music genre you mention, but I know that the Japanese and Korean guys aren’t averse to wearing some eyeliner and foundation! ;)