Makeover 101

Around 1 month ago, My friends, who are parents of students in my kids' school, gave me a makeover lesson. I have not been using makeup regularly though I had a few items in my makeup bag.

They put foundation, blusher, lipstick, eyeshadow and brow definer, and mascara on me. I didn't even know there was such a thing as brow definer! I have had a previous allergic experience to mascara, so I haven't used it in years. I didn't even know how to use a lash curler. Really. Actually, I have long, curly lashes already. But I found out the lash curler does make them look nicer.

I got a lot of compliments that day! My husband didn't notice at first (or he noticed but didn't say it right away), but he also said I looked nice later on. Woohoo! :-) So he didn't sleep "outside the kulambo", haha. ("Outside the kulambo" is a Filipino idiomatic expression dating back to the times when everyone used mosquito nets or "kulambo". When a husband is told "you will sleep outside the kulambo tonight" because he offended his wife for some reason, that would mean he couldn't sleep beside his wife on the bed, but moreso, he would be feasted upon by vicious mosquitoes. All as punishment for the "offense".)

I put on makeup almost everyday now, not because I want to impress anyone or because I'm insecure about my looks. I am not putting on makeup because I fear my husband will leave me if I don't have makeup. There are days I like to look extra nice, there are days I like to have a bare face. I am happy and I feel good about myself with or without makeup. But one thing I have noticed, I smile at my reflection more if I have some color on my face. :-)

As a result of my makeover 101, I bought some makeup I didn't have before: black mascara (I wasn't allergic to VMV Hypoallergenics' mascara, and it is waterproof), brown brow definer (Maybelline), black as well as brown eyeliner (L'Oreal...it was the softest of the mid-price-range ones...and I wasn't allergic to it. I got an allergic reaction to Clinique's eyeliner. L'Oreal also doesn't run.), and pressed powder (VMV Hypoallergenics-this is a high-quality, real hypoallergenic, somewhat expensive Filipino brand developed by a renowned Filipino dermatologist, but available on the internet). I also bought lip and eye makeup remover (The Face Shop, a Korean brand), a lash curler, and a brow comb.

I was able to test some of the products in the store, and then observed them for the rest of the day to see if I had allergies.

I thank God for friends who helped me "bring out my God-given beauty" from my makeover!