Growing up I was amazed by my mom’s ability to apply lipstick without even looking at a mirror. I watched her in admiration apply wonderful shades of red deftly and then with a tissue smack her lips together to remove the excess. Of course being a young girl she shared her cast off colors with myself and my sister, but no matter how careful I was I always managed to smear it all over my teeth and that was whilst looking in the mirror. While my mom, born in 1927, was a bit of a glamour girl, I guess it was never my forte. I also remember her cake mascara which I often would also try to use, but instead just gave myself raccoon eyes.
Fast forward to my young adulthood – in high school in the mid 70’s the bold color palettes especially blues. Blooming Colors palettes were all the rage – 4 colors for the lid, under-brow area, highlights and contours. There was also a brown which matched my eyes so much better, but when I used it I looked awful and clown-like. Instead it was a mascara only world for me, with sometimes a poor attempt at eye-liner. My fate of course as a red head is that my brows, and my lashes are auburn.
My daughter, Michelle “Pinkey” was born in 1989. I think it was her 10 year old Christmas that Gramma Mary bought her and all the girls in the family, makeup kits for Christmas. Thus began Michelle’s love of all things makeup. Now as she is the adult, I watch her in awe as she deftly applies her makeup. Her chosen profession is an esthetician too! hope that her Gramma somehow is aware of that. I am sure that is her influence.
I’m still sticking to just mascara with a bit of eyeliner now and then. But never any lipstick. I have tried now and then, never finding a shade that works with my less than white teeth, on my small thin lips, or a product that I don’t feel the need to bite off once it has been applied. So I do believe on good authority that sometimes lipstick just skips a generation – at least it did in my case.
Reasons for Gladness 