In keeping with the occasional tradition of obtaining my inspiration for a blog post from the bathroom at work (classy!), I saw a lady re-applying her make up during lunch hour today. Eye shadow to be specific. And yeah, I found it odd. But why would I find that odd? I mean, don’t most women wear full makeup to work? Foundation, blush, lipstick, eye liner, shadow and mascara? Don’t they all also carry compacts for each of those in case of the need to freshen up mid-day?
I would answer that with a ‘no’. But that just could be me (I am known to be outside the norm on many of these more girly things.)
Now, I know my mom’s generation wore/wears full make up like that all the time. I know ladies in the southern states probably do too no matter what age. So I started to pay attention to the other ladies in my little slice of basement cubicle heaven.
As a frame of reference, I only wear pressed powder & eye liner. Over the years I did *used* to apply the full repetoire. But I’ve been slowly eliminating things. I dropped the blush first as it seemed to be overkill with my darker skin anyway. Then after years of trying to find a foundation that I liked (and realizing that my liked *expensive* ones only!), I just stopped wearing it altogether. The full eye routine went by the wayside gradually too. I think I stopped using eye shadow at least 5 years ago. I clung to the mascara until I had the laser surgery. I got so used to how I looked without ANY eye makeup (none was supposed to be applied for one full week after the procedure) that I decided I could get by with liner alone. IOW – I am as lazy as can be and hate to spend more than 2 mins applying makeup each morning!
Back to my informal office survey of today. In addition to the woman with full makeup I saw in the bathroom, there was one more who appeared to have all but the eye shadow, but other than that I can name almost 10 other women who either have nothing visible or none at all (one woman for sure is a none at all gal as we’ve talked about it before). Ages range from the late 20s to early 50s.
Not sure what that says about us – is it a typical so Cal thing to go more au natural? Is the minimalist style just ‘in’ these days? (Like I would know ‘in’!) is it just that I work in a basement office that does not deal with the public? I guess I should pay closer attention to the ladies I see at the bank or grocery store.
What say you my female readers? (which is all but 2 of you I think!) What is it like in your neck of the woods?
Trees & Flowers & Birds! 
For me, it is really an age thing. When I was young, I wore eye makeup and nothing else. About halfway through my 40s, I had to start wearing foundation, to hide things. That said, here in New England, at least in my part, people are pretty minimal with makeup.
LikeLike
I’ll survey at work tomorrow. I’ve personally gone from never thinking of leaving the house without full makeup (teens through 20s), to only wearing makeup on special occasions. I think I wore make-up at Christmas and then two days ago at a funeral, if that gives you any idea. I don’t know if it is a sign of the times or my personal laziness.
LikeLike
Au naturale has been in here in CT for years…it’s hard to find anyone over the age of 20 with visible makeup, although the middle school girls seem to wear enough for all of us, which is odd since they certainly don’t seem to be picking that up at home.
Even manicures seem to be out, although everyone has a pedicure in the summer.
LikeLike
Okay, checking in for a little regional balancing here. I wear what is considered “light” makeup for someone raised in Texas. That consists of tinted moisturizer, blush, powder, eyeliner, mascara, and lipstick for as long as it lasts. I never have time to reapply during the day.
The only time I leave the house without makeup is when I go to the gym first thing in the morning.
Everyone I know wears at least that amount, and lots of people add eye shadow and heavier foundation to that list.
LikeLike
Up until recently, I pretty much only wore mascara and a tinted moisturizer. Well, and something to keep my lips from drying up and blowing away. I was never a big makeup wearer, but when younger I did wear more, especially on my eyes. “All that black crap” is the way my mother affectionately referred to it when I was in college.
Anyway, for Christmas, the mother of one of my students gave me a big fancy bag full of Estee Lauder makeup! Eye shadows galore! Lipsticks! Lip glosses! Blushes! I admit I have been a bit like a little girl with her mom’s makeup…playing and trying things. But on the average morning? I’m happy if I manage to get the tinted moisturizer and a coat of mascara on.
LikeLike
I live in Washington. Wearing full make up is like begging to have your face parade rained on—literally.
I see very few women ’round these parts with eye shadow.
LikeLike
I rarely wear any makeup. If I am ready early for work and I have a meeting to go to, then maybe I will use the extra time to put on some very natural looking blush, earth toned eye shadow, eyeliner, mascara and some lip gloss. I do not like lip stick and I NEVER where foundation of any kind.
LikeLike
Let’s see… Light foundation in the morning, which I apply more coverup style. Sometimes eyeliner on my top lids. I like mascara but always find it smears, so that’s been done away with years ago. Then pressed powder, always. Then lipstick, which for me is Burt’s Bees and some lip pencil. Anything more than that and I feel way overdone!
LikeLike
Back in my younger days, I did full eye make-up and maybe a smidge of blush. Then I started working in an office where the owner wore no eye make-up which gave me permission to do the same. It is only recently, now in my dotage, that I have purchased some make-up for my new management gig. And even that is pretty minimal – cover-up, loose powder and mascara and a tinted lip gloss. I figure by losing the Crocs and applying some make-up I can look a little bit more official.
LikeLike
Neat post.
I used to wear full make up til I got married and stayed home every day. Then it was only eyeliner.
Now it’s eyeliner only if I am going outside the house. If I am going some place special (which is maybe once a year or less) I still do the whole thing…foundation, blush, eye shadow, eyeliner, mascara, lipstick.
LikeLike