Why I Wear Makeup Every Day of Self-Isolation Essay
I Wore Full Glam For a Week of Staying at Home, and It Made Me Feel Human Again
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Wake up. Brush teeth. Turn on coffee pot. Throw on sweats. Open laptop. Sit on couch. Since staying at home every day, my morning routine has never been so simple. I practice the exact same actions over and over as soon as that alarm goes off. The one thing I actually miss is getting ready to head into the office; putting on makeup is my favourite part of my morning. It's almost like a meditation for me — my apartment is quiet and I get to take 20 minutes to just be creative and zone out. I miss that so much.
These days, I'm pretty much rolling out of bed and vaguely glancing at myself in the mirror for a moment. Of course it's been great to let my skin breath, but I also long for that put-together feeling I have when I'm ready to step out into the world.
So last week, I decided to challenge myself. I would put on a full face of makeup for seven days in a row. I'm not just talking about my usual routine; I decided to go all out and play with different looks. It would be a fun little project I could look forward to each morning. Ahead, I photographed each one of my completed looks (mostly to hold myself accountable) so I could take you though my little journey. Read on to see how I did, and how I ended up feeling by day seven.
Day 1: Going All Out
How I Felt: I was excited to start this challenge! While I was still bight-eyed and bushy-tailed, I decided to play with some colour and use purple eye shadow. I even curled my hair and threw in a scrunchie that matched my outfit (don't worry, I'm still wearing leggings, I'm not that eager). I felt like myself again — except more purple.
The Products I Used: Hida Beauty Obsessions Eyeshadow Palette in Amethyst ($27);
MAC Dazzleglass Lipcolor in Money Honey ($18)
Day 2: Work Appropriate
How I Felt: I had several video meetings and had to film an Instagram story for work, so I wanted to look polished. I would consider this to be more of a typical makeup look for me. A bronze eye and pink lipstick are my go-tos, so it made me nostalgic for my usual routine.
The Products I Used: Charlotte Tilbury Palette of Pops Luxury Eyeshadow Palette ($53);
Charlotte Tilbury Matte Revolution Lipstick in Amazing Grace ($34)
Day 3: Playing With Metallics
How I Felt: My vision for this look admittedly didn't translate (I was hoping for more shimmer and luster), but it was still enjoyable to use metallics, which I rarely ever do. I balanced out the eye with clear gloss on my lips. I really liked this look because it was easy to wash off before bed.
The Products I Used: NYX Prismatic Shadows in Metallic Silver ($6);
Glossier Lip Gloss in Holographic ($14)
Day 4: A Pop of Colour
How I Felt: I have loved the colourful eyeliner trend and wanted to give it a try. This ended up being one of my favourite looks of the week! I slicked back my hair so that the focus would be on my cat eye.
The Products I Used: Sephora Collection Colourful Waterproof Eyeliner in Pool Party ($9, originally $12)
NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream in Budapest ($4)
Day 5: Classic Glam
How I Felt: When I'm going out, this is the look I would usually wear. I love wearing a black cat eye and red lipstick to feel confident. It felt nice to revisit this look and it was easy to put on in the morning; I knew exactly how to achieve it so there was no stress.
The Products I Used: Haus Laboratories by Lady Gaga Liquid Eyeliner ($20)
Smashbox Always On Matte Liquid Lipstick in Liquid Fire ($24)
Day 6: All Pink Everything
How I Felt: Frankly, I had to force myself to put on my makeup by day six. I was getting a little tired of putting in a ton of effort, so I threw my hair in a bun and did an all-pink look to match my shirt. I kept it simple and glowy. Once I was finished, I was actually glad I did it. I felt great. It was just putting in the effort that gave me the struggles today.
The Products I Used: Pop Beauty Lightshow Eye Palette ($16);
Becca Cosmetics Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed Highlighter in Champagne Pop ($38)
Day 7: Feeing Blue It's Over
How I Felt: I woke up feeling recharged because I knew it was my last day! I wanted to do something fun, and perhaps a little risky, so I swiped on blue eyeshadow and a blush-y cheek. I think I surprised some people on Facetime with such a bold look, but I loved using such a mood-boosting colour.
The Final Verdict: Honestly, I'm so happy I did this. It truly improved my mood and even made me more motivated to be productive with other activities throughout the day. While I probably won't do a full, trendy glam look every day, I'll definitely continue to wear makeup when I need a pick-me-up. The actual act of putting it on truly gives me joy.
The Products I Used: Colourpop 25/8 Blush Stix in Warm Rose ($8);
Colourpop Blue Moon Shadow Palette ($12)
