Makeup as Ritual: My Favorite Products and Timeless Secrets
Makeup as Ritual
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Several years ago I was working in an office building, and there was a small fire in the floor above us.
No one's safety was at risk, but when I heard the firemen were considering evacuating, my mind immediately went to one place:
My makeup.
I regard makeup the same way an artist regards their paint and brushes. I take so much pleasure from creating art across my face. The ritual of it settles my nervous system, boosts my confidence, and conjures creativity.
Makeup as a Feminine Rite
I consider makeup to be a feminine rite.
(Something I dig into more in Red Lips & Rose Petals: The Art of Beauty Ritual.)
I remember my 13th birthday, knowing I was truly a teenager when I received a Caboodles case full of bold shades from the drugstore.
I bought my first big-girl lipstick at age 15 (Ecru by Lancome).
I remember the tissues that littered my mother's purse, all covered in big frosty pink kisses.
Some of the fondest memories of my teenage years are my best friends and I standing at the mirror, covering up our adolescent blemishes as we uncovered our souls.
In honor of this great love affair, here are a few gems from my personal collection of potions, products, tips, and tricks.
Favorite Products & Trade Secrets
Skin
For glowing, even skin, tinted moisturizer tends to be quite sheer, whereas foundation tends to cake. Using mostly tinted moisturizer with just a touch of foundation gives just the right coverage.
Quick ratio: 80% tinted moisturizer to 10–20% foundation for natural coverage without cakiness.
I love Saie Slip Tint with just a tiny dot of Amazonian clay foundation. (Emphasis on the tiny…this stuff is like car paint.)
Eyes
To me, even more important than the shadow is the brush. I love a good mop shadow brush, which allows you to apply color gradually and then blend, blend, blend. I love this one by Ilia, which uses faux, animal-friendly bristles.
Trish McEvoy makes a wonderful product called "Finish Line" that turns any eye shadow into liquid liner. The key here is the angled brush — it's killer for creating that defined, clean line.
Lips
With lips, one product rarely meets the mark. My collection is stocked with liners, lipsticks, glosses, crayons, and more, and I use them in tandem. Try dotting lipstick on your lips, blending, and adding a touch of gloss in the center. Or, start with gloss as a base, and layer in lipstick on top, blending as you go. The possibilities are limitless!
I use lip gloss almost every day, and my favorite brand is Westman Atelier. It's luxe, and it's worth it.
Related Episodes
🦄 184: Gems of Wisdom from Your Beauty Fairy Godmother
💄 171: An Ode to Red Lipstick
🌹 183: Red Lips & Rose Petals: The Art of Beauty Ritual
💋 72: Worship Worthy Beauty Rituals