Time-consuming. Simplistic. Straightforward. Classic.
These are all adjectives that I've used to describe my makeup routine at different points of my life. But now, I call it a mood-booster.
I didn't realize how much of a positive effect my makeup routine could have on my mood until a few weeks ago. I was dealing with a bad case of the post-summer blues. I felt down, slightly out of sorts, and genuinely sad to kiss beach weekends goodbye for a solid nine months.
In an effort to lift my spirits, I turned to my go-to mood-boosters. I called a friend. I watched my favorite rom-com. I went for a run. I treated myself to a fancy latte. I even took myself on a shopping date and splurged on a pair of suede loafers. None of my trusty solutions were working; I had spent way more cash than I would have liked, and my post-summer blues were still raging.
Then, while cleaning my bedroom one afternoon, I caught sight of my over-flowing makeup bag on my dresser. I began rummaging through — mostly I was procrastinating putting away my laundry. At the bottom of my bag, I found one of my favorite lipsticks, the extra-creamy e.l.f. Cosmetics SRSLY Satin Lipstick in Nectar [2] ($2-$3). The shade had made me feel confident in the past, so I figured that I might as well give it a shot in boosting my mood.
Now, the lipstick didn't necessarily make all of my negative feelings disappear, but it certainly brought me a moment of joy. From there, I moved on to applying mascara and a little blush.
More than anything, finding that lipstick reminded me that I can turn to makeup whenever I want, and that I don't need a special event on my calendar to justify applying lipstick, eyeshadow, or mascara. It's a tool of self-expression. I can apply it at 9 a.m. or 9 p.m. — as long as I take it off before bed, of course. The process of applying each product can be just as enjoyable as the final look, too.
Next time I feel down, visiting with my makeup bag might just be my first go-to trick.