I was looking some email newsletters this morning and came across the most recent GOOP one where Gwyneth Paltrow talks about how she’s basically an idiot when it comes to makeup. Reading this reminded me that OMG, I totally used to be one too! In fact, it was a real confidence issue for me. I’d get anxious anytime I’d be in a makeup store that I’d chose the wrong color and look like a clown. Or that I’d apply it wrong. I actually still am a klutz with makeup. Difference is I took some time earlier this year to solve the issue and regain my makeup application confidence.
Basically all I did was I realized the value of having someone who really knows what they’re doing show me how to do it. I needed step by step instructions. Hell, this can apply to any sort of thing you ‘re lacking expertise or confidence in. For example, if you’re a crappy cook, hire a personal chef to teach you how to make 5-7 really easy meals that you can rotate and repeat. It’ll cost you some money upfront, but think of what you’d save (and the weight you’d lose!) in the long run not ordering out or relying on pre-made, unhealthy food. If you’re style challenged, another example could be hiring a stylist to go through your closet and teaching you how to wear what you already have, and how to shop for what’s most flattering for your body type. Costs some cash, but you’ll save in the long run by not buying clothes that don’t fit properly and by getting more use out of what you already have. Plus you’ll look awesome which will boost your confidence and more.
So what one of my fellow make-up challenged friends and I did was we made an appointment at Sephora to sit with one of their consultants. We gave her a list of what we were trying to accomplish, and then took her advice. You can do this with just about any sort of beauty boutique, including department stores. Sephora in particular has a $100 purchase minimum, but when you consider the quality of the products and how long they last, it was well worth the investment.
My list for my consultant was:
- Items had to be vegan/cruelty free
- Organic was a plus
- It had to be oil free. My skin breaks out easily.
- I need everyday makeup. If I was going to invest this much, I needed it to be stuff I would wear daily.
- I also needed an evening “look” that flattered my face, and was easy to transition to from my day look.
The result of my consultation was the photo above (the sample evening look). Though I did end up spending a tad bit more than the $100 minimum, I purchased all these items nine months ago and I still have more than half the product left. Plus I got exactly what I wanted (i.e. vegan), it’s super versatile, I was taught exactly how to apply it, and I now have the tools needed to create a variety of looks without having to think about it. Makeup problem solved. And to think to date it only cost me around $10 a month when you take what I spent and divide it among all the months I’ve been using the products, makes it well worth the investment. Hell, I wasted way more money monthly on drug store makeup that the colors looked horrible on me or didn’t match and I had to replace it. Considering how well this experiment worked for me, I think what I’ll probably wind up doing is making an appointment once a year to be sure my look is relatively current.
What’s the one thing you find yourself not confident about and what will you do to gain that confidence back?
