Eye Love You

Liz had a great idea the other day. Every now and then she has one. She said that I could cure my blog writer's block by writing about something that interests me, say for example, make-up. This tidbit of information sounds may lead the reader to assume I am not the brainy type. So true! I have a communications degree from OSU. I am a people person.

Back to make-up. When I was about 4 I became obsessed by my Mother's tiny, but fascinating, cosmetic drawer. She could have left me for hours without supervision because I would have been stationed right there by the open drawer applying blue eye shadow and so much more. My mom was single raising 4 children on a shoestring and as a result we did not have extra money for art supplies. So for me, that magical space was a wonderland of color and textures. My mother didn't really like make-up that much, which frustrated me terribly since I thought she should wear lots more. Fortunately this is not a concern for my 8 year old daughter.

My mother enforced a schedule designed to rein in my make-up application: Mascara (7th grade), Eye-shadow and lip gloss (8th grade), Blush and lipstick (9th grade). Each year, I waited in anticipation for the final go ahead and then rode the bus with my cousin Bobbie down High St. in Columbus, Ohio to the drugstore. There we spent our hard earned babysitting money in a single wad. Bobbie's mother and mine are sisters and believe me, they were on the same page with these very critical milestones. Don't even get me started on the other important timing issues relating to leg shaving, bra wearing, etc.

So, since the 9th grade I have had permission to wear whatever make-up I want, everyday. I am pretty sure I have not missed a day even when was in the hospital having various surgeries (you never know who might stop by for a visit), childbirth (wouldn't want to scare the newborn by seeing me naked from the neck up!), or any other day of the year. Oh, I think there may have been a day here and there where I simply resorted to mascara and lipstick but those I could count on one hand.

Removing make up can be a problem. Liz was amazed the other day while we were traveling and she noticed that I don't take my make off until the morning. She was concerned about how my skin could breathe with only a few moments of freedom on any given day. Silly girl, she doesn't understand that the make-up actually protects your face from impurities on your pillow so you must wear it to bed!

There is only one product I would consider for make up removal...Cetaphil. Cheap (about $8 for 16 oz), clean, non-irritating, and it gets the make-up off. The best thing is it does not irritate even the most sensitive eyes. I have used it religiously for 24 years. Another nice thing about it is that the 16 oz. bottle is big so it takes a long time to run out. Believe me when I say that I have tried hundreds of other cleansing products over the years because I am a softy for testing anything in the skin care dept. But nothing has or ever will compare with my Cetaphil. In my next report...the hand in hand companion with Cetaphil for mascara remover.