Another day on its knees,
headlights streaming the home bound streets, pretty faces rushing past; smiles
galore never mind their fading makeup. I pull out my compact for a look; kajal
descending from my eyelids, lipstick nonexistent, sweat lines gathering dust,
hair flying out of the bobby pins. My makeup witnessing yet another long day
for it worked itself dull through meetings, arguments, tea time napkin smudges,
tears trickled during disappointments and pen lingered while in thought. Makeup
working as hard as I do.
Oh, how the greasepaint crept into
my life! The excessive talc and kajal dots of infancy were replaced by the
daily dab of talc, only to be wiped off by the sweat and the downward glide of
the oil from my head full of hair. School plays brought about excessive talc
and lipstick overriding the tussle with parents at the advent of the
greasepaint on my face and into my life.
Makeup was yet to arrive home.
Till one day, a cousin came and
got the innocuous eyeliner along. My eyes suddenly radiated more beauty from
being darkened more than nature intended them to be. Then came the euphoria of
the first mascara, thrill of a new shade of lipstick and the choice of a new
nail paint. Makeup to enhance, makeup to cover up. The whitening talc, shades
of lipstick, glossy glitter, deepening blacks; the scented cosmetics gradually -
one cosmetic at a time.
The struggle of pulling the eyelids
for the straight line or the right mix of light and dark lipstick shades to match
the dress, the effort of applying makeup though time consuming was always desirable
The novelty of wearing makeup
turned into routine over time. Adolescent years to now, from experimenting to
necessity. Now my makeup lives with me, neat layer of foundation, talc patted
in, thin line of eyeliner, kajal maybe, and a carefully applied lip colour with
a hint of gloss. I peer into the mirror before leaving home. Happy? Confident?
Feel Good. What does this greasepaint stand for? I’m looking good. I’m feeling
good. Healthy to take on another day? The right makeup colour merging with my
skin tone. A brush of talc, line of kajal and a dab of lipstick; my made-up
face is as real as I am. My image to world, my identity among people and my
feel good when I look into the mirror. Makeup
defines us as much as the choices of the rest of us lipstick shade no darker
than your skin, a line of kajal as straight as it can be, bindi or no bindi. Subtle,
gaudy, natural, glossy; one for every occasion. How it defines us, the excess
of it or the lack of it.
Makeup has a say in the world. My
makeup lives with me and works as hard of I do.
Why the need to build up a face? What
does a clear, glowing face with pink lipstick say? What is about the plain
face? What does a rich red colour lipstick say? Does dark kohl appear
vampirish? Would I wear a blue eyeliner and green nail paint? Would I wear a
dark brown lipstick? I do draw a line there. Why do I? Because makeup does
define us. I carry my mood and my look together. As whole as I am in my one
physical self, I look a certain way on a date night and altogether different on
my way to the beach. My face is a palette of subtle pinks and nudes at school
for my children’s school meeting while it is a party of vibrant red and gold
during festivals and occasions.
My makeup is part of me; living
with me nurturing me through cold winters and scorching summers. My makeup has
hid my blemishes growing up, adorned me as I turned from a maiden to a married
woman, streamed from my eyes when touched with sorrow and left a sign of love
with the perfect pout of a kiss.
6 comments:
First class writing.
👌.. beautifully written. That joy..small excitement.. in wearing make up and stepping into the world outside. Out of ones own small limited one at home. To see a few heads turn. Now gone..diminished. Half covered.. under face mask!....:(
Hi Anuradha, Lovely post, wonderfully written! We do need personas for different facets of our journey, called life. And makeups play an indispensable part to prepare us for our various interactions.
Love this Anu! Keep writing more!
Liked the way you explained wearing and handling make up..what it means to u. Beautifully written, described.
Thank you all :)
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