Review: Makeup

I hate makeup. And by that, I mean…. I really wish I was good at make up and I’m not and it’s really frustrating. I like the mostly-natural look, but I wish I knew how to do the fancier looks people do with makeup. It’s the worst of “women’s clothing” conundrum. What one brand uses might mean something vastly different in another brand. This is size in clothing, but in makeup it’s everything. Words like “soft” can look vastly differnt depending on the brand.

There are so many things like “matte” or “dewy” that like…. what does that really mean? For anyone that doesn’t know, it’s a spectrum which is a balancing act of how you want to look and your own skin. Oh, but different brands do apply it a little differently, so although usually matte is more powdery-and-absorbant (good for oily skin) not always.

I am jealous of those who enjoy the research, time, and dedication it takes to learn all of this. Yes, truly jealous. I can’t tell you how often I’ve looked at someone’s makeup and gone “huh, I wish I could do that.”

It looks like a basic skill. But like many skills, making it subtle and beautiful is challenging. Whether you are talking about painting, sewing, cooking, woodworking, cord-management – it’s skilled labor. When it’s done well, it looks easy. When it’s done poorly…. you can tell. I can tell.

So really, my review is of myself. My lack of love for learning about makeup. My unwillingness to figure these things out to reach the skill level I admire. Something about 5,000 hours to be an expert and I don’t want to be an expert, I just want to look like I’m an expert and… there are many things I wish I was good at but I don’t want to be an expert.

Do you have anything you wish you were an expert at, but you recognize you don’t like it enough to put in the effort?