As a 6th grader I remember putting makeup on at the school bus stop away from the watchful eye of my mother, blue eyeliner, blue eye shadow, pink lipgloss. I am ever grateful that selfies did not exist yet.
As a teenager I was a practiced goth, imitating the finest makeup artists in history with nods to Japanese kabuki and 1920’s film stars like Louise Brooks. I actually wore theatre makeup to work and school everyday and would have been really troubled to be seen without it.
In my 20’s and 30’s my makeup shifted to daytime professional, but club nights reverted right back the look I’d perfected - epic cat eyes and red babydoll lips. It was all very daytime Selina Kyle, Catwoman by night.
Thinking about it now, I believe wearing makeup as a young person was as much to try on new characters and personalities. I’m now my own person, no need to be anyone else, so the role of makeup as mask, costume or cloak is less interesting. Now I wear makeup only when I need to be polished for work or evenings out, but today it’s light, more to glow than to play a role or act a part. I’m happiest in my own naked skin.