Tag: Why do you wear makeup?

Recently I was tagged by hannahfyed to do the "Why do you wear makeup?" tag. Thus, I decided to humor her =D

Why Do You Wear Makeup?

1. When did you start wearing makeup?

I first started wearing makeup in the 11th grade. My mom had finally allowed me to wear makeup and stuff after she decided she wanted me to look nice for college interviews and the like. It was a gradual trend for me - getting my first contact lenses after years of wearing (awkward, super-nerdy) glasses, carrying purses instead of putting everything in my pockets awkwardly tied to my pants via a string/stuffing everything in a backpack. (Yep, confession - I went through super awkward middle school/high school years of looking like a complete dork, nerd style, geek style, social outcast of the popular/plastics/desirables, whatever you want to call it).

Anyway, back to the original topic - so thus, I decided to try it, with my mother's final approval and wish. (I know, so Asian right? XD)

2. What was the first makeup product you bought that you loved?

The first makeup product that I bought and loved was eyeliner. I believe it was one of those cheap CoverGirl black eyeliners that didn't need to be sharpened. (Actually, now that I think about it, I didn't actually buy it myself; I didn't have an allowance at the time and was only allowed to spend money on educational materials. This was gifted by my mother.) I really liked it because of the impact it made on my eyes. One step and my eyes looked so different. They looked a lot bigger, and I looked a lot more awake. I've always loved eyeliners and honestly, if I could only go out of the house with one product on, eyeliner would be my product of choice.

3. When did you begin loving makeup?

I didn't really truly get into makeup a lot until junior year of college. That year, I started experimenting with wild colors such as blue and purple eyeshadows as well as smoky eyes, concealers, and the like. Previously I normally went out/to class with just eyeliner, eyeshadow, and no mascara. My college roommate introduced me to Michelle Phan and her YouTube channel. I was super excited because this whole new world - YouTube - opened up. I realized that I could learn just about anything with a few typed in Boolean search words and the click of the Enter button.

Thus began my phase of exploration and journey of fun. All of the world of YouTube with bubzbeauty, secretlifeofabionerd, Promise Phan, etc - everyone came in.


4. What is your most-used eyeshadow?

Currently it is the Naked 3 Palette. I like this palette because it is very versatile and super useful in where I work now. In clinics, we have to look very professional and of course this rules out anything super tacky, vibrant, or out-of-the-norm. No more blue eyeshadows and purple eyeliners. No more crazy looks. Thought of the Naked 3 Palette as a good investment because (1) it includes a lot of lighter-colored neutral shades, which I can vary day-to-day, and (2) I sold some other products I wasn't using and thus was actually able to afford it.

5. How do you feel without makeup?
Honestly it depends on the day. Somedays I feel fine without any makeup, especially when I'm at home or just studying on my own. If I go out though, or am at work, I feel that I should put on at least eyeliner and perhaps concealer to (1) not look super tired and (2) look old enough to actually work in a hospital. Recently, I went back to my hometown and was mistaken as a 17-year old at a mall. I don't think people would appreciate high schoolers working on them and asking them super personal questions at a clinic.

6. What do you like about makeup?
I really like the transformative process of makeup. It can make me go from looking super dull and tired to super bright and vibrant. Honestly, there is definitely a bit of that self-esteem boost - that I look better and more presentable. I remember those popular girls in middle school and how they looked so grown up and beautiful whereas I was just plain and dull. Recently, however, one of my friends (who is a self-proclaimed former high school "plastic" and "popular girl") Actually told me that she uses it to hide her (also self-proclaimed) "hideous skin" because she used too much makeup during her middle school and high school years. I'm glad she also has something she can use to boost herself with as well.

I really enjoy the times when I can just get up and explore what products I can use to change myself in various ways. Once, using makeup, I turned myself completely blue for a "Screw Your Roommate" date as a Smurfette. (It's a thing at my alma mater where your roommate sets you up on a blind date with another person, and you meet in the college quad and "find each other" with a theme, e.g. Peanut Butter & Jelly, Smurfs, Peter Pan and Wendy, etc and go out on a group date). That was super fun.

7. Three Holy Grail items.

#1 is the Naked 3 Palette. It's super versatile for all sorts of wearable looks, is super valuable for the price (12 full-sized eyeshadows for $52, which comes out to drugstore-priced individual eyeshadow prices), is very travel-friendly (tin metal box), and honestly just is awesome. The shadows are super soft, wearable, blendable, and last a long, long time with eyeshadow primer (14+ hours in the hospital, and that's with tons of moving around and being active!)

#2 is Urban Decay 24/7 Pencil Eyeliners - like I've stated before, I really think that eyeliners help my eyes "pop" and give them more vibrance. UD makes really nice eye pencils that are super waterproof and durable. I especially like Perversion (a true black) for my upper eyes as well as a golden or silvery color (Baked and Dime, respectively) for my waterline. I've been using them consistently for the last 3 years and they've really held up. They are super creamy, smooth gliding, and relatively precise for eyeliner pencils.

#3 has got to be my e.l.f. brushes. (These brushes are all ELF brushes except for the ones with diagonal-patterned stripes and the fluffy brush in the middle with the striped black handle. These 3 are from Estee Lauder.) I like e.l.f. brushes because they are (1) super soft, (2) super affordable, and (3) super durable. They apply super gently yet very firmly as well. The handles to the brushes are made very well and are not flimsy or anything that could be expected of typical cheap makeup rushes.

8. Why do you wear makeup?

Makeup is an art with the face as the canvas. It is a tool that can transform a person. It can boost one's self-confidence and transform an everyday figure into a starlet. For these reasons, (and for perhaps other more deep psychological reasons beyond my reach currently), I wear makeup.

Tags: I tag anyone who wants to do it. Please leave a comment linking your post, video, or whatever if you'd like!

Wrinkles, oh wrinkles

Confession: I've always associated wrinkles with old people. Growing up, I would hear my mother become super sad whenever she got a new wrinkle. Her laments helped reinforce the fact that we all eventually become old and saggy.

When I started medical school, I encountered a very diverse group of students. Students from age 20 to 36 were included in my class. People who graduated several years early and people who came back to school after putting in years of hard work in their previous careers. Some students looked very young, like they could be in middle school; others looked like they could be those so-called middle school students' parents.

I never thought I looked old though. Just a few months ago I was mistaken for a high-schooler in my hometown. However, yesterday, when I looked in the mirror, I noticed it. Just like my mother had lamented, I too recognized my first wrinkle on my forehead. Yikes. I had grown old.

Honestly, how old do I feel now though? I recently took this quiz on Buzzfeed. This quiz, titled "What age are you, really?" revealed that although I am only 23, I actually am a 41-year old. Yikes. I've always known that medical school, despite its exciting nature and intricate details, always took a toll on me, and that included a physical aspect. During these past 1.5 years, I've have hefty times of extreme stress, crazy times of upheaval and sadness, intense moments of happiness and satisfaction, arduous study hours, and all the like. Getting yelled at by superiors for making the same mistakes every medical student makes. Dealing with family problems and personal problems. Renovating multiple parts of my condo despite the fact that I don't own it. Financial problems of a typical medical student. Did medical school really age me that much? Had all of these educational endeavors taken such a heavy toll?

I don't know. Perhaps that quiz isn't that accurate. Perhaps it's the fact that my life was just meant to be like this. Like mother, like daughter. History repeats upon itself, despite the fact that I regularly use all of those retinols and skincare goodness.

Medical school is supposed to be one of the hardest educational tracks to pursue in the world. Some taut it to be even more difficult than graduate school and professional schools (JD, MBA, etc). Is it the root cause of my physical deterioration? Or is it that the Texas sun has completely underminded my body despite my Asian genes, and has decided to give me problems at age 23?

All summed up in some random forehead wrinkles. Bleeh.

Beauty procrastinator tag

1. Name a beauty regime that you rarely do?

Face masks. I do like them, but the problem is that now I am in clinics I usually forget about them by the time I come home!

2. Is washing your make-up brushes something that you do regularly?

Nope. I wish I were better at this. Just forget.

3. How long will you last with chipped nail polish?

Depends. On the toes? 1 week. On the hands? 2 days. I just don't like the sight of them. Also, they look unprofessional in a way!

4. How long will you put off buying/replacing a beauty product, even if you need it?

A few days at most. I don't want to delay these sorts of things if I know that discontinuing use could mean bad consequences. (Especially sunscreen...)

5. What is your worst beauty habit?

Falling asleep without washing my face, leaving all makeup, contact lenses, etc on. I know it's super bad. I just fall asleep due to exhaustion! >_<

6. Name something non-beauty related that you put off doing all the time?

Uhh... going to the movies? Haven't gone in about 2 years...

7. When going out somewhere, do you leave getting ready to the last minute?

It depends on how busy I am. Generally I don't like to wait but if traffic prevents me from getting home or something...

8. Can you commit to spending bans?

I don't do spending bans. I usually just think about what I need and purchase if (1) I need it, (2) it has good value, (3) if it's something that I believe will help me in the long-run, and (4) if it isn't too similar to something I already have.

9. How organized is your make-up and nail polish collections?

Nail polish? All in one organized jar. Makeup? Everywhere...

Celebrating Diversity in Beauty

Celebrating Diversity in Beauty by luciaz168 featuring gold tops

Gold top / Halogen yellow top / Boohoo Laura Pearl And Spikes Headband

Happy Lunar New Year!

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Happy LNY 2014! This year is the Year of the Horse, which is also my year (I'm a Horse).

May this new year bring you all peace and prosperity!!!

<3, Lucy