Playing With Makeup

Applying makeup is a ritual, a meditation, a source of play.

It’s where our face becomes a canvas, where the bridge of our nose, our eyelids, and our cheekbones become an art project.

I apply my makeup using the pads of my index fingers. Finger painting my complexion with natural balms, concealer, bronzer, and blush.

I used to crave this ritual, back when my baby hands dipped plastic applicators into plastic eyeshadow palettes, or filled empty lip gloss tubes with water just so I could swatch something across my lips.

In the sixth grade, I packed blue eyeshadow from my lash line all the way up to my brow bone. It was picture day, and my parents weren’t pleased.

At 25, I watch a woman unfold within the mirror before me, but I also catch glimpses of that little girl. She was always so excited to meet me, and I am so grateful that from time to time, I get to reunite with her. Playing with makeup.