The essentials.

[the_grynne]

It's all fahye's fault, for getting me started on makeup. I started commenting to her post, but with the photos and everything it started to get too long for my liking, and so I decided to make a separate post for it. This caught me on my last day in Shanghai - I'll be on a flight back to Sydney tonight, arriving tomorrow morning

Comments

[alethialia]

...I'm in awe.

[the_grynne]

In a horrified sense, right? :)

[alethialia]

Hee! Not horrified so much as amazed at all the, ya know, things to keep track of. And above all, this sentence:

These are the items I have in my makeup kit now while I'm on holiday

With the implication that there's even more waiting back home.

[the_grynne]

I was overseas for 6 weeks, over the Christmas party period, so I thought I'd be prepared. :D

[the_grynne]

I think it was living for an extended period of time in Shanghai that first started me on wearing makeup daily (or at least whenever I go out). Shanghainese women have a reputation for being very high maintenance and "trendy" just generally, and add on class/regional distinctions and the high level of inequality in the city, and you start to notice that you get treated very differently by people when you take the trouble to do your makeup, and when you don't - shop assistants are nicer to you, bank clerks are more helpful (instead of being actively hostile or rude, as service staff often are in Shanghai), doctors take the extra minute to examine you. That difference in treatment isn't really noticeable when I come back to Australia, but the habit becomes hard to break, and I get used to seeing myself a certain way.

[the_grynne]

for clarification, people are nicer to you when you do wear makeup?

On the whole, yes. Although it does mean that I also get more taxi drivers who are trying to rip me off. :)

[fahye]

...someday, when I have any disposable income at all, you are taking me shopping :D

[the_grynne]

It would be my pleasure! Or we could just window shop, and paint stripes on the back of our hands, which is what I usually do. :D

[kismeteve]

I'm impressed. That is quite a selection.

After years and years of not wearing makeup, I've recently started to wear a bit of lipcolor and it makes such a difference (after only starting to wear powder foundation last year). I've always been fascinated by makeup, though (it's an artform! for your face!)- I went to a wedding last week and the makeup artist was surprised that I knew so much about makeup for someone who doesn't wear it. I even took pictures of her makeup kits because they were so amazing.

[the_grynne]

it's an artform! for your face!

That's how I look at it. I don't draw or paint any more, but I can still get my colour fix with clothes and makeup. :)

[the_grynne]

See, I have no self-restraint whatsoever...