BEAUTY TIPS FROM OUR ELDERS

Young dancer at our farewell party (March 2010)

 Balinese ceremonies seem to require full-on makeup

The other day we were talking about beauty advice we had received from our elders and how their words unwittingly took root in our consciousness, so that decades afterward we still remembered and, in some cases, even obeyed them.  Here are some.

“No woman over thirty should ever leave the house without lipstick on.” 

"Check your elbows before going out. They should be soft and smooth, not rough and dry."  

"Never wear orange lipstick."

"Take that frown off your face.Beauty wears a smile."

“Stay out of the sun and never, ever go to bed with your makeup on or ‘you’ll wake up like an unhappy clown’”

"Brush your hair 100 times before going to bed."

"Take care of your hands. Wear gloves when washing dishes and always use moisturizer."

"Always wash your face and brush your teeth and get enough sleep."

What tips, advice and admonishments do you remember? 

JUST PICTURES

WONDERFUL SCENE AT ALA MOANA SHOPPING CENTER

A lucky lipstick day today! Walking through Ala Moana Shopping Center with Barbara, I spotted this utterly charming scene of a grandmother applying lipstick to her granddaughter's lips.  A beauty! 

I tried to recruit grandpa to pose for my Men Wiping Away Tears blog, but no success. 

RED FEVER

No one is safe from my camera.  Yesterday, after the Honolulu Pen Women meeting at the Pineapple Room, I followed Barbara around Macy's as she looked for various items she needed. 

Red-red-red-lipsticked Mila at the Lancome counter helped her.  Of course I had to ask Mila to participate in my blog.  Here is her contribution.  Check out her unique answer to the last question. 

Thank you, Mila! 

WHAT IS YOUR LIPSTICK ROUTINE?

- How do you put on your lipstick?  Directly from the product container.

- I notice you use a thin and long kind of lipstick.  What is it?  It is Lancome Le Laque Fever.

- Do you paint your top or bottom lip first?  Either--not particular as long as both are done.

- Do you push your lips out or tighten them over your teeth?  No


- How long does it take you to apply your lipstick? 2 minutes max

- Do you stick with one color or do you use different colors for different occasions? I stick with one color for the most part but I do carry at least 4 colors on me most of the time.  Sometimes it is what I grab out of my cosmetic bag.


- What does wearing lipstick do for you?  It finishes off your face to complete the look. 

- How many lipsticks do you have?  Minimum 8.

- How many do you actively use? How many are just gathering dust?  Actively about 5.  I give away a lot to sisters, nieces, friends and do donate to women shelters (via friends or customers) so excess lipsticks DO NOT gather dust.

- Do you carry your lipstick paraphernalia in a special bag?  No, whatever is the bag of the moment both handbag and/or cosmetic bag since I do change bags frequently.  I am a bag and shoe whore.

- When did you start wearing lipstick?  In high school (a long time ago!).

- Who taught you to put on lipstick?  Myself.

- What is your favorite color and brand? Red on the blue tone side.

- Do you have a funny lipstick story?  Not really but I do enjoy men who compliment women's makeup and especially their fragrance.

- What will happen to your lipsticks when you die?   I want at least one color to always be with me so I will now advise my family to ensure I have one and a lip liner in my next life.  The remainder can be recycled through MAC cosmetics who I understand has a recycling program.

Testers at the Lancome counter oat Macy's

CAROL'S LIPSTICK ROUTINE

- Where do you put on your lipstick?

I usually put my lipstick on when I'm preparing to get dressed, in the bathroom, in front of the mirror.

- Do you paint your top or bottom lip first?

I apply it to my upper lip, then bottom lip.

- Do you push your lips out or tighten them over your teeth?

My mouth is usually slightly open when I'm applying lipstick.
Yesterday I realized, while putting on my lipstick more consciously, that I apply it in a clockwise direction, beginning in the upper left corner of the top lip and moving to the right side of top, then right lower lip to left side. I found that rather interesting.

- How long does it take you to apply your lipstick?

It takes me a maximum of 30 seconds to apply my lipstick.

- Do you stick with one color or do you use different colors for different occasions?

I currently have two colors which I'm alternating. Both are from Shiseido. One is more maroon  and the other brighter red. The latter I got when I was going to perform with my hulu halau and my hula sisters said I needed to brighten up my appearance.

- What does wearing lipstick do for you?

I do feel more "dressed" and more attractive when I know my lipstick is on.

- How many lipsticks do you have?

I currently have about six lipsticks: two on the bathroom counter, one in a small make-up case in my workout bag, one in my purse and another two spares in the bathroom cabinet.

- How many do you actively use? How many are just gathering dust?

The two spares are not yet being used. The others are used quite regularly.

- When did you start wearing lipstick?

I guess I started using lipstick around the timed I started high school and don't remember if anyone taught me how to use it.

- Do you have a funny lipstick story?

No funny lipstick stories, though I do have one about using cork make-up.

- What will happen to your lipsticks when you die?

I imagine my lipsticks will be consigned to the garbage cans when I die.

WOMEN PUTTING ON CHAPSTICK

Lately I've been with women who primarily use chapsticks.  I went to a birthday party last Sunday with about a dozen women.  None of them seemed to wear lipstick!  None of the women I was with today was terribly invested in painting lips either.  Chapsticks were enough.  It doesn't mean that they don't have any lipsticks.   They do, but it's only for special occasions.  All of them start with moisturizing their lower lip.  None use mirrors.

 Sandy doing the pressed-lips thing.

Sandy says she puts on lipstick to feel special.  Her lipsticks are gifts, like when friends don't like a certain shade, they'll give it to her.  She started using lipstick occasionally when she reached the age of 15-16.  She was brought up with the notion that it's not okay to play with your lipstick in public, but it's so common now, that it doesn't bother her.

* * * * * 

Rhonda's lips are naturally red. Amazing!  She didn't start wearing any lipstick until she was in her 30's, and then only for special occasions, when she wants to really dress up and feel fancier.  She has no particular brand; she goes for the color, mainly dark colors like wine.  She loves the color red, but not on her lips, even if she wears red clothes.  She blots her lips with tissue to remove any excess lipstick.  She used to have about 10 tubes of lipstick, some pretty old, but then her daughter took them all.  Well, if your lips are red already, why even bother with lipstick?

* * * * *

Gabby has never bought any lipsticks for herself because her mother gives her lipsticks as presents, all in coral and orangy shades.  She has six of them at home, although they're all old by now.  She doesn't like any pink or dark colors.  Gabby started around age 16 and she says that wearing lipstick makes her "feel nicer."

QUESTIONS:

1. Have you ever given lipsticks as gifts?
2. What do you do when your lipstick is worn flat?  Do you stick your pinky finger in it to get a little dap that way?
3. Do you ever use lipstick as blush?