“Make-Up”

by Gina Brillon

            Sitting in the dressing room of a comedy club in NYC trying to cover up the evidence of an over emotional day, I swipe a concealer brush over my swollen tear ducts.  Maybe it was the way the concealer made my eyes look, somehow sadder than before, or maybe it was the way it made them feel, like they had just been hugged, either way the next thought in my head was how much of a friend make up had been to me my whole life.  I started to really break it down, MAKE – UP, how many times had I used it to actually “make-up” another story or create a new person?

Don’t get me wrong, I don’t agree with using make up to cover up natural beauty, in fact in the last few years I sport my natural beauty more than anything else, I am merely reliving what a good friend make-up has been in times of need. One could say there is no stronger bond then the bond between a woman and her make-up bag.  Whenever crisis hit there was my faithful old bag, perfectly equipped with whatever I might need, whether it be concealer for swollen tear ducts or to hide that pimple that pops up just before prom, I had a rather enviable arsenal.  An arsenal of make-up is a necessity for someone as emotional as me because, as we all know; the world doesn’t stop just because you feel like having a nervous breakdown.  You still have to show up for work, get on the train or whatever, that’s where make-up comes in.

Putting on make-up makes me feel in control of the situation.   As I swipe primer on my face I say ok get it together, you have stuff to do, I move on to the base or concealer, and I take a deep breath and say it’s all going to be alright, just relax, I don’t know why but to me the word concealer and comfort just work together, it’s like a blanket that goes over your skin protecting you from even your own feelings. The next layer, and proper make-up is done in layers, is powder or whatever foundation you use, I use Bare Minerals. For the foundation layer, well that’s when I get that “okay we are almost there” or “you know what. I got this”.  I’m not one for eye make-up it smudges often and can be frustrating, but I definitely know the importance of a good bronzer or blush.  Cheek color makes you feel like smiling well it makes me feel that way since it looks like I’m smiling already. Now for the most fun part to me, the lips, you know how real estate is location, location, location! Well lip color is moisture, moisture, moisture!!  I hate dry lips! I think they look terrible and I can’t imagine they feel good. Lips are the Pièce de résistance, first apply a layer of moisture be it blistex or whatever, this layer is for protection, then if you like a lip liner close to the shade of lipstick or lip gloss you plan on wearing, nothing too gaudy, let’s not relieve fashion no’s like dark lip liner light lipstick! Eww! A lipstick should be something soft that compliments your skin tone. Once done applying lipstick I step back take a look at my art work and say “That’s better”.

So in conclusion, what a painfully obvious ending,  I’ve used it to cover up tears, bruises, pimples, skin spots, tiredness and even used it on stage to create a different persona, my good friend Make-up has been there to “cover up” a lot of life’s mishaps. I guess this is my thank you, thank you my Make-Up my friend.