The Satisfying Click: What My Mother Taught Me About Power and Eighties Makeup

My love for skincare and makeup began at 13. At 49, that interest has ripened into something deeper; it’s an essential ritual. For me, skincare is mindfulness. Those quiet moments spent waiting for a serum to sink into my skin aren't wasted; they are the only moments in the day that belong entirely to me.

Image courtesy of yslbeauty.co.uk

I grew up watching my mother, an incredibly busy woman who only seemed to be still when she was applying blue eyeshadow. I was never happier than sitting at the foot of her bed, watching her swipe powder-blue across her lids with a tiny foam applicator.

Even the packaging was a delight.  A small gold box with a dusty mirror that closed with a satisfying click. It was a sound that meant business. She’d finish with a spritz of YSL Rive Gauche - a scent that smelled like power at first and mellow musk later. What woman doesn’t want that?

A small selection of essential red lipsticks and balms.

People often say the beauty industry is just a trap designed to make men rich. And while there’s truth in that, I’ve always seen makeup and skincare as ownership.  It is the ownership of my time. The ownership of my face. There’s nothing like the kind of power felt during a dispute over women’s bodies whilst wearing a red lip. 

My mother isn't here to read this, but she should know I understood the assignment. She knew I would need to feel empowered. She knew I would need to reclaim my power,  one "click" of a gold compact at a time.

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