Vanity vs. A Case of the Uglies

I wear make-up. Daily, in fact. It's been a steadfast part of my morning routine since I was first allowed to wear Bonne Bell Lip Smackers and Love's Baby Soft to school in, like, 7th grade. As a teenager in the horrific 80s, I quickly progressed to the requisite frosted pink gloss and turquoise eye liner. Then I made a pretty terrifying transition to the pale-faced, smudged black, red-lipped heroin-chic look that was a requirement for my "alternative" phase - which meant I wasn't allowed to wear anything but black and listen to The Cure and look pretty fucking miserable all the time. Oh, and be a total asshole to my parents. I'm happy to report that while I still have a soft spot for The Cure and The Pixies and The Smiths and all the other groups that rocked my world back then, my make-up shtick is a little more refined these days. Although I'm still not totally sure the word "the" is actually an official part of those group names and I'm a little stressed about all those capital ts because they just look wrong. So I do the mascara, lipstick, and blush thing every day. When I have time, I add a little eye shadow to the mix, and if I'm really feeling crazy! i might even wear some plum eye liner. I do this even if I'm just schlepping the kids to school, or running out to do groceries because if I don't, I look pretty fucking tired and miserable. Kind of like in the alternative days, but without the chalky blood red lips and permanent snarl. And with more wrinkles. Just yesterday, my friend S was at my house and asked me how I have the patience to put on make-up every day. "I NEVER wear make-up!" she declared rather emphatically, and a little too smugly. And I somehow felt insulted. It also made me think that she could really use a little lip gloss. That very brief discussion got me spending way too much time thinking about my face and the stuff I put on it every day. Does daily make-up mean I'm incredibly vain? Or superficial? Does my friend's rejection of it mean she doesn't take enough pride in her appearance? Is make-up bad and evil? Are M.A.C. lip pencils really better than the pharmacy brands because they are SO made at the same factory? And then today, when I told my best friend K about the make-up tornado in my head, she was all, "why can't we just stop judging each other and appreciate that we all do what makes us happy and feel good?" Which, of course and AMEN! and all that, but secretly, I know K thinks S could use a little lip gloss too.