In The Beginning, There Was Only One

Back in the days when I was a beauty novice, using soap and water from top-to-toe, I didn’t have a clue about what skincare I should be using, never mind how to apply cosmetics properly.

Luckily (saved me a lot of moolah) or unluckily (I could have been better groomed much earlier in life), I only started spending on cosmetics way into my 20s. I was hitherto oblivious and indifferent to all forms of beauty products. I’d have ignored every cosmetic counter even if I was within striking distance.

The one that started it all

One year (some two decades and then some ago), while I was back in town during summer break, my fairy godmother, actually my aunt from Vancouver, gifted me a small makeup palette. It’s an “Outdoor Girl” palette, Made in England and has duo earth-toned eyeshadows, a blusher, an eyeliner pencil and a sponge-tip applicator which has long since disintegrated.

It’s not much to look at, even if it is brand new, yet at the time I received it, I wouldn’t have been able to tell the difference between this and something similar from a counter brand. I was that ignorant!

If I saw this palette being sold in a drugstore now, I’d turn up my nose and make an about turn. Anyhoo, I brought this palette back to university and didn’t take it out of my luggage to use until graduation day. I reckoned I’d better look good for my graduation photo. In those days, I didn’t even wear lipstick, let alone eyeshadows.

This plain-looking, no-frills palette has been used a few times as you can see from the indentation on the right side of the eyeshadows (obviously lighter colours always get used up more). I can’t remember why I hardly touched the blusher, presumably I didn’t fancy the colour.

However, it wasn’t long before I went on to discover better makeup. After this palette, there was no stopping me. I was looking at every beauty brand and product. It was like entering a whole new world once I became acquainted with all the beauty brands available then.

I’m featuring my first makeup palette because it gave me the confidence to face the world in the days and months following my graduation. They weren’t easy days because of some personal problems but being able to look good with makeup certainly lifted up my spirits.

I realised that cosmetics can truly give you the much needed boost when your psyche is low. No matter how good a woman looks, she can sure look better with makeup. Even if you already look like ten thousand bucks, makeup can transform you into a million bucks instantly.

This nondescript palette should have been chucked into the bin years ago but somehow, I could never bring myself to do so. It’s been with me through good and bad times and I have a lot of sentimental attachment towards it.

It started my never-ending quest for beauty products and I guess I have my dear aunt to thank for what is probably going to be a lifelong obsession. As for the makeup palette that started it all, it’s a keepsake though the hinges are broken and it’s way past its “use by” date.

Admittedly, I was a late bloomer when it came to using cosmetics and proper skincare but I always say “better late than never”. Sure, there are more important things in life but beauty products have really given my life a lot of joy.