I’ve been reading Sex and the Office, written in 1964 by Helen Gurley Brown, the former editor of Cosmopolitan. The book guides working single girls through the swingin’ 60’s. It’s amazing what advice remains timeless and what is laughably outdated.
In the chapter “Make Up and Live,” Ms. Brown explains the steps to applying make-up each morning. All sixteen of them.
And I wondered, does a beautiful face really require sixteen steps? I usually wear foundation, blush, lipstick, mascara, and eyeliner. That’s five. But do I even need those? As I wrote in Unexpectedly Sexy, some men love it when women dress down — does that include make-up, too?
Have you ever had to rush out of the house in the morning without applying your full make-up? Or finishing your hair? What did the men in your office say? How about the women?
I sometimes wear less make-up over the weekend, and sometimes more, depending on what I’m doing. Maybe I’ll take a risk the next two days and wear nothing at all…
Recently my son was sick in the morning and I had to take him to the doctor before my husband could get him, and then I rushed off to work. Never had time for make-up.
Both men and women at the office said I looked “different.” That was the word they used. Not sure if that’s good or bad.
If you are happy with your complexion, don’t bother yourself with what others think…
But since you do wear makeup, I have to assume that you are not happy. Best thing to do?
Don’t worry, be happy to quote the singing fish in the far reaches of my closet…