According to Wikipedia, cosmetics are substances used to enhance the appearance or odor of the human body. These include skin-care creams, lotions, powders, perfumes, lipsticks, fingernail and toe nail polish, eye and facial makeup, towelettes, permanent waves,colored contact lenses, hair colors, hair sprays and gels, deodorants, hand sanitizer, baby products, bath oils, bubble baths, bath salts, butters and many other types of products.

“The most beautiful makeup of a woman is passion. But cosmetics are easier to buy.” — Yves Saint-Laurent

“Make-up” is a subset of cosmetics. According to a certain website, U.S. women spend some $7 billion a year, or an average of about $100 each, on cosmetics and beauty products. That’s how powerful “make-up” in our society today is. More and more women use beauty products. From tweens to late 80s, women use cosmetics for various reasons but mainly, of course, for beauty.

When you ask women why they wear make-up, they would usually say that they want to become prettier or sexier or hotter. I guess we have the media to blame for that very superficial answer. But really, there’s nothing wrong with that. We have all the right to do whatever we want to ourselves especially if it makes us happy.

We have cosmetics to save our bad and stressful day, to make us beautiful anytime anywhere and to cover up those icky acne marks and pimples. Cosmetics, believe it or not guys, is a savior. It can also make us (cosmetic addicts) smile. Sometimes, it takes the sadness away. It helps us feel important and beautiful no matter what.

I have been addicted to make-up since I started watching Michelle Phan’s videos. It was like discovering a whole new world of art. It was beauty and talented combined. It was just amazing. And so I started buying and collecting make-up, fom big brands like Maybeline to cheap ones like Careline.

I was not really into doing and wearing make up until my Tita from Belgium gave me a Clinique collection. I have the mascara, eyeshadow set, make up remover and a special box where you can put your face powder. She also included some Euro branded sets and a L’oreal brush set. She gave me this as a gift for my graduation. I was ecstatic! I can’t believe I own such expensive things. It challenged me to discover the art of make-up.

This is a picture of my first ever try on doing my own make-up. I actually can’t remember what I used but the foundation from Mary Kay, that I will never forget. It was really nice and smooth in the face. I thought I would experience some allergic reactions but I didn’t (I have a really sensitive skin). I was so happy after doing this. I became much happier when my batchmates told me that my look was from an expensive salon and that my make-up was really good.

Whew! I guess I found my passion. And my passion is in cosmetics. I guess Yves Saint-Laurent was right after all.