Walking Down Memory Lane On How My Love For Makeup Began

On a flight with Val back from Sydney a couple of weeks ago (will tell you more about that very soon), we chatted about magazines and makeup. Just random topics, really, until one of them brought back memories on something that I haven’t thought about in a long time. It’s strange that I’ve forgotten that story because what happened truly started my love for makeup.

I thought I’d share that story with you today and recreate something I used to do when I was young. 🙂

Walking Down Memory Lane On How My Love For Makeup Began

I actually started “using” makeup when I was about 8 years old. Oh yes, I had a lot of makeup all right. So much so that I had even had multiple makeup bags to hold the makeup. Now before you go “is your mum crazy for allowing you to use makeup at such a young age?!“, I used inverted commas because although I had heaps of makeup, they weren’t real. What the heck am I talking about, you ask? 😛

Walking Down Memory Lane On How My Love For Makeup Began

You see, my mum had a lot of women’s magazines back in the day. She enjoyed reading a particular Malaysian women’s magazine called FEMALE (it’s still quite popular these days) and she would give me the magazines when she’s done with them. Oh how I enjoyed the glossy pages. See how my love for magazines also started? 😛

Walking Down Memory Lane On How My Love For Makeup Began

What I would do was to flip the pages, look at pictures of lipsticks, eyeshadows, makeup brushes, jars of creams, nail polish, etc and cut them out. I’d cut each beauty product very carefully (especially the lipsticks) and place them in a manila folder. I used to carry the folder around with me all the time and whenever I felt like it, I’d reach into my “makeup bag”, take out a “lipstick” and pretend to apply it on myself. Mummy had her lipsticks, well, so did I!

Walking Down Memory Lane On How My Love For Makeup Began

Walking Down Memory Lane On How My Love For Makeup Began

Mum used a lot of Clinique products back then so their original green packaging stuck with me. Each time I saw a Clinique advertisement in a magazine, I’d cut the beauty products out. I too had a lot of Clinique “makeup”. 😛

Walking Down Memory Lane On How My Love For Makeup Began

Of course, pretty makeup deserves nice “makeup bags” too, so I’d decorate the manila folders as nice as I could. Well, it looked better then than it did in the pictures now. 😛

Walking Down Memory Lane On How My Love For Makeup Began

Haha whaddyaknow, a silly little past time I had when I was young grew into something so much more. I had manila folders of makeup cutouts as my collection and now, I have a proper one. If only the 8-year-old me could see what I have now. I bet she’ll be pleased, don’t you think? 🙂

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24 comments… add one
  1. Jennifer

    Oh Tine!!! You are so so cute! I squealed with delight when I saw this post lol. Jolly joy, I am speecheless. I used to do the same when I was young, just that magazine was a luxury then, so most of my “collection” came from newspaper in colour printing. Then we had those paper doll and clothes cut out games as well. Not sure if I have described it accurately. So I would place my skincare and cosmetics items next to these cut out dolls, “prep” them up before I clip their clothes on for them. Lol. Thanks for bringing back these wonderful memories. It feels so ancient now…but old is gold.

    1. Tine

      Haha thanks Jennifer. OMG I was in love with paper dolls back in the day too! Along with my “makeup bags”, I also had manila folders of paperdolls that I’d also use my “makeup” on. Ahh those were the days 😛

  2. Kaye

    That is one of the cutest things I’ve ever heard! Applying your paper lipstick 🙂 Tine, you are so awesome! And the paper makeup bag is a really adorable idea. I think I might make one for my daughter, just for fun!
    Kaye recently posted..Review: Revlon Skinlights Are Back – In Photoready Form!My Profile

    1. Tine

      Aww these days, there’s even makeup for kids now that this idea is quite unheard of even amongst children. I think it would be so cute if your daughter applies her paper lipstick alongside you with your actual one 😉

  3. Chelsea

    I love this! That’s so cute that you used to do that, and I think it’s a fun idea for young girls who are too young for “real” makeup 🙂
    Chelsea recently posted..Did You Know About Macadamia Oil?My Profile

    1. Tine

      Haha thanks Chelsea. I can’t believe I forgot about this story until a few weeks ago! It was then that I thought, hang on, I should share this story! 😛

  4. sataa

    Aww that’s the super cutest thing I have ever heard, this shows the innocence of a child.Well you were very creative right from your childhood 🙂 .As I have said in my previous comments your blog is unique because you come up with new post ideas which are really fun to read!! I really enjoyed this sneak peek into your child hood makeup collection >3

    1. Tine

      Aww thanks Sataa 🙂 I’m sure I still have the manila folders in my parents’ home, along with my paper dolls 😛

  5. gio

    Awww that’s so cute! What a great way for little girls to have fun with makeup!
    gio recently posted..Know Your Ingredients: Birch Bark ExtractMy Profile

    1. Tine

      Haha I know, right? And it’s free! (well sort of :P)

  6. Paris B

    Cute idea! Allows little girls to play dress up without slathering products all over themselves 😀 I never did this though. I was a right tomboy I was 😛
    Paris B recently posted..Gadget Geekery: One for the girls – Canon Powershot N and EOS 100D Cameras, also perfect for Bloggers!My Profile

    1. Tine

      Hahaha I was a tomboy after turning 12 😛

  7. ponikuta

    Glad I got to walk down memory lane with you first!! Funny I did exactly the same thing except it was ADVERTISEMENTS!! God and look how we turned out!!

    V xxx

    1. Tine

      Hahaha I know right? It’s like our childhood was subconsciously telling us what we’ll be doing in future 😛

  8. Victoria

    Lol, this is such a cute post. Never did this as a little girl but the one thing I remember clearly was how I love my paper dolls that mum bought for me and my sister from the market. Love dressing them up and with matching accessories and bags as well 🙂

    1. Tine

      Thanks Victoria. I LOVE paper dolls, still do. I had a lot of it back in the day. Mum would buy some for me at the night market and I’d keep them in a folder too. Sometimes I played with them so much that I accidentally tore the heads off! Had to tape them back 😛

  9. Swati

    haha…that was fun 🙂
    Swati recently posted..How long and how often should henna be for? {Hair Care}My Profile

    1. Tine

      Haha glad you enjoyed it! 😉

  10. Issa

    Oh, this is so cute! and so much fun too especially for little girls 🙂

    1. Tine

      Hahaha I know, right? No need to actually “wear” them, safer for kids 😛

  11. Kaye

    *in response to your response, which I can’t seem to do from my phone :p*

    I was even thinking of taking them to work and sneaking them through the laminator lol! Long lasting beauty 😉

    Thanks for the incredibly cute idea xx

    1. Tine

      Awesome idea! I would have loved my “makeup” to be laminated too 😛

  12. Joyce (bronzerbunny)

    oooo this is so cute! I love it. 🙂 thanks for sharing, hehe!!
    Joyce (bronzerbunny) recently posted..On Instagram LatelyMy Profile

    1. Tine

      Hahaha I was such a girly girl back then hence my “makeup bags” 😛 But soon after, I made a sudden switch to being a tomboy. Kekekeke!

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