That Makeup Lightbulb Moment

That Makeup Lightbulb Moment

Y’know, magic happens when beauty bloggers get together and chat about the love for makeup and blogging. I don’t know how it happens but the spark ignites the desire to blog about the most interesting topics that I wouldn’t even think of on my own.

Last November, when Paris B was in town, we had a good ol’ chat about how our love for makeup and blogging began. It seems like yesterday when I stumbled upon her new beauty blog and I learned about that magic thing called a blush mousse (’twas Maybelline’s, back in 2007). As we waxed lyrical about our first encounter with makeup and how it made us go “phwoar!”, we thought hang on, why don’t we blog about it?

Ahh … and here we are. 😛

That Makeup Lightbulb Moment

If you’ve been using makeup for a while now, do you still remember that one item of makeup that completely changed your outlook of makeup? The one that makes you look in the mirror and go “woaahh damn, is that me? I look good!“. That one item of makeup that’s probably discontinued now but you look back at it and say “that was when I knew makeup could change how I look“. We call it the makeup lightbulb moment.

Lightbulb! 😀

If you’ve been a reader of my blog for a while now, I’m thinking you’re probably guessing mine would be blush, right? Haha, sorry, it wasn’t blush. Blush only made me go “daaammmn girl!” much later when I moved to Australia. Mine was actually a lipgloss.

Now I’ve been a lover of Clinique’s Black Honey Almost Lipstick for many years since I was 17 years old. However, if you know what Black Honey is like, you’ll know that it’s such a sheer lipstick that often you may not even see the difference on your lips (unless your natural lip colour is very pale). Not exactly a look-changing moment now, is it?

That Makeup Lightbulb Moment

When I started working, I finally had money to buy makeup of my own (said Clinique lipsticks were hand-me-downs from Mum). Most of the lipsticks I’d buy would be from Maybelline and they’re usually the neutral pinks that are office-friendly. One day, I decided to venture outside the usual pinks, bit the bullet and bought a Revlon lipgloss in dark red.

I can’t even remember the name of the range anymore. I think the top had a criss-cross pattern on it. It was a deep, dark red, incredibly glossy and shimmery. I’ve never even wore shimmery lip colours before and there I was, getting this super glossy, shimmery dark red lipgloss. Where the heck would I even wear this to??

Months later, I decided to wear this lipgloss to a high school reunion. Now there weren’t any boys there (I studied at a nun school as we used to call it 😛 ) so I wasn’t there to impress anyone from the opposite sex. I remember applying this on my lips, looked at the mirror and was completely gobsmacked at how fab I looked. Oh, I know, I’m blowing my own trumpet here but I’ve never had that gobsmacked moment with any sort of makeup before and it simply blew my mind.

That Makeup Lightbulb Moment

I don’t have that lipgloss anymore. Sadly, I don’t even remember what it was called. But I certainly remember reaching for that lipgloss every time I needed to look extra special. I didn’t know how to apply eye makeup, blush or even do my brows back then. All I had was that lipgloss and I loved how good it made me feel when I had it on.

It changed the way I looked at makeup and how it can improve one’s appearance, something I thought could only be achieved in magazines. Years later, add the blush and I was sold. 🙂

So that was my makeup lightbulb moment. And what a moment is was.

Do check out Paris B’s makeup lightbulb moment as she tells you which item of makeup made her go “phwoaaaarrr!“. Maybe it’s yours too!

What’s your makeup lightbulb moment? What item of makeup made you say “damn, I look good?” 😉

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18 comments… add one
  1. Monica P

    My makeup moment didn’t happen until I was much older and I purchased Lauren Luke’s Vintage Glam palette. When I put on all the products, I felt like a pro did my makeup. I still have the palette although the cream products have dried up. The eye shadows and blush is still good.

    Monica
    Monica P recently posted..Roasted + Clean Carrot Soup from GoopMy Profile

    1. Tine

      Thanks for sharing! I love those moments when you look in the mirror and go, woah who did my makeup? Gorgeous! Oh wait, ME! 😛

      PS: I’m lame like that.

  2. Paris B

    Lipgloss! Ok that’s something I didn’t get into until they came out with the really pigmented ones mainly because I was a lipstick girl but for young girls, I will agree that a light gloss does wonders to brighten up the complexion and I remember girls in school sneaking in some clear gloss (I was that nasty one doing the spot checks and being a tattle tale LOL!) and getting in trouble for it 😀
    Paris B recently posted..Your Say: What was your “Makeup Lightbulb Moment” that made you say Hallelujah? Here’s mine!My Profile

    1. Tine

      Hahahaha I used to sneak the Clinique Black Honey lippie back in school! Previously, it was the cheapie plastic green packaging, unlike the sleek silver packaging now. I tell people it’s a lip balm but just in case, during spot checks, I always chuck it behind the locker 😛

  3. Chrissie

    Oh my sweet baby jesus! i am IN LOVE with your color selection!
    Chrissie recently posted..My List of Trusted EBAY Authentic Cosmetics Sellers!My Profile

    1. Tine

      Hahaha thanks Chrissie! So glad you like it! 😀

  4. MissCarole

    My light bulb moment? When I discovered eyeliner I suppose! It makes my eyes stand out.
    On another note, I have your French BB cream.

    1. Tine

      Oooh me too! At least, that was when I finally mastered eyeliner without smudging the bejeezus out of it. Hello big eyes!

      PS: Yay! When are you free to catch up? My turn to come over to your side of town 🙂

  5. Norlin

    Yes!!! I know that moment!!! Eyeliner. Yep. I think that’s why I only ever wore eyeliner when I was allowed makeup. Until this day whenever I line my eyes it’s like phwoar! Who is that chick??? Hehehehe he.
    Norlin recently posted..Simple Nail Art Ideas: Foils And DecorationsMy Profile

    1. Tine

      Hahahaha damn girl, when I saw that picture of you in Nikki’s photoshoot with that super awesome black smokey eye with heaps of eyeliner, I was like “who’s that hot chick??” 😉

  6. Angie

    It’s not going to sound attractive (it was 2004 afterall) but my makeup lightbulb moment was when I discovered I could put black liner on my waterline. That in combination with the discovery of GHD straightners, I definitely had a dammnnnn gurl moment ha.

    1. Tine

      Haha I know what you mean! Before then, I was like, wait what? I should put eyeliner…where?? 😛
      OMG I hear you with the flat iron. I don’t use ghd (don’t have one) but when I finally bought one of my own (my first one was a Remington), it was like, Hallelujah! I don’t have shitty frizzy hair no more! *angels sing*

  7. Dawn

    Eyebrow pencils!
    I’ve got really sparse “half brows” and I discovered what a difference it made to my face just by lightly penciling in my brows..
    Really framed my face much better.

    1. Tine

      Oh I like that one. Eyebrow pencils! It wasn’t my first lightbulb moment but it’s definitely one of them. I’ve always been wary of using brow products on my eyebrows because mine are already thick. Even so, some of the hairs have a mind of their own and stick up or down as they please. With an eyebrow pencil and eyebrow gel, hello neat and structured brows!

  8. Issa

    wow, i had a wrong guess. you’re right, my guess is a blush for you….. let me see, i think for me it’s a lipstick because i feel good everytime i change or try different colors. i was so amazed by how it can change your look just by changing to a different shade. 🙂

    1. Tine

      Hehe see, I thought you guys might say it was blush for me. It’s one of my lightbulb moments but it wasn’t my first. 😉

  9. Victoria

    I love your lipstick drawer! Is it from Muji? Actually I guessed it was lipgloss as well because I know how much you love them after reading your blog all this while. Mine would be eyebrow pencils as well-groom eyebrows that is top up with a good eyebrow pencil such as Shu Umera Hard 9 Brown pencil just frames the face beautifully 🙂

    1. Tine

      Nah, it’s not from MUJI. It’s from an Australian company called the Makeup Box. I got this one for free during a beauty blogger conference a couple of years ago. I’ve been meaning to get one of my own but they’re just so darn expensive for plastic. 🙁

      Oh yeah, I’ve heard good things about that Shu Uemura eyebrow pencil. I have the retractable one and it works a treat too. Love brow products. Amazing how they can change how you look, huh?

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