Being alone opens up the mind’s floodgates to thoughts; some good, some bad and usually persistent and recurring – depending on your current situation. Whenever I’m at a loss for motivation during my mornings as a freelancer or lack there of freelancing, I look through my heaps of makeup I’ve hoarded throughout the last 11 years working for magazines.

Without a single method or inkling of how to apply anything, I reach for concealers, lipsticks, bronzers that may or may not be expired. Whatever! To your makeup no-nos! Elle, Allure and Harper’s Bazaar….I’m not throwing out anything! I’ve always taken pride in my hoarding techniques. I have so much conditioner for straight-haired blondes, I could really start a salon. Yup! I’ve been guilty of grabbing products completly useless to me when they were 25 cents or free – just because!

Whenever I’m in a sad state, which has been often, lately. I take to the bin filled with lip liners and glosses and lipsticks – pick a color of the day and this somehow makes me feel better. Eventhough I’m in my pajamas and plan to remain that way for the duration of the day, I’d like to know that at least my lips are dressed. They care! They want to make an impression.  As I’m writing this, I have a pimple the size of Nebraska, smack dab on the middle of my nose. It’s so precisely circumferenced that Nasa or Amazon’s drones can locate its exact coordinates. But, hey! I applied lipstick, regardless. This foreign body taking up residence on my human beak is not going to win. I recommend you heed my advice.

Life’s obstacles got you down? Apply some makeup. It will instantly lift your spirits when everything and everyone seems to be projecting negativity. Next up: mastering old foundation that won’t give me a rash and, hopefully, evens out my complexion.