Throwback Thursday, Makeup Edition

The look, circa 2009:

Several months ago I decided to try out an Autumn makeup look, using red and orange eyeshadows, colors that I haven't used in years because every time I did, I would end up looking sickly or like my eyes had some serious infection.

How pleased I was when this attempt far exceeded my expectations. I loved it so much I decided to take a few pictures, savoring the probable only time that I will ever be able to pull off red and orange eyeshadow again (as I have incredible beginner's luck).

(And many, many thanks to all my Facebook friends for complimenting this look! It warmed my heart and I felt so much love and support. You all know how much makeup is my art, my form of expression and to be complimented on it means a great deal.)

But, a little while ago, as I was getting ready for the day I remembered an old eyeshadow palette that I bought way back in 2009 for the highly expensive cost of $15.

(Source: Amazon)

One Sunday, in 2009, I had a friend come to me and say that she just became a Mary Kay consultant. She was in training and would like to me attend a special meeting that other woman in training would be attending also.

I reflected for a moment before responding.

I've been to these.

Many times.

I will be sat down, given a mirror and a few makeup samples, a small amount of foundation that is too dark for me, a disposable makeup brush with not nearly enough product on it to enhance these stubs that protrude from my lids, and asked to remove my makeup before applying theirs.

I hesitated my answer because in the past, I've turned out looking the same....

...like slop...

...only to feel pressured to buy products that I know are incredible, but being a mother of three, having just started a business with my husband the year prior, the extra cost on something like makeup could not be justified.

While I may not have all the makeup "know hows" or use the exact colors that are the "right" shade for me, why is it I find that I look better wearing my own style of makeup than I do when I attend these parties, using their high-end products, looking like I had put my makeup on in the dark?

Was it me? It had to be me. With so many people loving and using their products, surely, I was the one with the issues.

I looked over at my friend, wanting to support her new business venture, knowing how much that kind of support means, and told her I'd see her there.

And on that Tuesday night, I did exactly what they told me to do, took off all my makeup and applied theirs.

And after we had all put on our makeup, some looking great while I looked hideous, we had the privilege of going to another room full of consultants and soon-to-be consultants and showed off our  fresh faces. 

I tried my best to hide behind the tallest ladies there, with little success. I could swear that everyone who looked at me, cringed. I was now ready for this evening to be over, to run far from these people, and pray they'll block my image from their mind.

But one thing I did enjoy were the new colors Mary Kay was sporting for 2009 (I could have the year wrong, perhaps 2008). 

And it could very well be because these colors were bright but not too bright and fun but didn't look so much like a little girl's play makeup palette.

Or, it could be that the MK women in this meeting talked up this palette to be incredible. 

"Ladies, I know you're going to be upset hearing this," one consultant said, beaming with excitement, "But the sample colors these women are wearing (referring to my group of ladies) are coming from the Coastal Colors palette! That's right, they are wearing the samples a MONTH BEFORE these are out for purchase!"

The ladies in the room, still staring (cringing) at us, oohed and awed and even groaned at the sound of it.

"There must be something really great about these colors! I need to have this," I remember saying. 

And therefore I decided to put in an order for it. I remember spending far too long of time justifying this purchase. Fifteen dollars for this 2" x 2" pan of shadow that held three colors, one of which I didn't even want, was tough for me considering the last time I paid $15 for makeup was about ten years prior for another Mary Kay product that I never bought again.

I bit my lip and handed over the check, feeling a part of my heart sink, worried that I was being frivolous during a time our funds were limited.

That feeling of doom didn't last long for as soon as my order came in, I gushed over it so much that that was the only shadow I wore until it was gone. And I sure got many compliments on it. I wore it with a blue eyeliner pencil and either blue or black mascara.

On this day, I decided to re-create the look, however many years later. To see if I really do look as great as I thought I did, as others said I did.

(I wish I had a photo available of me from 2009, wearing this look. If I find one, I'll immediately post it here.)

While I don't have the exact shadow palette, I do have colors that are very close to it.

Since 2009 I've learned what colors look best on me and what doesn't. Spring colors certainly don't look the greatest on me. But I had it in my mind that these colors, the colors everyone said looked great on me, would prove that all wrong. This would show that I could indeed wear any color I wanted and be able to pull it off.

While doing this photo shoot I, for the life of me, could not seem to make my pictures turn out well. I realized I didn't feel as comfortable in this look as I did in my Autumn photoshoot. Could that have been why I felt so off? Or could it have been because I was ill? I honestly don't know and won't know until I wear this look again....which may be far from now.

But I definitely worked it and owned it as much as I could. ;)

What do you think? Can I pull off this look now, 6 years later?

What were some makeup trends you followed? Would you recreate that look now if you could?