Painted Faces

“I don’t think makeup is rocket science or a cure for cancer. I still love it.” Cindy Crawford.

I have a problem with cosmetics. The problem being that they are taking over my life. I’ve had this problem from when I was fifteen and worked in the perfumery department at Debenhams. Perfume companies used to send in about ten tester bottles every time there was a new fragrance, and a whole heap of samplers to give out to customers. For the few years I worked there I bought tester bottles of all the fancy perfumes for £1 in the staff canteen, and always had the samplers in my bag.

Then I got a job with Clarins. Girls, if you want to work for a cosmetic company, pick Clarins. 8 free products a month; 6 skincare, 2 makeup. I had fancy bath crèmes and shower gels, expensive skin quenching body creams and enough foundation to fulfil my makeup addiction.

And this is why I am now overrun with the stuff. I can’t help but let the ladies put the new cream on the back of my hand or give me a touch of colour as I pass through the cosmetics department, and my tastes are expensive. I love Clarins tonic range, and Lancome moisturisers. I adore YSL mascara and crave Chanel nail polish. The problem is I then buy them, and now I have a whole drawer that used to be full of exboyfriends football shirts, that hold host to my eye shadows, brushes, spare mascaras and multitudes of exfoliators and masks, lotions and potions.

When I moved in with exboyfriend I learnt to curb my spending (its no good having lovely skin if you are starving) so I now know all the alternatives that you can buy in the self service section of Boots that are just as good, but every now and then a darling friend (usually Anna) will buy me a lovely gift like Origins Ginger Bath Souffle, and I will be teleported back to the days when I was pampered and fragrant.