Life Well Lived: Looking My Best

I have a confession to make. As part of the Life Well Lived blogger panel, I really hoped they wouldn't ask me a question about style or makeup. I've never considered these strong points of mine.

Of course, the first question they posed to me was, "Fall is right around the corner. What are the Autumn colors and must haves in makeup?"

Hhhmmmm. Autumn colors? Must haves in makeup? Is it really October already? Yikes. 

But, when I think about it for more than thirty seconds, how I look is connected to how I feel. Generally I feel better when I look better. Regardless of my emotions and self-esteem, this remains the truth. I've struggled with this a lot since becoming a mom. More times than not showering and fixing my hair get knocked to the bottom of the priority list. Makeup tends to get bumped off the list entirely.

I've been working really hard on improving my self-care lately. I've been running regularly which means I absolutely have to make time to shower and I've been finding odd moments to blow dry my hair. It makes me feel clean and put together. And if I feel put together physically, my brain feels more organized and I tend to be better at getting everything else done. I'm definitely a more productive person when I feel (and look) my best.

Fall tends to be a productive time of year for me. I love fall. I love this time of year. It makes me want to wear a thick sweater and cuddle with my family under a big fuzzy blanket with a good book and a mug of hot apple cider. Or take a walk and crunch all the leaves on the ground. Or pick out pumpkins at the pumpkin patch. I want to sew costumes and make Christmas presents. It makes me want to bake and fill the house with warm, cozy smells...and I can't relax or cook or do anything else if the house is messy, so fall motivates me to be on top of things.

Granted it's still in the high 80s here but we did have a few days last week when it dipped down into the 70s. I know fall is close at hand.  I know it's fall almost everywhere else. I'm living vicariously through the rest of the country.

Anyhow, back to the question. Autumn colors and makeup must haves. Like I said, lately I've been happy with a shower and, since the shower part has been happening more regularly, I've found myself with a few moments to actually put on makeup. I have mixed feelings about makeup. I don't want to equate looking my best with wearing makeup. I know I don't have to wear makeup to look my best. I don't want to feel like I need to wear makeup. I'm sure I'm going to be repeating that to my daughter like a broken record as soon as she's old enough to understand.

But I enjoy wearing a little makeup.

I think of it a bit like getting dressed up for a fancy party. It's not essential, but it can be fun.  Okay, obviously getting dressed is essential for the party but you don't have to dress up. Right?

Right. Since fall makes me think of cozy sweaters and long walks outdoors, heavy makeup doesn't really fit the bill in my opinion. For me fall is about connecting with the earth and the seasons and my family. It's about enjoying every minute outside before we hunker down for the winter (again, I know this isn't really applicable in our current location but these feelings are deeply ingrained and not easily discarded...regardless of how warm it is outside).

Consequently, I go for a light, natural look when I get the chance to put on makeup. I'm a big fan of tinted moisturizer with SPF (seriously, I love to multitask) and a little mascara. Add a little lip gloss and I'm done. It takes only a minute and I feel like I've accomplished something spectacular. I know it's silly but I never thought I'd see the day when I listed putting on mascara and lip gloss as accomplishing something. But since it's become such a rare occurrence and it makes me feel good, I enjoy it and consider it an accomplishment. Taking care of myself is an accomplishment some days.

That's my opinion. Want to hear what the Life Well Lived expert has to say about all this? Read her advise here. (OMG! She mentioned me!)

What do you think? What are the Autumn colors and must haves in makeup? What makes you look and feel your best? Leave a comment and join the conversation!

And if you click here, you can enter to win a $250 Visa gift certificate in the Life Well Lived Sweepstakes. Happy Sunday!