My relationship with makeup hasn’t been a consistent one. Let alone, my attitude towards makeup was a hostile one (and under the impression that a lot of peers in high school were keen to wear makeup to look grown up or impress boys…). Yet over the years, through participating in school performances and appreciating the artistry of makeup, I found myself gravitating towards the empowering feeling of wearing makeup. A swatch of a good red lipstick, a colourful eyeshadow look that garners validating comments or even an alluring teal lipstick to turn shocked heads – I loved the soft armour I could give to myself. I laughed at how I was so sceptical about makeup when I was young (probably associating it with being girly and that was considered cringe and uncool) and later transitioning to the thought of “I paid good money for this, let me enjoy the items that I bought!” I was able to feel the happiness of spending the morning in putting myself together.