For the makeup addicts- How did your friends and family react?

[LorraineER]

Hey all-

I was wondering, for those of you who are really into makeup and who own or are busy building up large collections...how do your family and your friends feel about it? Do you ever get grief for spending "too much money" on it, or does anyone you know not understand why you're so into it?
Are your friends all into makeup and beauty as well or are you the only one?
I'm really curious and would like to hear about how you deal with people's reactions to your interest in beauty-related stuff.

For me, I don't have any friends that are into makeup at all. I'm hoping that when I go to cosmetology school I'll meet some people who share my obsession ;D My boyfriend gets it- he's ok with me putting money into it since he saw that I'm not buying makeup in addition to anything else I may want, I'm buying it in place of other things. My mom thinks it's frivolous and will occasionally give me a hard time. She can't comprehend why anyone would need more than a few things to make themselves up each day with the same look. I've gotten some comments/questions from friends about how I can afford so much makeup because they know I'm on a budget. I just explain that they make money in their budgets for their hobbies and interests, like video games, going out to nice restaurants, photography, whatever and that's what makeup is to me- it's not just something I throw on in the morning and don't think about again. It's one of my favorite things.

So, I want to hear about how it is for you! I think this could be a good discussion.

Also, I hope I posted this in the right place since it's a question?

 

[lilkay2nv]

my parents dont understand. they sometimes give me a hard time on why i spend so much money on it. i also work my money and paychecks around makeup. im saving up for the mac collection the 28th and also working around the sephora f&f sale friday. im the only 1 of my friends obsessed with it too.

 

[XicanaQueen]

I am also the only one from my friends. I mean I have friends who like makeup but not to the extent that I do. Even my co-workers know about my addiction. I just tell them, I don't have kids I'm allowed to splurge on myself. Now the hubby understands and then he doesn't. Sometimes I get the, "more makeup" but he doesn't understand I DON'T HAVE THIS ONE! lol I'm already planning my MAKEUP SHOW trip in LA.

 

[LorraineER]

likay2nv-I was torn between A Tartan Tale and Sephora F&F myself and I had to kind of decide between the two as I am strapped for cash the next few weeks. At least if you're supporting yourself no one can tell you what to do with your money though it kinda sucks to get a hard time over it regardless.

XicanaQueen-It's lonely being the only one among your friends to be into makeup. It would be like that with anything you're into, it's nice to have people to share it with. The makeup trip- is that IMATS? So exciting!!

It's hard being the only one among the people you know that's into makeup or anything for that matter. Not having people to share interests with can get lonely... so thank goodness for Specktra! lol. At least we can connect with each other through this site. When I tell people I meet that I blog about makeup and beauty-related topics it's like their eyes glaze over and they struggle to say something positive. If I blogged about, say, politics or even movies I know the people around me would be more interested.

 

[imthebeesknees]

Pretty much the only person in my life that understands is my boyfriend and he completely understands it, he just thinks it is pretty expensive. Which I suppose is the most important person considering I live with him.

Other than that I have some friends that think it is outrageous and do not comprehend why someone would want to have that much makeup. Everyone else just thinks it's my 'thing' and doesn't really care, they just don't get it.


And yes, I must agree I love that we can all gather here on Specktra because I would feel VERY lonely without it. Some days (well most) all I want to do is just talk about makeup and when you can't do that in person its soo nice to know at least you can on here!!

 

[pink4ever]

I'm the only one of my friends who likes makeup as much as I do. I love love it. My parents have absolutely NO problem with it because my mom went to cosmetology school and she loves doing people's hair occasionally on the weekends so she buys tons and tons of hair items. She has a couple of MUA friends so she know's what I'm going through. She just hopes it's not a phase since I'm only seventeen and could grow out of it.

 

[Sequinzombie]

Oh gosh well my dad things I'm so silly for dishing out so much money on a few eyeshadows. My mom doesn't really care because she knows I want to be a makeup artist someday.
I wish I had friends who loved makeup as much as me! They think i'm weird for saving up money for makeup rather than clothes or going out.

 

[internetchick]

I keep it to myself mostly, since I know they wouldn't get it. I have let my younger sister in on my addiction, but only because she has expressed an interest.

 

[Buttercup86]

I am the only person in my family thats wear makeup, let alone be obsessed with it. I think my love first came from playing in a friend's makeup stash. No one in my family is bothered by it, in fact they encourage my talent because they know I want to be a MUA one day. My boyfriend has been very supportive, he even gave me the entire spare room of our apartment to store my makeup in, and I also use it as my "studio" when I am doing someone's makeup.

 

[LorraineER]

Thanks for all the replies! It's interesting to hear about and I'm glad I'm not the only one who feels this way and I'm extra glad we have Specktra so we can obsess with each other!

 

[elegant-one]

.
Well, my hubby enables it, & none of my other sisters are into makeup. I have one friend who loves it almost as much as I do - all the rest, it doesn't matter what they think.

Thats why we are all here

we get each others obsession with all things makeup

 

[Kragey]

My mother rolls her eyes at me sometimes and tells me I'm crazy. When I told her I'd like her to ship some of my lipsticks to me (I moved 1000 miles away from home this summer), she got a bit uffy and said, "You don't need all of that!" She also makes comments about some of my makeup and laughs afterwards, which is her "polite" way of saying she doesn't like something. She really doesn't wear makeup anymore...I think she thinks of herself as "old" now, which is a shame, because my mother is the most beautiful woman in the world.

My dad has always stood up for me, strangely enough, and was really perplexed when I told him I wasn't taking all of it to grad school right away.

My brother doesn't think too much of it and actually helps me pick out nail polishes and eyeshadows (purple is his favorite color, so I don't even try to ask him "which one" if there's a purple ).

My sister kind of likes makeup herself, but God, her application...LOL! She doesn't have the patience to actually sit down and learn how to do things, so she usually just calls me in to do it for her.

Strangely, when I announced to my family that I plan on getting rid of at least 25% of my stash over Christmas break, they resisted.

I have a few friends who are in to makeup, but only one who is close to as interested/obsessed as I am. My two best friends from undergrad used to always let me paint on their faces, LOL!

 

[saviisneat]

My mom can't imagine how I can have more than one eyeshadow. She doesn't get that I need variety. It takes at least 3 colors for one look! And then different looks through out the week. I have different shades of nude lipsticks and that drives her nuts. However for my birthday this month she got me a 50 dollars gift certificate. So she must be somewhat okay with it. I mean I'm an adult and spend my own money lol

 

[User38]

lol.. my mother never realized that after two degrees and a corp life I would be working with MU.. and now she thinks it's a blast.. relax and just do your thing

 

[hintofshimmer]

Good advice! I'm in a similar situation. I'm trying to make the transition from a corporate job to becoming a makeup artist. My family doesn't understand why I would want to ever leave a comfy, desk job but I have dreams of making it in the industry and working for myself one day. I know they'll come around soon...I'm starting to realize that you can't make everyone happy and you just have to do what makes you happy most of all!!


hintofshimmer.com

 

[bellaboomboom]

Hubby complains a little bit. He doesn't get it but I don't expect him to. What really bugs him is that my Mom and I can talk daily - for hours - about makeup!

 

[LorraineER]

"I have a few friends who are in to makeup, but only one who is close to as interested/obsessed as I am. My two best friends from undergrad used to always let me paint on their faces, LOL!"

That's one perk I forgot about being the only one among your friends...you get lots of opportunities to practice on willing models! lol. I love doing my friends makeup and hair. The more I care about someone the more I love to do it honestly. I give my other half painstaking blowouts..he has shoulder length crazy-curly hair and loves when it's straight. I have a couple friends who are always asking me to do their hair or makeup for when we go out. It's so fun to see the boost it can give someone's mood when they love how they look!

 

[bevcita]

My mom loved MAC before I did so she totally supports my obsession. My dad is mostly amused but is used to it because of my mom. See she looooves make up. My mom wears makeup and falsies everyday. Love her!

My husband is okay with it and understands that I'm a collector as well.

None of my friends or co workers are into makeup unfortunately. Wish I had a mu obsessed bff to haul with though :/

 

[kittykit]

My mom finally saw my entire collection (not that I've a lot) a few months ago and she didn't think I'm crazy! When she was younger, she had a lot of them too!

She wears makeup to work everyday. That explains why both my sisters and I are into cosmetics.

My husband's very supportive but I've never asked for money from him to buy MAC. My mother-in-law thinks he should at least pay half of my makeup bill *lol*

I've a few close friends who are into makeup as well but they live on the other side of the world...

 

[banana1234]

my boyfriend doenst really get it, but he's a bloke, i dont expect him too, but he knows i get excited about it, and tells me i look 'pretty' whenever i do something nice. he hasnt seen the 'collection' yet, its so organised that i dont think he dares open my desk drawers to see. its all tucked away in palettes and organised in drawers so i dont think to anyone wandering through my bedroom it looks like a lot. unless i was to leave my desk drawers open! he does groan and complain when i make him go to mac with me though!

my dad asked me the other day if i want to do make up as a career, he's so cute, i was like hell yeah! i went to art college though, so i think he sees it as a creative outlet

my mum is jealous! she asks me to do her make up, so cute, i also give her things i dont want, like things that were good, but i dont really use
same goes for my sis, she reaps the benefits of my purging sessions where i go nuts and give her and my mum a load of stuff i dont use anymore. like i gave my sister my soft and gentle msf when i got shimpagne, because they are so unbelievably similar. i also gave her some pigment samples and mes!