Bittersweet Sampler

I have skin allergies, so makeup is a dicey affair. I’ve learned the hard way that “Hypoallergenic” doesn’t mean I won’t react to it. And “Allergy Tested” doesn’t mean anything at all. When I go to the effort of putting on makeup I don’t see much improvement. Most days all I wear on my face is a moisturizer. Like everything else in my makeup bag, it’s from Clinique. When I do bother with anything more I use a base called “Almost Makeup” and translucent powder. The blush, called “Sunkissed,” doubles as a low-key eye shadow. I use lip gloss rather than lipstick; raspberry if I’m wearing a purple or pink outfit, and copper if I’m wearing brown or green. Mascara has caused more trouble than all the other items in the bag combined. I always choose one that’s water-soluble so it’s easy to remove. And I replace it every two or three months, before it becomes a Petri dish.