This may be the most embarrassing thing I ever admit on this blog – I own a Caboodle. Well, owned, technically, since it recently found its way into my donation box and out of my life forever. If you aren’t sure what a Caboodle is, here’s a pic to jog your memory. (If you’re a female in her late 20s or early 30s, you may want to just reminisce back to the early 90s when you were getting ready for a junior high dance. One of these was certainly around, along with a large can of aerosol hair spray and a mix tape with several songs by C&C Music Factory.)
A Caboodle is a large plastic case designed to hold make-up. This little guy resided in my closet and held a vast array of beautifying products, including lipsticks, eye shadows, foundations, and an eyelash curler that I hadn’t used in years. (I always feared I would somehow rip out all my eyelashes using that thing… am I alone here?) I recently had to face the facts as a wannabe minimalist – I had too much make-up.
Here’s an important fact: make-up expires. Technically, you aren’t supposed to use eye makeup after it’s been open for three months, and other make-up (like lipstick and foundation) is supposed to be ditched after a year. This stuff harbors bacteria (gross!) so keeping it around, say, since your wedding in 2004 (guilty!) is medically a bad idea. Thus, I unleashed my minimalist fervor on my Caboodle and ousted these bacteria-laden beauty products from my life:
My make-up now fits completely in one small bag, which contains: one concealer, one face powder, one blush, one eyeshadow set, one eyeliner, one mascara, one chapstick, and one lip gloss. I use almost all of these products every day and I can do my make-up in less than three minutes (which is a good thing, since my school day starts at the ungodly hour of 7:15!).
Let me remind you, in case you haven’t told yourself this lately: You are beautiful. You are. Your friends think so. Your significant other thinks so. Your kids definitely think so. So why do you have all that make-up? Use enough to enhance your natural beauty, but don’t hide your god-given loveliness beneath a mask of make-up. Lighten up your beauty routine and lighten up your life! (And for Pete’s sake, donate that Caboodle to a 13-year-old in need!)
3 Responses
So glad you liked the post! And glad you were also able to release a caboodle into the wild… set it free, girl!
Rose, I love this post! I recently trashed tons of toiletries and makeup (and a caboodle – ha!). I could probably trash even more. All I really ever wear is some powder and lip gloss. It's fun to read your blog. Thanks! 🙂