Let me just say...

MAC Cosmetics is a God send for late bloomers like myself and well, for just about any woman in need of assistance on the beauty front. If you know me at all, then I know what you're thinking, "Who in the hell is this person writing on Jennifer's blog?" and if you don't know me, then just know that I have always been a tomboy - until recently. That lovely and yet utterly frustrating change was brought on by my boyfriend who, despite falling in love with me while I was in my pajamas half the time, has seen beyond the ugly girl hiding in the corner and has found let's just say the diamond in the rough. About six months ago we began a frustrating effort to polish the diamond. I'll just say that it's been an experience, and although it hasn't always been easy or fun, some great things have come out of it, including MAC.

Okay, so I know nothing about make-up. Alright, I lied a little, I didn't know anything about make-up and then I put in a little effort. I got online and read a lot, I bought a subscription to, check this out, Cosmo magazine as an early 24th birthday present to myself and have been reading some more (I know, English major), and I have intentionally embarrassed myself in public twice in the name of beauty. Let me take this opportunity to tell any other tomboys turned girly-girls that practice is the only way to make the make-up part happen. That was my problem, I didn't want to spend hours in front of the mirror with brushes dropping to the floor and powder coating my recently cleaned bathroom, but that's what happened. In this world of GPS systems and computerized cell phones that can bring you the world or schedule your car maintenance at the push of a button we don't have time for such nonsense as experimenting with colored powders that only end up making you sneeze off anything that you managed to put on, but that is no excuse.

Being good with make-up begins with being good at being patient. And so after a visit to Sephora about a month ago to buy new eyeshadow, lip gloss, and mascara I began the tedious process of painting my face, screwing it up, wiping it off, and starting all over again until my eyelids were raw. It sucked!! After a month of going from bad to worse every time I tried to do my make-up I managed to come up with a look that worked, and I got good at it after a few weeks. I even got complimented a few weeks ago - I didn't need to wear any blush that day! Although I finally looked decent I wanted to look better; that's the first step to becoming a girly-girl I learned, when you want to do more with make-up than the basics.

Don't get me wrong, I loved my Sephora make-up, but I wasn't happy with the eyeshadow that I had. It was a pallet with several colors, but they were all too dark and a little too shimmery for a day time look. Who knew there were day and night looks? So, I went in search of something better for my eyes. I've developed an unusual habit the past few weeks of having to ask any woman I see with nice eye make-up what brand she uses, and the answer is always MAC. I've been trying to hold out on trying MAC for over a month now because it is a bit expensive, but I just couldn't do it any longer after Chris and I went to a party at a co-worker's house last weekend and Chis made a comment afterwards that he loved one of my colleague's eye make-up and of course, it was MAC. And so tonight I sold my tomboy soul to the devil when I drove to International Mall (which has a Louis Vuitton and Tiffany's for the record) and walked into the way too glamorous for this kid, MAC store. All of the employees were busy so I made myself at home by the eyeshadows and spent five minutes looking at individual colors that I thought I could never turn into anything when finally a lady with lime green eyeshadow came over and offered her colorful assistance.

And so I embarrassed myself for the second time in public for beauty's sake (the first time was at Sephora) when I admitted my eyeshadow shortcomings to her in front of a packed room of gay men and fashionistas - again, no blush required. Being kind she asked me what I was looking for, and I explained that I wanted to learn how to do a smokey eye for nights out with Chris and a sophisticated day look since I work for a law firm. She came back with nine colors and ten minutes later I had one sophisticated eye and one smokey eye. She taught me how to do everything myself and what brushes to use for this and that, and she introduced me to the most amazing eye primer known to man. I eventually walked out thirty minutes later with nine colors and a pallet that I hoped would not end up being the victim of the dark corner in the cabinet under the bathroom sink where things like floss and old prescriptions go to rot.

Luckily, I got home and began playing with it all myself and wow did I have success. Okay, so I'm not a knockout yet, but I'm getting there quickly. Maybe not knockout but weak at the knees, definitely. The cool thing is that I actually feel confident in what I'm doing when I experiment, and it's all owed with much thanks to a lady with lime green eyes. The thing about MAC is that it is the best of the best when it comes to quality, and all of the employees are more than qualified to assist with beauty mishaps like myself. They know their shit even if they don't look like they do. And so in closing I recommend that you go to a MAC store or counter at a Macy's or Dillard's, walk up to the scary looking lady and tell her that you're tired of being scared and ugly. She'll make sure that all changes. As aforementioned, the price is a little high, but it pays for itself in confidence and, hopefully, compliments. That's all from this former tomboy. Welcome to MAC, have fun!