Dungarees to dangereuse, in 30 minutes

We found Geri Harper slogging away in her garden pulling weeds, hair scraped back severely from her face, dressed like a farmer and not wearing a scrap of make up. This would be easy!

We dispatched Geri to take a shower, get some heated rollers in her long hair (she does colour it regularly), apply make-up and put on a, well, feminine outfit. However much ‘inner beauty’ anyone has, a black tee and overalls don’t measure up to scrutiny.

Like many women in their late 50s, Geri has rosacea and has had a couple of bouts with skin cancer. Consequently she has learned professional make-up application techniques (using drug store available cosmetics) both to protect her skin from the sun and to give a flawless finish. Believe it or not, she pulled off this transformation in just 30 minutes from hitting the shower to arriving dressed, coiffed and with make up perfected.

The minute by minute countdown:

0-6 minutes: Steps into shower and uses 50/50 diluted shampoo, which is easy (i.e. quick) to rinse out (it’s less harsh and better for your hair, especially if you wash it frequently).

7-13 minutes: Towel dries hair thoroughly, plugs in heated rollers, moisturizes face, blow dries hair loosely with head upside down.

14-16 minutes: Uses 10 large rollers to provide lift and waves for all of her hair.

17-23 minutes: Make up regime: all in one foundation powder creme (Revlon) good coverage for rosacea; eye shadow – light cream on lid dirty brown in crease (Maybelline powder eye shadow; lines inside of bottom lid with eyeliner pencil (Maybelline, blue); blusher (Bourjois, Bruin) on temples and cheeks; two coats of mascara (L’Oreal Telescopic brown); lip liner (Annabelle Spice) outline and lightly fill in lips; add a quick dab of lip conditioner Blistex over lips.

24-30 minutes: Remove rollers, run fingers through hair (messy, wavy look); put on underwear, dress, shoes, earrings and necklace. Voila!

It just takes practice.

Jane Parker

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