#iwokeuplikethis

I have 4 crazy kids who, like me, are night owls. We are total turkeys in the morning. Sleepy, cranky, selfish, dazed. Despite our shared (inherited, I believe) dislike of mornings, I want desperately to give them a happy start to their day by making this early time as pleasant and loving as possible. For a "full face makeup person" like myself, this means drinking my full cup of coffee and putting my whole face on before doing their routine, so I feel complete, fresh, happy and available for them.

I have admitted to myself that a good face wipe is more my jam.

Having kids hasn't affected my beauty habits much, so, except for having less time to luxuriate, I mostly still do me. I don't "wash" my face and never have. Getting all that soapy water all over my blowout, the sink, and down my wrists is massively annoying. I tried every cleanser to see if I could love one enough to change this about myself... Fresh's Soy Face Cleanser came close but I never got in a routine of wetting and splashing after that pricey tube was done. I have justified to myself that a good face wipe is more my jam. Before kids, I used to feel bad about not slathering up, but now that I have so much less time, I have no energy for the guilt.

So, at night, I wipe - but *around* the mascara. I leave it on.

There are two reasons. First, I use a LOT of mascara. I shape, lengthen, build, build, and build. I even re-apply, probably as much as other "makeup people" re-apply their lip. Lashes are my lip, in a way. There is too much on to take off nightly; it would damage and remove too many lashes.

Second, I can wake up with the better part of one major step done. I wake up "half-voila" from a lash perspective; I pile on the other half while gulping coffee. Similar to leaving all your jewelry on at night, an AM step is saved.

Which is why #iwokeuplikethis. I don't always feel adorable, but on this day I did, and I was glad. My happiness (like all maternal emotions) rubs off on my kids. Who knows why I felt the need for a selfie on this particularly rushed morning. Probably because I wanted to check my lashes. Probably because I'm a little vain. (But am I really? If I was as "into" the art of painting instead of the art of makeup, would anyone say boo?)

I wake up "half-voila" from a lash perspective.

Admittedly, a fresh root job contributed in a big positive way to what I thought was a cute AM look. Good hair is poise.

And sometimes, a silly morningtime hashtag is confidence. 

Xx, Mom in Mascara