I used to find them rather amusing. No thing how casually they were dressed - even in running shorts and T-shirts - every day these Southern ladies greeted the world with fully made-up faces and perfectly styled hair. The Memphis humidity made this an even more impressive achievement.

Aside from the fact I wasn't a native Memphian I wasn't one of those women and didn't think it likely that I would get one. When you're married to someone who repeatedly states that he doesn't love makeup acts disappointed when you wear it (even if he otherwise compliments your appearance) and says he won't kiss you if you have lipstick on it's not exactly encouragement to develop your cosmetic-wearing skills.

I no longer live in Memphis and I'm not married to that husband any more either. And it occurred to me not long ago like I was applying eyeliner and mascara and putting on some lip stain that I have become one of "those women" who almost never leaves the home without putting on makeup. Heck some days I put it on even if I'm not leaving the house. How did this happen?

One reason for it is undoubtedly the fact that I'm no longer with my makeup-averse first husband - and Husband #2 has no particular feelings about my wearing it (although he's likely to tell me if I've made a mess of it). Getting comfortable wearing makeup has been part of the process of my becoming more comfortable with myself times - I like what it does for me. Besides I've reached a point in my life where I tend to need what it does for me.

I'm fortunate in one respect; the oily skin that I inherited from the Italian side of my family - the skin that was the bane of my pimple-ridden teens - is now ensuring that I'm not terribly wrinkly and dried out at the age of 45. But a tinted moisturizer or a light foundation with sunscreen ingredients helps keep it protected and under-eye concealer is a must even if I put nothing else on my face. My ex-husband the lipstick-hater didn't truly have much to worry about - I'm not a large fan of the stuff anyway. However I have come to like the lightweight lip stain that keeps my mouth from fading into the rest of my face. The one thing that's really surprised me is the fact that I've started using eyeliner within the last year - the pencil kind smudged along the top lash line - and how much of a difference it makes. I seem much more awake.

I was serene in high academy when I met my first husband and he may have had a point about makeup at the time - most teen girls and young women don't really need it and even more don't understand how to wear it properly. But I think that eventually we ripe into it and we study to use it day-to-day without ending up looking like we're about to receive the stage (or the street corner). I'm glad I've grown up enough to use it and like it. And if you ever had to see me first thing in the morning you'd probably be glad too. I still can't be bothered to blow-dry my hair most days though.

An original Los Angeles Moms Blog post

Florinda Pendley Vasquez doesn't make up most of what she blogs about at The 3 R's: Reading 'Riting and Randomness.

photo via stock.xchng