Mental Health Care With Makeup

About two years ago, I really got into makeup. I watched countless videos of beauty gurus on the internet to learn how to apply mascara to my wild eyelashes that grow in many different directions and learned how to create a signature wing liner for my almond-shaped eyes. I even began to learn about my skin type and how to take care of it, and invested in moisturizers and cleansing products to help me achieve the healthiest skin possible.

Migraine self care with makeup

Learning about ways to enhance my natural beauty provides me with a way to pamper myself and be creative. Creating beautiful and colorful makeup looks is also a fun way for me to distract myself from constant pain and explore my own beauty while dedicating time to just me. Now that I am inside all of the time, it has also recently become a crucial aspect of my migraine management these days. That might sound a little odd, but hear me out.

Migraine takes away my energy

Living with migraine sometimes leaves me feeling a complete lack of energy, with very little will to do much after working and taking care of the basics: shower, brushing my teeth, and eating at least a few times in the day. Now, during major shifts to my routine, I find myself in more pain, more often, with much less energy.

How staying home has changed my routine

In combination with consuming lots of news, and not having access to many of the stress relieving routines I had become accustomed to has taken a major toll. Getting dressed, especially during shelter-in-place, usually entails changing from pajamas to sweatpants. On top of the physical lull, dealing with depression and anxiety makes it all the more difficult to pour into myself and how I look. I’ve noticed, however, that when I put dedication towards sprucing myself up a little, I feel better. Living with comorbidities means navigating a fine balance of attending to many pains-physical, psychological, and emotional. For me, doing a little makeup helps me feel balance, even if the pain persists.

I don't do makeup during a migraine attack

Truth be told, on most days, I simply am in too much pain and don’t care enough to do makeup. When I do, I do it for myself. I don't like the feeling of being in pain and feeling...blegh, so makeup is a way to shift my energy. I don’t think anyone needs makeup to be beautiful, and I don’t make it out of the house too often for others to see, anyway. When I spend time doing it I feel all the more creative because I mess up, play around, and learn.

Doing my makeup after migraine

Learning about makeup has also been very interesting, there are all kinds of cool techniques professionals have come up with that are fun to try! When the migraines are especially bad, and I am in bed for days on end, I find it is a good way for me to reset when the pain finally breaks. Having something to help me step through the door of recovering from an attack is important for my holistic well-being. Sometimes it is just lipstick! A bright red symbol that I am up and at em'...for the time being.

Makeup is my way to cope with migraine pain

There is not one right way to deal with pain, and I am sure many folks in the community have all kinds of different pampering or de-stress techniques. Some garden, others paint. For me, pampering myself with a good face wash, and then playing in makeup is a great way to say to pain, and to the stress of the world: “I am taking a moment for me.” I also spend time playing music and making jewelry. These are just a few tasks that allow me to unplug from everything and be with myself, without focusing on the pain.

Do you deal with depression and anxiety along with migraine? What kinds of activities do you do to navigate those conditions along with migraine? Let’s discuss in the comments!