Though I have only been using makeup for about four years, makeup has had such an impact on my life. When I was a teenager, I was depressed and insecure about everything. I hated my life in New York. When I moved to California, I was determined to not be insecure and put myself out there. Unfortunately, with a face full of redness and zits, it was hard to be confident. I decided one day to go to the Clinique counter. I bought my first foundation, a little bit of lip gloss and a neutral brown duo and it was surprising the change. The redness was gone, the zits were gone and I felt a lot more confident in my relationships and in college. It's been interesting to look at pictures and see how my tastes have changed over time. I've gone from relatively dull neutrals when I was afraid to use makeup, to using much brighter (but still conservative) colors. Often makeup represents my emotions. It's a way of wearing my heart on my sleeve without necessarily being emotional. I look forward to putting on my makeup everyday because it's also a way of expressing myself. I'm not really that creative in other respects, but makeup enables me to be more creative.