When Your Makeup Routine Becomes a Meditation

In today’s world, it’s never been easier to drift away from the present moment. We’re constantly glued to screens, binge-watching the latest series, or lost in our thoughts. These distractions dull our focus, turning once-enjoyable routines into empty motions. This detachment not only distances us from the small joys of life but also pulls us away from our authentic selves.

In The Artist’s Way, Julia Cameron explains that when we lose quality time with ourselves, we lose our creative spark. Her 12-week program aims to reignite this creativity, and one of her essential tools is the concept of “Artist Dates.” These two-hour solo excursions—whether spent walking, painting, or visiting a museum—are designed to reconnect you with your inner artist. The essential part? Blocking out distractions and approaching these activities with complete awareness. In a way, this practice becomes a meditation, allowing you to move through life with calm, focus, and curiosity. Ordinary tasks turn into personal rituals, rich with meaning.

For one of my own Artist Dates, I chose makeup. I’ve never been particularly adventurous with makeup, but I’ve crafted a routine that feels right for me over the years. The steps have remained consistent, whether it’s no-makeup everyday makeup, or night makeup.

But one day, I decided to break the pattern. I pulled out all my products—some I’d never even opened—and let myself play. Instead of following my usual steps, I paused after each brushstroke, reflecting on what felt right in the moment. This was my meditation. I was fully present, fully in tune with myself as I created.

Until then, makeup had always felt like a set of rules, a checklist to get through, but that time I gave myself to explore changed everything. Makeup became more than preparation—it became an experience. The real magic wasn’t in the products, but in the attention and presence I brought to the process. That’s the secret: any routine can transform from mundane to meditative if you give it time, focus, and a little curiosity. Soon, you’ll find yourself approaching all kinds of tasks with a renewed sense of purpose, guided by your inner wisdom. And for me, makeup became a pathway to this creative flow, a reminder that creativity is always there if we make space to listen.