Theatre professionals are very busy. It can sometimes be hard to justify taking time for yourself. It can feel dangerous to take time from work and side gigs. Looking for the next gig or show is the life of a freelancer in the theatre. Sometimes taking time for self care can feel like you are taking pay or work away from yourself. I feel like we as an industry have a hard time equating self care with our career. Actors tend to do better at this as their bodies are their job, but those of us who are back stage or front of house don't always realize that taking care of ourselves is also part of our careers. 

I am a freelancer which makes self care easier and yet harder at times. Here are some small things I do sometimes to self care and to make sure I have a life. I work to live (and love my work) I do not live to work. 
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1. Drink Tea- or kombucha (I know it is also a tea) or coffee. I always have tea with me in my sewing kit, purse, etc. A good "cuppa" can do wonders for your day and attitude. It also forces you to slow down (or else you spill). I have a specific teacup that I use when drinking my tea. It was given to me by one of my assistants as a Christmas gift so that also brings back some lovely memories each time I use it.
2. Call a friend/family member- just taking a little time to call my mother or sister is a small moment of self care. Talking with anyone not in theatre about something other than theatre is great. Bankers don't come home and talk to their friends about banking (at least I hope they don't). It can be a little different to do this as a theatre professional since we love the industry we are also working in, but it is so helpful to separate yourself sometimes. 
3. Use Essential Oils- or a nice candle can help calm your space. I have migraines about once a month so I always have some peppermint oil and coconut oil around. The oils combined help me combat these migraines. Small things you can carry with you in your purse are great to have mobile self care moments. Maybe it is simply having a pair of headphones so you can listen to that rain playlist on your commute to work. 
4. Spend on a Small Weekly Treat- Once I week I have a treat. It could be a sweet treat (Mini Gluten free Trader Joes Cupcakes this week!) or something from the shop you wanted or even seeing a show or museum exhibit. Allow yourself a cheeky treat each week. Something small that won't break the bank.
5. Have a Monthly Treat- Have a larger treat that you look forward to once a month. I try to get a massage. I hold stress in my shoulders and lower back from stitching and computer work, so having a standing appointment with my therapist is very helpful and a nice thing I look forward to each month.
6. Create a Loving Ritual- Taking time to light a candle you enjoy while getting ready, checking in with your best friend at the end of the week, sitting down to watch your favorite YouTube channel with your morning coffee, etc. Create a ritual that brings you joy.
7. Eat your Veg- Trying to get your five a day is hard, but worth it! I recently made myself a huge salad for lunch at work and taking it out of my bag for lunch and sitting down to such a fresh meal was just what I needed that day. 
8. Ask for help- Sometimes it can feel like you have "failed" if you need to ask for help with anything. It is the hardest part of self care. Asking for help with one of your weaknesses can be hard, but asking for help with something you see as one of your strengths can be even harder. Do it! There is nothing to be ashamed of. There have been many times I ask a friend for help. I usually put it off for a while because I think I can do it on my own, but once I finally get around to asking for help, I feel so much better. 

Welcome to the first part of a small series I created called "Sample Pack Makeup History". In it I strive to give an abridged over view of different makeups used in theater and our everyday lives. My reference materials will be included at the end along with a few videos or articles I find along the way. Enjoy!

Some archaeologists believe these two forms of eye makeup were not only used as decoration, but to protect the eyes from the sun's glare- similar to a baseball or football player's eye black today. There are known medical records prescribing eye paint. Others also believe that eye painting helped represent the god Horus and was considered a powerful charm. 
Another ancient society that used eye makeup was the Romans (both men and women here too). Unlike the Egyptians, the Romans wanted lightened eyebrows so they used lead to whiten them as well as ash, saffron, or powdered antimony (another word for "KOHL") to create eye shadows.
The people of Western Europe during the Middle Ages gave up whitening their brows and just plucked them! That's one way to cut down on your beauty routine. 
During the Northern Renaissance, Puritans railed against the "evil practices" of makeup wearing. They believed that men and women would pay in the afterlife for their vanity. Those who disagreed and loved to spend time on makeup sometimes used "Bella-donna eye drops". These eye drops make your eyes dilate and sparkle. The catch? They were made from deadly nightshade and were highly poisonous to the wearer over time. 
Moving on to a more flamboyant time, during the Baroque and Rococo eras, women and men liked darker eyebrows again, they achieved this by using lead combs (lead is poisonous in case you haven't read all the lead paint health announcements...). 

An image you may have seen floating around the internet illustrates the difference between black and white film makeup and color film makeup. The side by sides are so different!
(The article I found the image in can be read here)
After this time most makeup was considered "uncouth" or "improper", especially any eye makeups. It wasn't until the 1920's that makeup hit its stride again. Women shaped their eyebrows, had pallets of eyeliner with small brushes, etc. The introduction of silent films also created a market for makeup as women wanted to emulate the heroines in the movies.  

Those of you who use an eyelash curler will be happy to know the very first one was invented/introduced to the public in the 1920's as well. It was very time consuming, taking at least ten minutes per eye!
During WWII, eye liner was used unconventionally to create the illusion of a stocking "seam line" on the backs of women's legs. Talk about make due and mend!
In the 1950's eye makeup really hit it big time. Women preferred pronounced eyes and used eye liner, mascara, and vivid eye shadows they began to see in fashion magazines. Paris fashion models were wearing eye makeup with their street clothes, which caused the "biggest beauty news since lipstick" according to Life magazine. 
In the 1960's false eyelashes were introduced along with mascara and eyeliner in colors such as lavender, blue, green, and yellow. These fun colors became more muted in favor of a "natural" look in the 1970's. But, by the 1980's bright makeup trends were back in full force. 

References:

• Why'd They Wear That? Fashion as the Mirror of History by Sarah Albee
• Survey of Historic Costume 5th Edition by Phyllis G Tortora and Keith Eubank
• Face Paint: The Story of Makeup by Lisa Eldridge
• Glamour Daze

I hope you enjoyed the first installment of "Sample Pack Makeup History". It is short and sweet. If you are interested in more in depth history check out the resources above! If you are more of a visual learner check out these YouTube videos about the history of eye makeup! There are so many more than these, go explore! 

• ​100 Years of Eyeliner-Allure
• 100 Years of Brows- Allure