Do you have a mirror problem? I do.
Let me explain.The mirror in our bathroom at home is a very nice mirror. I put my makeup on using that mirror. I gauge how I look on any given day, at any given hour, with that mirror. Before leaving the house, I will give a last look at my fully made up self in that mirror. Often, I will be thinking, “Not so bad, Claudia. You’re pulling it off!”
Then I will go out in public, catch a glimpse of myself in a window or see myself in another mirror, somewhere, and I will look nothing like I looked in my bathroom mirror. I look older, paler, and where the heck is my make-up?
I’d chalk it up to our mirror but the same thing is happening here. I blow dry my hair, do my make-up, put on my lipstick and leave the hotel. I get to the rehearsal space and catch a glimpse of myself in a random mirror somewhere in the building and I go into shock.
Is it a cruel joke? Is every bathroom mirror a sort of funhouse mirror, but a funhouse mirror that makes you look your best? Perhaps they are engineered that way in order to give us the guts to even entertain the idea of leaving the house?
If only I could always be seen by others as I see myself in that mirror. A slightly softer focus, a golden light….almost like those shots of Doris Day in her later movies and on her television series, where there was clearly a filter of some kind on the camera.
Does this sort of thing happen to you, my friends? Do your mirrors act as true reflections or do they play little tricks on you?
Tell me I’m not the only one.
It must be the lighting in the bathroom(s); maybe no natural light in there?
Do your makeup in front of a window (I do) and that should help.
Sue
xo
Oh boy do I know how you feel Claudia! It seems no matter what I do in the mirror at home it never EVER looks as good somewhere else. NO…you’re not alone.
I know exactly what you mean. My haircolor looks different in mirrors other than my own bathroom, my skin tone, etc. I guess it is just the way the lights in that room reflect and we get used to it. Sometimes I just try not to look into other mirrors.~Hugs, Patti
Lighting or different kind of reflection??????????? It is upsetting to sudden see a reflection of yourself and not know it’s you for a little bit of time.
You would look beautiful in any light.
YOU ARE SO RIGHT……I LOVE MY BATHROOM MIRROR….BUT THEN YOU MEET THE TRUTH DURING YOUR DAY….WHAT’S A WOMAN TO DO…….HOPE YOU ARE NOT WORKING TO HARD….EASIER SAID THEN DONE…..TAKE CARE…..RIZZI
May sound silly, but for the last few years I have put on my makeup at the kitchen table.
I am sure you look good in ANY mirror!
Same thing happens to me. It must be the lighting. I look especially bad in photographs.
Nooooo, you’re definitely not the only one, honey! I inadvertently looked in a mirror at Bed,Bath and Beyond a few weeks ago and stared my mother in the face. She wasn’t there of course; it was me looking back at ME. Plus, yes, the makeup was all wrong. Sigh….
xoxo,
Connie
My mirror is definitely a fun house mirror. I get out to the car and look in the mirror and it’s always a bit of a shocker. Oh, how I wish that I had more natural light in my bathroom…
Hugs,
Jill
Claudia, I have often thought that it would be a good idea just to live in the bathroom….Parties would be a bit crowded, but I would look better than I do outside the bathroom. Oh Well…Older is better???
I have one of those mirrors. I think I look fine, then WHAM…I see myself, and wonder how that happened.
My solution is, once I leave the house, never look into a reflecting surface.
I might not look as good as in the bathroom, but I don’t know it.
:)
I’m in agreement – I only look good, well as good as a late 60’s woman can look – in my own bathroom mirror! I have to use a wall-mounted magnifying mirror to get the tired eyes looking brighter and to see where the mascara goes – and when faced with hotel mirrors with bad lighting (most of them), which always seem so far away, and no mag. mirror on the wall, I have to drag out my own portable and then find somewhere to balance it in good light. I often end up like a contortionist……….and for what, nobody in their right mind is even going to be swooning over my now old eyes anyway. Even Bob’s poor eyesight doesn’t give a hoot as to how I look!
The solution………….ships in either very cold or very hot locations, or African safaris! Ones makeup can be just a touch of lipstick, with big sunglasses and a wide brimmed hat jammed on hard for the stiff winds…..which means you can even forget the blow drying on many days, an utter waste of time.
Now you know why I’m game for all this travel lately – it’s just perfect for a certain age of woman. As for the men, lucky devils – they get all the perks, short hair, no hair, and no makeup required. NO FAIR say I!
Hugs – Mary
I know exactly what you mean. I leave the house thinking I look okay and then I catch glimpse of myself in a mirror or a reflection off a window and think to myself “who is that person, surely not I”. I am having a problem dealing with what my mind tells me I look like and what I really look time. This getting older is really hard. I am trying to accept this me that I have become. Why are we so critical of ourselves?
I had one of those moments the other day when I accidently caught a glimpse of myself in the rearview mirror, in full sunlight (a rarity here is S.E. Alaska) and saw wrinkles, age spots and crepey skin (a result of recent weight loss – I just CAN’T win!).
I think I should get a large embroidery hoop, stretch some fine gauze in it and hold it in front of my face, Doris Day style!
Yes, I have a fun house mirror too Claudia! Funny, I was just thinking about this. Glad to hear I’m not the only one. I do my make-up in my bedroom with the blinds opened and the curtains opened so I get natural lighting. Lately, I actually gasp at photos of myself-I walk around feeling young and then my daughter snaps a photo of me cooking dinner or something and I say “who’s that old woman?” Eeek! Getting older is a bit difficult at times-Michle is right, we are critical of ourselves and shouldn’t be! I’m trying to age gracefully.
-Lynn
I caught a reflection of myself in my ipad the other day and almost screamed at all the wrinkles and my major frown line that seems to deepen everyday.
Mere
I think the mirror is working fine. It is those store windows and other places where we catch a reflection of ourselves that are out of whack. That is my fantasy. I’m not letting go of it. :)
Well I am laughing. Wait till you get my age gals 70. When the blond does not want to take or the make up gives a different shade. Last moth you never seen that wrinkle or gosh I never knew I had that many sunmarks on my body. Well now when you have done all you can with one mirror is good the other no. Reality sets in gals.
You are who you are. You can wine about it or laugh about it then get on with life .
We really dont have a choice. If your thinking of a face lift. I sure would be careful. One slip of the tools they use. You could end up disformed ugly and sag damaged. I will pass. Have you seen those ladies with the so called big lips now. Yikes.
So put that smile on and some how all those crows marks near your eyes and droopy eye lids. Hmmm.
Hate to say it.
You have earned them over the Years. Be thankful you have eyes to see. Hips to sway and not be in a wheelchair or usung a cane.
Have a good day! Love yourselves.
LOL I have said for years I am so glad I don’t see in the morning what I look like when I get out! I HATE mirrors in stores and you would think they would want their mirrors to lie! I can very much relate!!
Hugs, Lisa
I have mirrorphobia. I put my makeup on in the bathroom with the natural light from the window and then I never look in a mirror again. I don’t know if I have a light hand or what, but my makeup always seems to have faded and I look washed out. So I just avoid looking. Problem solved.
XO,
Jane
I must own the very same mirror! I think “not lookin’ TOO bad today”! Walk to car and catch my reflection and YIKES! Oh well, my rule is to get ready…and not look back! My hair is combed and teeth brushed…it’s all good! and just a btw…you are gorgeous my dear!!
Whenever I go away, I take a small mirror and set at the hotel room table in front of a window and put on my make up by whatever light is coming thru. And at home I sit at a table in front of a huge window w/natural light. Heck, most of the hotel mirrors I can’t even get close enough to see in! I love Sparkle’s comments and her attitude! You’re beauitful no matter what the lighting is.
You are definitely not the only one! We call our bathroom mirror “The Liar”. I come downstairs after getting ready in the bathroom and look in the mirror and it’s an are-you-kidding-me moment. I wish I could have everyone’s eyes see me the way my bathroom mirror does. sigh.
;-)
~cathy
I don’t know about a mirror Claudia but the image of me in my mind…younger, thinner and gorgeous. Mirrors always play a cruel joke on me. I have to send you a mirror joke that one of my friends sent. J
Perhaps, we should find a hand mirror that has the same flattering effect and carry it with us. Then, we counteract any accidental viewing in uncomplimentary mirrors! ~ Maureen
Oh yeah! I like myself, in my bathroom mirror (lighting) but when I look at my image in other mirrors I think who is that? I will just keep deceiving myself, and judge my appearance in my own special mirror!
nancyr
I don’t wear makeup, so don’t have reason for comparison. Rarely look in the mirror. Never even learned how to apply lipstick correctly. Obviously all this is not within my radar! I figure men (well, some do) don’t wear makeup and no one gives that a thought. I’m an equal opportunity kind of gal.
Brenda
hi claudia,
oh i hate to bring up aging here but as we age our pigment lessens and we often look washed out – even with makeup on. when i’m doing a client’s makeup at work i always make sure we walk outside with a big mirror to check and see if a bit heavier hand needs to be applied. it’s a delicate balance b/c we don’t want to be that scary lady with too much makeup. maybe you can try it and see what you think.
Which mirror is reflecting the real you?
Will the ‘real’ Claudia please stand up?
What about in person? Is what everyone sees when that look at you (me) …the same thing the mirror reflects? Do you only look good in that mirror, or perhaps in just that room?
See? I’ve thought all these same things too…about myself. and my mirror…and my bathroom.
reflecting, Pat
you are not alone
I NEVER look in a mirror once I’ve left my home. I just don’t think about it. I don’t even look in the mirror in the Ladies room. I leave and think, “I didn’t even look to see if I was presentable!” Once done… I’m done!
Loved hanging tonight. xo
I think in my house it’s the lighting and not the mirrors that are in cahoots! The more unforgiving the light, the more accurate the image gazing back at me. But as you said, I might never leave the house if I knew I how I really looked!? So bring on the Blanche du Bois 20W bulbs and call it macaroni…..
I decided a while ago to only look in my bathroom mirror and nowhere else. I really hate freaking myself out :)
Let me tell you… the really scary mirrors are the full length ones in the store dressing rooms. They somehow take ones “home mirror body” away and replace it with a fatter version. Aggghhhh!
I have two full length mirrors in my bath, right over the huge garden tub (it’s a manufactured home sort of thing)…I swear those mirrors are magic. I’ve seen myself in them day in and day out and I don’t mind what I see, clothed or otherwise. But just let me walk in front of a full length mirror anywhere else. I have gained at least 35 pounds and aged fifteen years.