Links to my pages
Life in the slow lane can mean days where I am fully depleted but still have to face the world.
I used to exhaust myself trying to do a full face of make up and wear my best clothes before leaving the house.
But it only led to sensory nightmares.
The make up became suffocating. The clothes felt tight and itchy. My body would feel like my skin was crawling.
All that effort, only to become overwhelmed before I had even arrived anywhere.
So I created a low-effort survival routine for the days I still need to go outdoors.
I call it: sugar nips energy.
A tiny amount.
I start by washing my face with plain water and a soft cloth so everything feels fresh and reset.
Then I use my favourite eye cream to soften the dark circles beneath my eyes, followed by a colour-correcting face cream.
Base done.
Mascara. A little blusher for warmth. A touch of sparkle on my cheekbones because I like glitter and refuse to apologise for it.
Then lipstick.
That is enough.
My clothing choices are simple too.
In winter: an oversized jumper dress, tights, and boots.
The jumper hangs loosely enough that my body can breathe, while the tights hold my pelvis together in a way that feels familiar after years of endometriosis pain.
In summer: soft dresses, sandals, dolly shoes.
Nothing too restrictive. Nothing that demands more from my nervous system than it can comfortably give.
Then I grab a cute handbag and leave the house.
I could go out completely natural. No make up. No effort. No expression.
But leaving the house completely unexpressed feels wrong somehow.
Like leaving a part of myself behind.
Some people think make up and clothing are about impressing others.
For me, they are often about regulation. Comfort. Identity. Small rituals that help me feel assembled enough to face the world.
I no longer measure success by how polished I look.
Success is leaving the house without overwhelming my nervous system.
Anything beyond that is sparkle.
— Frost ❄️
Leave a Reply