My Paris COVID19 Quarantine | Paris Makeup Artist Onorina Jomir

You know that feeling you get when you’re crossing off tasks left and right, hustling every hour tirelessly, and moving at the speed of light? This was me right up until mid-March, when life in Paris and a large part of the world hit PAUSE.

When President Macron made his announcement about our Paris COVID19 quarantine, he spoke about two weeks. Two weeks quickly turned into four, and then eight, and then…well, you know where I’m going with this because you’ve probably experienced it to some capacity on your side of the world. Paris became empty, my inbox filled up with clients requesting to reschedule or cancel their events, and my world seemed to be spinning out of control.

The Louvre Museum in Paris

Alexandra Vonk Photography

The Eiffel Tower at sunrise in Paris

Christina Sarah Photography

The first couple of weeks I was operating on an every other day basis. One day I would feel invincible and achieve what felt like a mountain of tasks, the next day I would feel intense waves of anxiety and depressing thoughts. These days made me feel like I lost all my strength and I wouldn’t be able to ever get it back.

I asked myself constantly “How can I start enjoying every moment again, even in confinement?” Surely there are people all over the world who live in much worse conditions, or whose health is compromised. What if I could just push through, even through my frequent ‘bad’ days, so that one day I could tell the story of how I ‘made it’? In the back of my mind, I knew that this would happen was if I gave myself time to process what I was going through.

Oil painting a portrait of my makeup and hair styling work (in my attic)

Virtually Photographed by Lauren Moffett Photography

Oil painting a portrait of my makeup and hair styling work (in my attic)

Virtually Photographed by Lauren Moffett Photography

I spent the next couple of weeks “taking it easy,” or what in my world meant, doing what I feel like doing as opposed to what I think I SHOULD be doing. This was one of the most liberating moments for me. I cleaned up my garden, planted fresh herbs and flowers, and enjoyed being outdoors with my cats. With a good nudge from my partner, I started painting again, and we spent lots of time discussing our projects for our home, while soaking up the sunshine and glorious spring weather.

Taking care of my plants and fresh herbs in my small veranda and garden

Virtually Photographed by Lauren Moffett Photography

Spending time with pets (meet Zoe!) in the sunshine of my veranda

Virtually Photographed by Lauren Moffett Photography

Another week passed, and I became highly motivated to clean and organize my attic, closet, basement, and office. While I still had my ‘bad’ days, I managed to do more organizing in one week than I did over a period of six months. Cleaning is very therapeutic for me, and being organized in my physical life helps me focus with more clarity. As things got more organized, my mind felt calmer and I started to think about what’s next for me as a beauty artist.

Thanks to an incredible group of friends who gave me lots of ideas and cheered me on, and thanks to the massive wave of online tools, webinars, and conferences readily available for artists and entrepreneurs during this time, I became once again inspired. I spent a lot of time trying to understand what I want to bring into the world, and how this translates once the Paris COVID19 quarantine is over. My conclusion was - I will do all I can to help the world through beauty. When we feel beautiful, we feel more confident, and this confidence helps us succeed and overcome obstacles, whether they be in the physical world, or in the mind.

My office and makeup studio, where all the magic happens

Photographed by Onorina Jomir

And so, being stuck at home and having all this free time on my hands finally amounted to something. Determined, I worked longer hours than ever in front of my computer, developing my newest baby - ONLINE MAKEUP LESSONS. This is something I wanted to do for years but never had the time to make it happen, or didn’t think there was a place for it in my work. Well, the Paris COVID19 quarantine proved me differently, and I stuck with it because I want to share my knowledge about beauty as long as I can.

During the quarantine, a lot of women around the world stopped having a daily routine. This meant no longer using skincare properly, altered sleep schedules, inaccessibility to products, etc. But, what’s helped me feel sane in this entire process has been just that - having a routine, and owning it. When you apply your skincare and makeup products, this is a therapeutic moment for you. This is when you feel in control, and you exert that control in a way that makes you feel like your own hero. It is a form of self-care, and we all need self-care, now more than ever.

Teaching a group Online Makeup Lesson

Teaching my “Classic Parisian” Online Makeup Lesson

We are all heroes in some capacity, whether we see it or not. We are heroes for our friends when we help them in times of need, heroes for our parents when we make them proud, and heroes for ourselves when we prove that WE’VE GOT THIS. No one can take away our bravery from us, and it is up to us to find it deeply within and make it shine. So, wherever you are during this time, I hope you are overcoming your fears, and taking every step you can toward bravery. If you’re in a position to soar and shine post-COVID, then please know this - I am here with you supporting your hopes and dreams. And if you are picking up the pieces and trying to put your life back together, remember that you are not alone and there’s a community of brave souls out there ready to help you.

On a final note, I’d like to thank all medical staff and frontline workers - you are the real heroes and I feel so blessed to be at home, staying safe and healthy, thanks to all of your hard work and selflessness. I am moved by all your diligence in helping the world function during these times. We owe our lives and comfort to you, and your bravery has made me want to be stronger for myself and those around me as well.

A sunny afternoon Palais Royal in Paris

Wike Ziljstra Photography