Hello, friends! Today I am here to talk about, yep, you guessed it, makeup! I've struggled with my own views on makeup for a long time. About a year ago, I wrote the article, Go Makeup Free and Feel Beautiful!, providing you all with a healthy list of reasons why you didn't need to wear makeup. And now, here I am, wearing it. What?! Yes, I know, confusing and contradictory indeed.
For a long time, I went through this cycle where I wouldn't wear makeup or do my hair at all for a month or longer to appreciate my natural beauty (mmhm). And then I'd "binge" on makeup. Mascara, eyeliner, and lipstick?! Oh yes. This madness would continue for several days, sometimes accompanied by the uncharacteristically copious use of blow dryers and curling irons. Then I would stop and go back to my plain, unadulterated ways. And I'd feel bad about the binge! I subconsciously had this belief that doing your hair and makeup meant you hated the way you naturally looked and you were putting yourself down. And I felt bad for this supposed act of self-hatred.
"Makeup is both a treat and an art form, a little something extra. It is not a crutch to rely on to make yourself look perfect everyday. You already look perfect!!"
Then, I just laid off for a long time. Over the summer I got really into that whole space punk thing, and just weird and interesting makeup in general. I watched a lot of YouTube videos and saw a lot of sick selfies on Tumblr and I started to see makeup as an art. It became more of an act of self-expression rather than one of self-hatred.
I see now that wearing makeup is not a sin - it's just a fun thing to do! I'm getting more into makeup and slowly finding things that look nice on me that I enjoy wearing. I have set down a few guidelines for myself though. These are:
- Wear makeup to have fun and express yourself. Makeup is both a treat and an art form, a little something extra. It is not a crutch to rely on to make yourself look perfect everyday. You already look perfect!!
- Wearing makeup every single day is something that I see as just a bit excessive. Therefore, I neither require myself to wear it every day, nor do require myself to go without it everyday. Everything in moderation!
- Enjoy it! Makeup should be fun! I don't really like the idea of slobbing foundation all over myself every day (nor do I need it!) so I don't do it. It's not fun for me. I do, however, go a little crazy with glitter. I like glitter :)
That's all for me today, guys. What are your thoughts, feelings, or experiences with makeup? Let me know down in the comments!
Photo credits to my friend Madeline Stone for those pictures of me workin' it 90's style.
You're such a natural beauty! On a personal note about makeup, I believe in being cruelty free. :]
ReplyDeleteEveryone is entitled to their own perspective, to which they accordingly form their mindset. Because of this, there will always be a difference of opinion. Such a preference of personal aesthetic may be to conform to the standards of society or challenging that which society deems to be acceptable/normal. Nonetheless, it is a matter of allowing ourselves the confidence so that we are sufficiently capable of expressing ourselves authentically.
♡ Dulce