Why I don't wear makeup
I have many friends who are either in China right now, or will going very soon. While I think about my time in China every day, I’ve been especially nostalgic lately, so I contemplated posting about China. However, nothing really popped into mind right away. Instead, I randomly started thinking about makeup, and really felt like blogging about makeup. To be honest, I was a bit surprised with myself. If you know me, you’ve probably noticed that I never wear makeup.
I’m not anti-makeup. I used to wear makeup. Sometimes I still wear it on formal occasions. But, I know many women who refuse to leave the house without makeup. They need it. Without it, they’re not beautiful.
Those are lies. I used to believe those lies. I never wore much makeup, but I believed I wasn’t as pretty without it. In my freshman year of college, I realized how dependent I was on such a silly little thing. How could I let myself believe that I wasn’t beautiful without shimmery gunk on my eyelids? Does that sound ridiculous to anyone else?
So, I decided one day that I would wake up, shower, get dressed, and go to class... without makeup! It was harder than it should have been. I felt ugly when I looked in the mirror. I imagined that everyone I passed on the sidewalk must be looking at my horridness. Poor Judah, being the kind and concerned person he is, said to me, “Jane, you look so tired!”
My interpretation: I look like a half-dead zombie because I’m not wearing makeup.
(Note: I had stayed up late the night before, so he was right. I’m sure I looked very tired.)
I got through it. I still don’t wear makeup, and I’m pretty satisfied with myself. Mostly, I can look at myself in the mirror and see that I’m beautiful without anything added. I’ll admit, I still struggle at times. Recently, I went to a MaryKay gathering for someone who was becoming a consultant, and she had to do a certain amount of faces. Let me tell you, when I put on that foundation and looked into the mirror, I was seriously tempted. My red, imperfect complexion was gone! But the more I thought about it, I didn’t really want to have to put on a mask every morning before going out in public. I just wanted to be me.
Please don’t think that I’m condemning makeup, because it can be a very fun thing! However, it does make me very nervous. Check out this advertisement:
My first thought when I saw this was: “Its a lie.” Then I thought, “Great, this is what real people look like?” Most people know that advertisements are ridiculously retouched, so their unrealistic images of beauty are slightly easier to dismiss. But when a gorgeous, “real” woman is featured in an advertisement, that makes me nervous. I know I could never look like this woman. But maybe I’m just overreacting.
These are just some thoughts from my own story, but I’d like to know: what are your thoughts and experiences related to this topic? Has anyone else given thought to how they use makeup and other beauty products?
I’m not anti-makeup. I used to wear makeup. Sometimes I still wear it on formal occasions. But, I know many women who refuse to leave the house without makeup. They need it. Without it, they’re not beautiful.
Those are lies. I used to believe those lies. I never wore much makeup, but I believed I wasn’t as pretty without it. In my freshman year of college, I realized how dependent I was on such a silly little thing. How could I let myself believe that I wasn’t beautiful without shimmery gunk on my eyelids? Does that sound ridiculous to anyone else?
So, I decided one day that I would wake up, shower, get dressed, and go to class... without makeup! It was harder than it should have been. I felt ugly when I looked in the mirror. I imagined that everyone I passed on the sidewalk must be looking at my horridness. Poor Judah, being the kind and concerned person he is, said to me, “Jane, you look so tired!”
My interpretation: I look like a half-dead zombie because I’m not wearing makeup.
(Note: I had stayed up late the night before, so he was right. I’m sure I looked very tired.)
I got through it. I still don’t wear makeup, and I’m pretty satisfied with myself. Mostly, I can look at myself in the mirror and see that I’m beautiful without anything added. I’ll admit, I still struggle at times. Recently, I went to a MaryKay gathering for someone who was becoming a consultant, and she had to do a certain amount of faces. Let me tell you, when I put on that foundation and looked into the mirror, I was seriously tempted. My red, imperfect complexion was gone! But the more I thought about it, I didn’t really want to have to put on a mask every morning before going out in public. I just wanted to be me.
Please don’t think that I’m condemning makeup, because it can be a very fun thing! However, it does make me very nervous. Check out this advertisement:
My first thought when I saw this was: “Its a lie.” Then I thought, “Great, this is what real people look like?” Most people know that advertisements are ridiculously retouched, so their unrealistic images of beauty are slightly easier to dismiss. But when a gorgeous, “real” woman is featured in an advertisement, that makes me nervous. I know I could never look like this woman. But maybe I’m just overreacting.
These are just some thoughts from my own story, but I’d like to know: what are your thoughts and experiences related to this topic? Has anyone else given thought to how they use makeup and other beauty products?
Jane, I liked your post! I agree with your statement about the dangers of dependency. However, I'm not super comfortable with the other side of the coin (which I don't think you expressed in your blog, so don't worry about that!) that says that a woman who wears makeup is "less authentic" than a woman who doesn't. I feel like it really depends on the attitude of the wearer and their motivations, to be honest. For instance, in my teen years I deliberately did not wear makeup because I thought I was more authentic than some girls that I knew who wore it daily and wanted to prove it by showing how much more comfortable with myself I was than they were. In actuality, I was probably just as insecure as they were and had a haughty attitude on top of it. I still think there's a thing as wearing too much--my philosophy is that drawing out natural beauty, not covering it or changing it, is the idea behind makeup. But I would say that the issue in hand is the attitude of the wearer. So, if for one woman it means not wearing makeup at all to help change her attitude about herself, then YES, by all means, she should not wear any. But if for another woman, it means wearing a little, then YES, by all means, she should. In both cases, identity in Jesus is what is key: not whether her face has makeup or not.
ReplyDeleteI totally agree with you. Makeup is too much work and it is like wearing a mask. I used to be afraid for people to see me without it. (My dad used to say..arent you putting your face on today?) I used to crack up but Its true I had a ritual..But as I age and I am more comfortable with who I am I find I am wearing less and less. I dont like it.. Its time you never get back.
ReplyDeleteI have had a few facials lately and she is showing me how to care for my skin and not need any makeup at all. I do see the difference and I am loving the natural new healthy look.
My thoughts go more to body image. I used to care so much about how I looked body-wise, but I also knew I wasn't taking care of myself well: food and exercise-wise. One day, I stopped looking in the mirror and I trained myself to eat well and exercise more regularly, and I found that I didn't ever doubt my physical appearance because I knew I was taking care of myself. About make-up, I find the comments so far very interesting. There is a "good way" to wear make-up, but when I see people like allthatglitters21 making money off of youtube videos....and you just see the amount of money and time spent toward such a project as make-up or hair products. Reality has been lost at that point! Jane, you are so beautiful! Miss you!
ReplyDelete