Hey everyone, today I have a different kind of a post for you. It is not a review but a ramble pertaining to some thoughts that cross my mind from time to time. To summarize the gist of the post, I will be sharing my opinion on the negative stereotypes that exist around makeup. I am sure most of you must have heard pedantic suggestions to “embrace your natural beauty” and to stop using makeup on a daily basis. The trouble is that these naysayers seldom realize that a majority of women use makeup to simply enhance their natural looks and not to create an entirely different face.
The misconception that makeup is synonymous with being fake is one that has persisted over the years and hence many are quick to pass a judgement regarding the character of a woman based on whether or not she is wearing lipstick. The sad part is that these very people put actresses and models on a pedestal for their beauty, turning a blind eye towards the fact that that not only do the magazines show images of women heavily decked up in makeup, most publications also favour photographs that are airbrushed to make these women look slimmer and flawless. It is highly ironic that women like you and me are expected to be comfortable with our blemishes and wrinkles when we are being told that these images are what define beauty.
If you Google the definition of vanity, the first one that pops up is “Excessive pride in or admiration of one’s own appearance or achievements.”. Clearly, the meaning has a negative connotation. I wonder what the word is for wanting to be the best version of oneself with the help of grooming? It probably does not exist because people still find it hard to believe that the most common use of makeup is to make women feel more confident in their own skin. I was born with perfect skin but it got battered and bruised over time due to hormonal breakouts. No matter what I try, I cannot eliminate my acne completely. If a tiny dab of concealer can make me feel more comfortable walking out of my house then is it really such a crime to use it? If it is socially acceptable for women with good morals to match their shoes to the color of their dress then why is wearing a red lipstick frowned upon by many?
The bottom line is that the people who conform to the beauty standards established by media should not feel entitled to discourage the women around them from wearing makeup. I do not have a solution to this particular problem but there is a general solution to most problems in the world, to live and let live. Whether I chose to wear or skip makeup on a particular day should be my decision, I know that I am beautiful with or without it, and so are you!
Related Post: 5 Pressurizing Standards of Beauty That Need To Go