makeup

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Is This Mascara Really “Better Than Sex”? Some Thoughts on Makeup

This is (another) photo of Bobby Hill where, instead of saying “That’s my purse, I don’t know you!”, I edited it so he’s saying “That’s my face, I don’t know you!” because I am worried about the alienation people could/can feel when they see their face without makeup as unrecognizable.

I am prefacing this post by saying I barely wear makeup (is slapping glitter on your face “real makeup”?, the next presidential debate topic), I don’t know how to do makeup, but I really think we underestimate the power and psychological issues/potential trauma makeup can create. Granted, makeup can be and is gorgeous/fun because you can accent your favorite features or you can coordinate it with a cool look (i.e. special effects makeup or just a really bold neon green eyeliner), but at what point is it too much? Is it at the point where you have put on a full face for a beach trip? Is it when you have to put on a full face for a gym session? Is it when you’re incapable of seeing yourself/allowing yourself to be seen without makeup, so much so that it dictates how, when, and if you’re even going to be seen in public that day? Or when seeing your bare face strikes actual fear and depression into you? I do not think the idea of seeing your bare face exposed or exposing your bare face to the world, rendering you depressed, disturbed, or even disgusted is given enough space in talking about dismantling body dysmorphia. The alienation experienced at the disconnect of seeing your bare face and not registering it as your own because it has no makeup on it sounds like a trauma response to me. The gym comment is from a conversation I had with a friend. She legitimately could not go to the gym with me (or outside for that matter) without applying at least five different products and I remember pointing out, “dude you’re gonna sweat that off 5 minutes into rowing” and she told me she “wouldn’t allow” herself to go outside without it.

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To Insinuate or to Transform
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To Insinuate or to Transform

Whether I’m wearing lots of makeup or no makeup, I am always the same person inside.

-Lady Gaga

As a child up until about 7th grade I would consider myself to had been a tomboy with girly qualities. I never wanted to put on a dress, wear dressy shoes, heels, get my hair done, and not even thinking about makeup. As I got older from high school on out, I believe I fell more into wanting to get dolled up. So makeup was a big part of that right. I soon became interested in buying foundation, and eyeliners, mascara etc. I liked doing my makeup to an extent and now, I almost wear it everyday. I personally don’t feel bound by makeup because I still go out without it. Another part of me wants to always wear it for the extra confidence boost because its insinuating. But here is where the real problem is; when is it overboard and no longer only insinuating but more trans-formative.

Society now gets on women for wearing too much makeup or making themselves look different from their natural look. When I am around my dad, boyfriend, or brother its always the “ohh she is wearing too much makeup” judgement. Many are now concerned they won’t know how someone really looks. But should that be the main concern and why is it this way. I feel society puts pressure on women to look a certain way. People now go out their way to have a certain look and to still be judged.

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Do you know what you put on your face?

When I was growing up my grandmother had a makeup collection that she let her grandkids use. I loved it, but my cousin was less enthusiastic. One day, when I tried to convince her to let me give her a makeover, she exclaimed, “No! Ew! Did you know that lipstick is made from bat poop?”

I didn’t know that and I didn’t believe her, and I have never found out for sure if her claim is true. And I don’t really want to know. I feel pretty certain that most mainstream lipsticks are NOT made from bat poop (seems logical, right? That’s what I tell myself). And I know that all-natural makeup products exist out there like Burts Bees products, which I assume are made of organic oat fibers, natural colors, and sunshine.

I don’t wear makeup often but I like to for some occasions. I enjoy emphasizing certain parts of my face, or adding color and sparkle for dressy outings. It’s fun to look a little different. I don’t know if as a working professional I might start wearing makeup regularly, but for now I’m content with my sporadic use. I don’t know what my makeup is made out of but I hope it’s fine and I try to make it look nice when I put it on my face.

Over the summer Jezebel posted this video of a year’s worth of make-up on a model’s face. It’s quite a different experience of makeup from what I’m used to – putting a little bit on some nights. Seeing a year’s worth of makeup applied at once changes my sense of the actual stuff that I am applying to my skin. But would a year’s worth of lotion look different? Or sunscreen?

According to the Jezebel post the “whole thing took nine hours, three lipsticks, seven bottles of foundation, and two bottles each of cream blush and eyeshadow to achieve. (That’s 228 mL, or 7.7 fl. oz. of face-spackle altogether.).”

What do you think? Does this change your perception of makeup? Do you think you’ll change how much makeup you wear after seeing this video? What about the money you spend on it?