The Power of Makeup

There seems to be a developing general consensus about makeup:

1. Women think they need it to look beautiful. 
2.  It's only worn when a woman is going out. 
3. Women wear it to impress and attract men. 

I'm a big fan of the classic red lip. It's bright, it's bold and it does the work for me. My grandmother made a comment that intrigued me: you're a beautiful girl, you don't need all that crap. And she's right. I do believe I am beautiful with or without makeup. We all are. 

But you see, grandma I don't wear it because I think I need it. Makeup is not a necessity, it's a luxury. 

"Maire, where are you going tonight?!"

Without a doubt, every single time I decide it's a makeup day everyone seems to look at me differently.  They ask what my plans are they say, "You look pretty today!" Today, as if the concealer, foundation, eyeliner, and mascara turns me into a different person. So, what you're telling me is that I can only wear makeup when I'm going out after work?

And the best of them all, my favorite: the assumption that I've done myself up for anyone but me.  It's interesting to me that in 2016, our society still upholds the idea that a woman spends half of her paycheck on makeup for a man.

In May of 2015, YouTuber NikkiTutorials uploaded a video called The Power of Makeup. In the video, Nikki addresses the idea that women and girls are conditioned to feel shameful of loving to do their makeup. In her explanation, Nikki relays that she's gone through the same criticisms with makeup.  For Nikki, makeup is fun and not a way for her to hide who she is. She has an entire YouTube channel dedicated to makeup and makeup tutorials. She doesn't endorse the sole use of makeup for self-esteem, but she also doesn't banish its ability to boost confidence either.

Makeup is an art form. Makeup is a form of self-expression. {I will admit, I do utilize it to make myself feel beautiful, but that doesn't mean I don't feel beautiful without it.} Makeup, as Nikki said, is fun and free of rules. You can transform your look however you choose and if you want to experiment, who's stopping you?

Makeup is a tool to enhance the parts of us that were born beautiful.   Makeup is a way for us to contribute to the masterpiece that we know we already are. We're not trying to change who we are because we're unsatisfied, makeup gives us the freedom to embrace our features on a whole new level. It's not a false sense of confidence, but rather a reminder that beauty comes from within. Let us have fun. Let us learn to become better versions of ourselves by using what we were born with to recreate our look.

Let us eliminate the stigma against makeup. Women wear makeup for themselves.  Women wear makeup for women, men don't appreciate a good contour the way another woman would. It's not a way for us to deceive you because guess what? It's not about you! 

I wear makeup because, yes, it makes me feel good but also because I enjoy it. There shouldn't have to be a reason for a woman to wear a little lipstick and eyeliner. Throughout history, the women were always pushed aside because this or that doesn't involve the gender who's role is to be arm candy and the mother of your children. So why is it that men believe they should have a voice in how we choose to express ourselves?

I wear makeup for me. ​