Feel Pretty: A Makeup Manifesto

A woman’s best cosmetic is happiness. In the meantime, pass me that tube of lipstick.

 I am one of those girls that wears makeup every day. I’ve been playing with pots of rouge and pallets of pigmented powders since 3rd grade. To me, the application of makeup is a methodical practice of art. The transformation the application of makeup produces is much like starting with a blank canvas and turning into a work from Monet . Swirls of colors, soft edges, and an overall pleasing form is produced from a few precious swipes of paint on a bare canvas. The benefits makeup provide are like a religious experience; it’s a chunk of time out of my day that I devote totally to me. I look better, feel better, and look forward to the rest of the day. It is a therapy that only I can provide.

Now, I am not saying anything bad against girls who do not prefer to wear makeup. Afterall, it’s your face and your prerogative. In fact, some non-makeup wearers actually  think my interest in makeup is cool and volunteer to be my victims by letting me give them the occasional makeover. Even my boyfriend (as much as he complains about how long it takes me to get ready) says  he is fascinated by it and loves watching me apply my makeup before we go out.

But there are the naysayers who condemn me for the practices of my craft. These are the femi-nazi non-makeup wearers who think that if it’s not for them, then it shouldn’t be for anybody. And the mindset is that if you do wear makeup, then you obviously are fake, shallow, and have insecurities that you are trying to hide.

When asking to apply just a teensy-weensy bit of lively color to her otherwise plain-jane complexion before we went to a club, a roommate of mine responded in a rather snarky tone, “I don’t NEED makeup, I’m cute WITHOUT it.”

A few thoughts ran through my mind:

1. Unless you are have almost-perfect DNA and are therefore making millions in modeling contracts, makeup CAN and WILL make you look better.
2. I want to go out with someone who looks READY to go to the club, not ready to go to the library.
3. Please just at least let me even your complexion!

I am still unsure as to whether she was trying to make a jab at me for wearing makeup or if she was really delusional enough to think that makeup would somehow make her less of a person, but I will tell you one thing: I don’t wear makeup because I feel like I HAVE to, I wear it because I WANT to. It’s fun. It adds a little bit of confidence when I know I look good. But most of all, it says to other people that I care enough about myself to put a little bit of effort into taking care of myself.

I can understand if applying makeup and moisturizers feels like a chore to some people. However, there are many products out there that are multi-tasking and easy to use. Products such as Benefit’s Creasless Cream Eyeshadow is a glass pot of creamy eyeshadow that can be used as a liner as well as a shadow. Benefit’s Rush Hour is another multitasker that can be used as a cream blush as well as a lipstick. Nar’s The Multiple (it even says it in the name!) can be used as a highlighter, blush, eyeshadow, and lip shimmer. These are just a few of the glorious world of multitasking products.

Even just the basics of a bit of concealer, a little powder, a swipe of mascara and lip balm can dramatically enhance a person’s appearance. This way, you can still look and feel “natural,” but look like you put a bit of effort into taking care of yourself. And the best part is, it only take 2 minutes.

Back in the 1950′s, women did not leave the house without first applying their lipstick. Now, this may be a LITTLE extreme, but I think a world where students wear sweat pants and ripped jeans to class is a little extreme too.