Make-up is a superficial tool used to lie and artificially boost your self-esteem?

Question

I realized this when I went to school in grade eight with no make-up on and one of my friends said "You know, I think you're prettier with make-up on
At the time I thought, duh, that's what make-up is for but now that I'm older, wiser and certainly more cynical, I've realized it's a tool for lying
Women constantly cover their faces in powder masks because society says that's the only way we can be beautiful.
Society tells us we are failures as women if we don't wear it.
I've even read one woman say "I think women who don't wear make-up are lazy" without knowing a thing about them.
There are TONS of people who think this way, it's disgusting!
What are we really 'for' then? To be independant individuals with dreams and ambition, or to be little decorations on a man's arm? Not even on a mans arm, on THE Man's arm! Society is trying to turn us into plastic people who feed the economy through buying designer clothes and rediculas amounts of make-up

Where do you stand on this issue?

Women who wear it to feel more beautiful and to 'enhance' their natural beauty, in my opinion, if they had any confidence they wouldn't have to artificially 'enhance' their looks.

Okay, apparently some people took this too harshly.
Yes, I know it's fun and can be an art form.
This ONLY addresses the women who feel they 'need' to wear make-up every day or else they won't be pretty.

Answer 1

Make up is one way to enhance or change your appearance like getting a flattering hair cut, selecting clothes that complement your figure, or finding eye glasses that look good on your face. I think makeup can be fun but it has a dark side.

It can become a tool to oppress women when it is deemed a required part of getting ready for the day. Some people think that if you can do something like apply makeup, then you must in order to be "presentable." Make-up should be optional since it's not a matter of hygiene.

It also underscores the importance placed on a woman's looks as opposed to a man's appearance. After all, how many men agonize over how to conceal their blemishes or undereye circles?

Besides sexism, makeup can set women up to reject themselves. Women often ask how to make their faces look smooth and poreless. Skin has pores. BTW, men don't worry about their pores. I've known a few women who can't go out in public without makeup because they have become so used to wearing it. I remember a girl in college who was very pretty but was deemed as colorless when she went w/o makeup.

Then, there is the issue of honesty. Is what you see what you get? Models like Cindy Crawford and Tyra Banks talk about the difference between their model perfect image and their real, make-up free selves.

I think media images and heavy make-up, padded bras, etc. can lead men to have false, unreal expectations. It also can confuse them. After all, appearance wise with men, what you see is what you get. So, while a man may have an image of what a woman should look like, the idea of "embellishing" what one has is foreign to him.

As I said, I like makeup. It fascinates me - the branding, the marketing, the image, the "tricks" and illusion it creates are so interesting. However, I rarely wear it and when I do, I wear very little. I vascillate between thinking it would make me look a little more polished at work or at special events and what the heck, this is plain old me.

What holds me back is the expense and effort. The other concern has to do w/ product safety (carcinogens, preservatives, irritants) and animal testing.

I'm fortunate enough to have a husband and friends who just don't care about makeup much. My current workplace is casual.

Bottom line: I'm glad I have the option to wear makeup but I'm sad that the standard of beauty can be so strict. I'm also sad that women are judged and valued so much based on their looks.

Answer 2

I comb my hair, make sure my shoes match my belt, and buy new clothes so that I look okay. It makes my life easier when I go to work, and women seem to appreciate the effort.

I don't think fashion is a conspiracy to enslave women or men. Personally, I would rather live my entire life in shorts and t-shirts, but I understand that for my work clients expect more because they deserve a certain level of seriousness that is perceived to be reflected in appearances.

I wouldn't get too worked up though. I have a feeling that you're pretty without makeup.

Answer 3

I understand what you're saying to some extent. it bothers me when women say something like, "I won't leave the house without my full face of makeup...even if it's just the gas station. I personally like wearing makeup because as some said it's body art, it makes me feel sexy (like when I can feel how long my lashes are after using mascara, or I know that people aren't staring at the mammoth zit I was able to cover with concealer), and being the girly girl that I am, I love sparkly, colorful things

Answer 4

Well, I believe people have the right to be firmly against makeup, but to consider a woman a liar because she wears makeup isn't fair! I wear makeup because I want to, not to please anyone. I agree that society places a lot of pressure on women to look "perfect", but it isn't just with makeup! And it isn't just with women either. Don't overlook the fact that men are also pressured to look well, dress well, and make good money to be accepted. There is no easy answer to the problem, but as long as Maybellene is around, I'll be wearing it!

Answer 5

Well so are clothing, have you ever saw someone look okay in clothes and then digusting in a bathing suit? What about padded bras? The list could go on infinitely. The truth is that their are many tricks used by both sexes to look better. What about un-natural haircuts. Don't take it to personal though, a lot of it still goes back to human's basic instincts. Hey I don't write the rules, if you study biology of the human being-you'll realize we have been doing weird stuff for millions of years.

Answer 6

Completely agree. Its a consumeristic frenzy. Marketing and exportation at its finest. Although I'm am a wearer of makeup pretty much every time I go out, mainly because I will look better and feel better.. This is although what society has programed me to feel and think. I know that if I look my best in regards to how society deems me to look, then I will ride the system, instead of going against it.

Answer 7

I certainly see your point and there is a lot of truth in what you wrote. Many of us go over board on trying to present an image to the world that isn't truthful. Being in huge amounts of debt just to have the latest Prada bag or clothes for example. We live in a consumer driven world where people want things now and will do what it takes to get them & presenting a false sense to the world who we truly are. But do all these things make us the sum of who we are? I used to have a shopping addiction- it got me into lots of financial problems. I have finally learned how to fill that hole that I was filling with "stuff" with what I really need in my life. True happiness. Those expensive things didn't make me truly happy- just for a moment & it was fleeting.

I see make-up as an enhancement on what you are blessed with. I work in the beauty industry as a make-up artist. I have woman come to me feeling blah, frumpy & unattractive. They leave me happy & feeling more confident. This to me, is what it is about- helping woman feel their best. If it takes a little cosmetic help to get there, I am all for it to give confidence a boost. Make-up shouldn't be a mask to disguise our true looks but added to give it a sparkle & get our shine on so we can more fully shine for the world. I do "feel" better when I have make-up on, but it is just my perception & my thoughts that get me to feel that way. When I was in beauty school, I didn't wear make-up & this was a liberating 5 months for me. I learned that I could behave just as confidently without it as with it. I choose to use cosmetics because they are fun & I enjoy how I look when I am wearing it. Make-up is a form of art for me. Everyday an opportunity to try different styles and looks on me and on my clients. It is fun.

Answer 8

Oh come on, make up is fun!! I like to think of it as an art... I love expressing myself with it. And the great part about it is that there is a myriad of different palettes that you can wear to express how you feel that day.

Answer 9

I agree. Make-up is completely pointless. Natural beauty wins over all, and I just wish society could see that.
And you know it's horrendous that in some places, if you're a female and you don't wear make-up, they'll fire you, just because of that.

Answer 10

Wearing makeup makes me feel more beautiful so I have more confidence in myself. I know I am beautiful without makeup too though, I only wear makeup to enhance my natural beauty. Plus makeup is fun!