Makeup = Insecurity? What do you think about that?

Jun 15, 2012

Aferdita N.

It's basically just what some people think. Especially some boys/men seem to think that women and girls only wear make up because they are really insecure about their appearance. Yes, there are those young girls/women that wear make up, yet they feel ugly, they wear make up to look just a bit better, but yet they have really low self esteem. Some of these individuals feel that they cannot leave the house without make up on. These people exist, I acknowledge this. But, having said this, it is important to note that there are so many confident young girls and women out there that LOVE to wear make up, but yet feel they can go without, because they would be just as beautiful. I am one of those women. I tend to rely more on the artistic side of cosmetics as I grow older. I attempt to create new looks, and every now and then I will be inspired to recreate a look which I find beautiful or inspiring. Like I've said so many times before, it's not even about just looking "pretty" or "hot, sexy". It's so much deeper than that, I can't stress this enough. To me, make up is so much more than that. However, there will always be people telling me that this is bullshit, and that make up isn't artistic in any way, and that it's only for women that need to look better.

They are allowed to believe that, however I will keep wearing make up and feel fabulous.

Jun 15, 2012

Victoria D.

I feel like insecure people lack the confidence to go out wearing bright, and vivid makeup! I'm a hug fan of colorful, ridiculous bright, eyeshadow looks, and honestly, I get nothing but compliments on it. Occasionally some little old lady will go 'oh you don't need all that makeup.' And no, I don't NEED it, but I love it! It's pretty much my hobby to get up in the morning and put on my makeup!

Jun 15, 2012

Ingrid N.

We've all heard it being said somewhere somehow. "She wears so much makeup because she's insecure." I absolutely hate, hate, HATE this statement. Makeup has always been about confidence, beauty, self-expression, art. And I resent the misguided, ugly impression that girls wear makeup because they're insecure about their natural features. What's your opinion on this, beauties?

Jun 15, 2012

Ai K.

I hate that statement as well as, "you wouldn't be pretty without that makeup". I hate it because makeup isn't made to make you beautiful, it's meant to enhance the beauty you already possess. It brings out the colors of your eyes, or draws the attention to them. It highlights your cheek bones, or defines you lips. It's not about wearing it to be beautiful, it's about bringing out your best features and adding more emphasis on your existing beauty.

I know there are always going to be those people that wear makeup because they feel they look better with than without. But that doesn't mean they're insecure. It just means they want to look their best and they feel makeup helps with that.

And honestly, I feel like people wouldn't even be saying those statements at all, if society didn't make girls feel they have to look a certain way in order to be beautiful. 

Jun 15, 2012

Rikki P.

Ick.

If a boy or girl wants to wear makeup because he or she is insecure, then by all means, do it. I'm all for you doing that. However, I hate that every person that wears makeup is suddenly put into that category.

I can go outside with no makeup on with no problems. Do I dislike looking plain? Yes, I do. But I do not think I am ugly and yes, I know I do not need makeup. Nobody does. But it's what some of us want and that's what we'll do.

Jun 16, 2012

Meena H.

I've definitely at times in my life not wanted to leave the house without makeup, realized that I felt too dependent and insecure and scaled it back. I tend to do this to cover problems I see with myself and worry that others will see them and judge. These problems would be blemishes, dark circles, a tired or sickly appearance, or just feeling like I need to look better. I do believe this is purpose of makeup and wroted a thesis on how cosmetics camouflage undesirable traits that make people less "attractive" and therefore threatens their likelihood of passing on their genetics. Since this is a fundamental insecurity, I don't think dependency on makeup is healthy when it can cause stress (no one should freak, because they are in the grocery store without lipstick). In general, though... most people who love and wear a lot of makeup are naturally beautiful, and are expressing their creativity and being in control of how thye are percieved which is very empowering and improves self-esteem. Judgemental strangers are more likely intimidated by someone's larger than life appearance, than offended that they look "unnatural". Who cares what they think as long as you know the image you are presenting, it doesn't negatively affect you and you are happy with it.

Jun 15, 2012

Livvy P.

I hate it when people say that! I also heard this "would you Like some Face with that make-up?".... Like Ailani.k said, putting make-up is about enhancing your beauty,its not always about being insecure!

Jun 15, 2012

Autum D.

makeup is meant to play up your features. if anything, perfecting your make up skills and wearing your favorite looks is confidence, not insecurity. the insecure ones are the ones who arent brave enough to do what they really want. 

Jun 15, 2012

Zoe C.

I wear makeup and dye my hair as a form of expression, art and skill. I know a lot of people also do this but I understand that many other people do wear makeup because they are insecure - I just wish society wouldn't make these assumptions. I always wonder how much nicer the world would be if people were just kind to each other. 

Jun 15, 2012

Ericka B.

That is soooooo false! Makeup is an expression of art, just like painting, tattoos, hair styles etc. i looove my makeup, but im just as comfortable without it as i am with it.

Jun 15, 2012

Morgan B.

Makeup is not at all about insecurity. Honestly, if you werent confident, you wouldnt wear makeup in the first place. Now, obviously, girls can wear way too much makeup. But, for me, makeup is all about self expression, and how you show yourself off to the rest of the world. Its not about needing makeup to look good, its about how you want to represent yourself. No one really needs makeup, and those who feel only insecure people wear makeup are really uncomfortable with themselves. But, keep in mind, plenry of confident individuals dont wear makeup at all. It just doesnt make sense to make such a general statement about what people choose to wear.

Jun 15, 2012

Halley N.

I really hate hearing that. Yes, there are some people who that applies to, but a lot of girls just have a genuine love for it. For me, makeup is all about fun. I love putting it on, buying more, playing with my features and seeing how I can change up my look. It's an art form, your face is the canvas and makeup is the paint.  

Jun 16, 2012

Felicia K.

I think we can all agree that we use make-up to make us feel confident, or sexy, or pretty, or whatever. Some people would think this is because we don't like the way we look without it, but that's not true.
I, personally, go out with make-up all the time. But the reason I put on make-up is because I LOVE putting it on. I love choosing what colors I'm going to use, I love the feeling of brushes on my face, and I love having the freedom to do whatever I want with my products.
I wish those people could understand that make-up is just like clothes, everyone wears it differently and everyone has their own style. We use it as a way to express ourselves. :)

Jun 16, 2012

Lacey A.

I really don't see what the big deal is with covering up blemishes or redness. It's not like my personality changes when I put on makeup. I'm still the same person! I love wearing makeup and experimenting, and I have been known to *gasp* cover up a flaw or two in my day. OOPS!

Jun 16, 2012

LeeAnn B.

I think that people who say statements like that are the ones who are most insecure about themselves. If you are judging someone by the makeup on their face what does that say about you? I absolutely LOVE makeup. Do I feel beautiful and confident when I wear makeup? yes! Do I feel the same without makeup? Yes! I think that is such an ignorant thing to think of someone who wears makeup and is great at applying it. It's pure jealousy. 

Jun 18, 2012

Kennedy K.

Who gives a "F" what people think?! I don't care what ANYONE thinks. You better stop caring so much about other people's negative views because they'll always have 'em. Do what you want girl! I do! :)

Jun 18, 2012

Amanda Val S.

Truth be told, makeup for me isnt about making my nose more prominent, nor is it about making my eyes bigger. Makeup for me is discovering myself. It’s to transform me into whoever I want to be. It’s to let me wear my heart on my face, literally, to display all facets of my persona. Makeup isnt just for bimbos with their frosted pink lipsticks. It’s not just for those who are obsessive with being pretty. Granted, I wake up every morning and scrutinize what I see in the mirror. But I don’t wake up with the intention of looking beautiful. I am very insecure in my own skin. But it doesn’t matter. Makeup taught me patience. How to release emotions hidden inside the depths of my soul. It’s not just making yourself pretty. It’s to release a raw form of pure energy and emotion, especially when it comes to doing avant-garde work. Even when you do clean work, you learn how to strategically work every color to your advantage, you learn how to concentrate, and so a sense of calm descends upon you. Makeup taught me to dig deep, like Stanislavksi’s “Emotion Memory” to merge yourself with what you intend to interpret and represent. Makeup, like Brecht’s Alienation Effect, has taught me to read between the lines and to find a message, an inspiration in everything. Makeup has taught me that there will always be a higher goal post, that in the end, you can always make yourself better, and to be better, you must listen not to the voices that pressure you towards destruction, but to the voices within. 

Jun 18, 2012

K B.

I too hate this statement. I go outside of my house all of the time without any makeup on, and sometimes I'll wear a ton. Makeup to me is an art form-just like dancing or painting. People need to realize that it's more than just slapping some foundation and eyeshadow on your face. There are truly some talented makeup artists out there whose work is a picture of art. Anyone who tells me that I'm insecure because I wear makeup is insecure in themselves because they felt the need to put me down to help them feel better, or at least that's the way I see it!

Jun 18, 2012

Argelia H.

I dont like that statement either bc if we didnt look the way we already do make up wouldnt make a difference... It enhances the beauty we aldready have ..

Jun 18, 2012

Rachel C.

I think when a person says that kind of thing about another person it just shows how insecure they really are bc there twlking about others. Second of all makeup is about exspresing who you are and to how your artisitic side to things :) i think when i see a girl wearing make up i dont thibk eww shes insecure i think wow shes beautiful! :)

Jun 18, 2012

Anja H.

I agree with all of you. It's got nothing to do with insecurity. Sometimes I don't feel like wearing make up, so I don't and still feel pretty and beautiful. Mostly I just love putting on make up, but just because I like to acentuate my best features not because I feel the need to cover up anything.

Jun 19, 2012

DimePieceOnaDime D.

I'm not overly confident, I just KNOW what looks good and I am real about my flaws. Take, for instance, my natural brows. They are BARELY there. In fact, just last night my husband and i had a good chuckle over how thin they are, so I pencil mine in. It takes me 2 seconds to do in the morning and I don't think anyone in her right mind would take a look at my natural brows and say she prefers them to my filled in ones. Same thing with shadow, concealer, lipstick u name it. The fact remains, when applied well, you WILL look better with makeup. It's not insecurity, it's HONESTY! So why not think enough of yourself to want to put your best face forward? Why not love your lips, eyes, cheeks enough to want to highlight them and make them look their best? In fact, I think the naysayers are the ones who are insecure. Start loving your god given good looks enough to let them shine shine shine!