DEBATE: Are cosmetics morally wrong?

Jul 23, 2014

Kat A.

I don't think it's morally wrong. we all do things to change our appearance (haircuts, dying our hair, tanning, getting a tattoo, etc). nothing wrong with having fun & being confident.
can it be deceiving? sometimes, sure. but generally speaking, I don't find it deceiving. like to me, I don't care if you look like a model naturally or not. that doesn't effect my life if you wear a bunch of makeup around me. I could care less what your face looks like. but relationship wise, I can see where it could be seen as deceiving.
I have to disagree with Kendra. I don't see a problem with changing your face, I'd love to have a sexy alter ego! the only time I find that deceptive is when, like I previously said, it has to do with relationships. I don't think it's healthy to hide your true self to someone you trust & care for. I also have to disagree with your comment on her completely changing herself. I hide my dark circles with concealer, have nice looking skin with bb cream, fill in my brows, etc.but I'm not trying to change myself. I hardly look any different. the only difference is her skin tone is uneven & whatever else, which makes it seem like a giant transformation, when really her skin just looks "normal" now & her brows look nice. I wouldn't say a person with severe acne was being fake & putting on another face just because they cover it with foundation. sometimes little things (like foundation) make a big difference if the person's skin isn't the best naturally. that's not their fault & I find it unfair to say they're fake.
these are just my opinions & Kendra, I want to say I respect your opinion. I don't want to try to call you out or anything, I just saw things I could address & share my opinion on :)

Jul 23, 2014

Symone B.

Emily, you are amazing! I cosign on every single word you said! Everyone please read that beautiful reply! You're the real MVP 👏👏👏

Jul 23, 2014

Amanda V.

I keep thinking of new ideas. So one last thing. 😂

If extensions, perfume, makeup, hair products, nails, etc. make someone "fake" THEN I AM THE FAKEST PERSON YOU WILL EVER MEET.

If girls want to rock the natural look, amen! You do your thing girl.

The natural look is not for me. I wear what I wear because it makes me happy and confident. :)

Jul 23, 2014

Symone B.

Amen Renay! The real insecure people are the ones who want to put her down. She is probably really confident! Who much balls does it take to go on the internet for everyone to see (knowing they will judge you) and show off your bare face?

@kendra, guys do get over themselves. But I think it's because they try to liken their ways to our ways. I've heard countless men, including Steve Harvey write in his book Think Like A Man, that men do things (get a good job, get all dressed up, get a nice car) to attract women. Pretty much everything they do to make themselves look better is to attract the opposite sex (talking about straight men) They probably think we are the same way but that's FALSE! I don't live my life for them. Oh please 😏

Jul 23, 2014

Symone B.

Lmaooo be nice, Erin 😂 that's a different girl...but another popular pic on makeupsocial. Not your know who 🙊🙊🙊

Jul 23, 2014

Symone B.

*you

Jul 23, 2014

Symone B.

@Kat, you go girl with your sexy alter ego! ☺️

@amanda, amen! I guess I'm fake then. I have dyed extensions, painted nails (fake only sometimes), makeup on, etc. But you will never catch me being fake in ways that actually define me. I'm not backstabbing anyone or pretending to be nice. Now that would make me deceptive. You can look at me and tell my cosmetics but the real fake people you have to watch out for are fake friends 🙈

Jul 23, 2014

Kendra H.

@ Symone B.
That actually makes a lot of sense! I've never actually heard that before. It does make sense that if a guy does everything to attract a girl that the girl would do the same. Some of us do but most of us don't. I guess they need to educate themselves more than get over themselves! I've never read that book I'll have to look into it!

Jul 23, 2014

Kay B.

I feel as long as you are comfortable in your own skin wear as much makeup as you want!! It's an art form :)

Jul 23, 2014

Kay B.

Plus it's fun!!

Jul 23, 2014

Dy D.

My favorite response to the whole taking your girl out for a swim, to see if she still looks the same afterwards is: "that's what my urban decay setting spray is for. ayeeee" (or something along those lines. I forgot the post lol)

Jul 23, 2014

Maggie S.

If you honestly think I have pink eyelids and purple lips, sorry I "lied" to you. On a more serious note, if you're in a relationship were there isn't even enough emotional attraction to see the other person without makeup, then you should just never be in a relationship.

Jul 23, 2014

Emily W.

Aww thanks Symone, you're making me blush (which is good, because this deathly pallor I have right now could use some color LOL).

I take issue with the statement "hiding one's true self." This implies that the appearance you are born with is your true self, regardless of how you feel. I disagree. I do not think that this hunk of flesh I inhabit is my true self; if I were to draw a picture of how I perceive myself in my mind's eye, it would look drastically different than my natural appearance. I don't mean like I would make myself thinner, or have plumper lips or anything like that. I mean that in my head I perceive a completely different visage than what has been bestowed upon me by genetics.

When I (can be bothered to) change my face with makeup to more closely resemble what I consider my true self, does that mean I am being deceptive? Does that mean I am hiding behind some false pretense? Remember I am not changing myself because I find myself ugly, or because I don't like what I see in the mirror, or because I feel I don't conform to societal standards of beauty. I change my face to make it look like ME, how I see me. Is that false advertising?

(Or perhaps that is a weird feature of my personal pathology and is more akin to an identity disorder. Who knows. Perhaps I'm getting way too deep into a psychological rabbit hole.)

Jul 23, 2014

Dy D.

Tbh, I'm so over dude's commentary on make up. I was going to write a long post and all but nahhhh. (half bc it makes me upset, and half typing on mobile is a pain)
I'll sum it up with this: LADIES, DO YOU.

Jul 23, 2014

MaKenzie T.

I love this thread!! First off let me start by quoting our makeup mommy sis... "I believe in big hair, bold makeup, and looking flat out unnatural." Thank you makeup mom for this quote.

Now as for the meme, I think it is completely inappropriate and unneeded, however you have to take into consideration that society is cruel and there will always be those people who live to embarrass and belittle others. Personally I think that she is gorgeous with and with out makeup, and it is sad that people don't take into consideration the facts. (her skin conditions, which are things that many would want to conceal.) I don't really have the authority to judge people, nobody but God has the right to honestly, but people will be people.

As for her being fake, I agree with you sis. She is merely trying to make herself feel better, feel as though she can be more accepted amongst the high standards of the world. The standards that tell us how we should look, etc... Idk... I just don't like the meme or what people are trying to convey with it. I agree with you Symone.

Jul 23, 2014

Lauren G.

^^^^ yesssss

Jul 23, 2014

Lauren G.

To Emily lol regarding our true self and how we can essentially choose how we want our "true self" to physically look.

Jul 24, 2014

Symone B.

Amen Makeup Sis and Maggie! (Lmao Maggie! Seriously, guys think we really want them to believe we have gold lids and bright red lips naturally?😝)

@Kendra, yup! That's their main defense. But they are always screaming from the rooftops how we are sooo much different than they are (which is true) so why would they try to make us like them? See how their logic is totally ridiculous and contradicts itself?


Dear Emily,
Please write a book or be a public speaker. That was phenomenal. I would love to write a paper on that and hate tea with you haha. Seriously, get a tumblr or make a blog or something!! The world needs more Emilys!

Jul 24, 2014

Symone B.

*HAVE tea lol (oh gosh, who hates tea) 🙈🙈

Jul 24, 2014

Maggie S.

I know, the worst part is, if men wearing makeup was a social norm, the whole perception of being "Lied" to would never exist.

Jul 24, 2014

R B.

Omg! Morally wrong!? Honestly make up makes people more confident and enchants them whether its natural makeup or not. And that girls who wear make up can't be trusted?! What world was that person coming from!! Makeup is 100% fine!

Jul 24, 2014

Emily W.

@Symone: I will drink pretty much anything (tea, coffee, pop, whatever) so that works for me. ;) I tried running a blog but I just can't focus on it. I have a weird thing where I start writing, get excited about it, somehow flip my feelings and feel obligated to write, start resenting it, and then delete it. Maybe because outside of discussions like this, I just can't be bothered to write about my opinions. Like, who wants to read me ramble about all this crap on a blog? I wouldn't!

Jul 24, 2014

Symone B.

Haha, I would Emily! Make videos or have people send requests for inspiration lol.

Jul 24, 2014

Maggie S.

Yeah, lol, that looks so natural to me! I would feel soooooo deceived. Seriously, but what irks me even more than guys saying lie to them with makeup, is guys saying we wear makeup/clothes/hairstyles for them. Lol noo. I am not buying highend makeup for you, I buy it bc I like makeup.