Makeup, beauty industry, and societal pressure
Hi all, I'm Christina and welcome to this blog! This is my first post that I'm going to making here and it's something of a critical post, about the societal pressures/expectations that women face, especially within the beauty industry. This is an ongoing blog post- even once I've finished and posted the first draft, I'll be constantly adding new examples if I can find them.
Semantics
We live in a world where beauty standards have been ingrained into society for years, especially within the beauty/cosmetics industries, so much so that when a woman doesn’t wear makeup, it’s viewed as “brave”…simply for being barefaced.
As a woman who isn’t drawn to makeup at all and never has been, the use of the word “brave” in this context frustrates me to no end. Being bare-faced shouldn’t automatically qualify as an act of bravery, because that’s just somebody’s natural face…. I really don’t understand how somebody choosing not to add extra chemicals to their face is brave. Most men don’t wear makeup, yet they’re not labelled as “brave”. First things first, I want to debunk the myth that not wearing makeup equates to being confident. I’m very reserved myself; confidence isn’t determined by cosmetics the way some people believe it is….And the idea that women should be applauded for simply… showing their natural face… is a very backwards one. Why is it considered as an act of courage just to embrace the skin you were born in; it’s just a choice? Some might enjoy wearing it, some might simply not feel the need. I fall into the latter category, especially as a neurodivergent individual with sensitivity to texture.
Social media
Let’s also address the issue of societal pressure, and unrealistic beauty standards that are presented to us. For example, a common trend on Instagram in recent years is for celebrities to do reels of the 'before' and 'after' makeup reel, and sometimes I really get annoyed with it- the way that the 'before' is presented as being very plain and boring, and the after is presented as something of an 'improvement'. As a woman who doesn't wear makeup myself, there's something a tad discomforting about such a mindset, and it must make some younger women scrolling through social media feel extremely insecure in themselves, with the way those posts seemingly present being barefaced as 'the negative option'. It could pressure young girls into feeling like they *need* to wear makeup in order to be beautiful, when they previously may never have given it a second thought. I certainly know that if I was a teenage girl growing up in society like that, it would have that sort of effect on me, and I'd start thinking 'wait, is there something wrong with me for being barefaced?'... a lot of the celebrities posting them don't realise that massive societal impact it could have on the young people who are scrolling through. These reels seem to imply that a bare face is somehow inferior or less attractive- I don't think that's a message we should be sending to our youth.
When a woman decides to defy all these beauty standards and doesn't choose to wear makeup; it's not an act of bravery- if anything, it's a way of saying 'I won't be defined by society's standards of beauty'. Some women find it fun experimenting with makeup, fine, others don't feel the need to wear it, which is also fine. The fact that the latter is labelled as 'brave' in society is just plain baffling. We must rethink this whole narrative that choosing to show your natural face is brave, when all it is, is a personal choice, and all you're doing is just embracing your true self (irrespective of whether society thinks doing so is 'brave'), which should surely just be accepted as 'normal'? Nobody ever questions why a man doesn't wear makeup, so why do they do so for women? If anything, surely using the word 'brave' for a woman who doesn't wear makeup is a really weird backhanded compliment (and perpetuates the problematic idea that not conforming to wearing makeup is somehow this massive exceptional thing)? If somebody called me brave for not adding extra chemicals to my face day in, day out, I would ask them 'how so?', because I've never once implied that I don't like my natural face, yet the person in question is calling me 'brave' for displaying it....
You even see some people online/on social media imply that it's 'lazy' for women not to wear makeup, I've heard that word thrown around sometimes (occasionally even by other women, sometimes even by fellow barefaced women, trying to come up with some sort of justification/reasoning for why they don't wear it.... when the only reason really should be 'because they don't want to'), but I don't like that mindset, because they're effectively treating makeup as an obligation, and that's a misconception that I want to immediately debunk. Makeup is a choice, not a requirement, and most men don't wear makeup, but you don't see them being tarnished with the 'lazy' label at all- why can't women be afforded that same treatment? There's so much more societal pressure on women to conform to certain trends, pressure that many men don't face- nobody would ever call a man 'lazy' for showcasing his natural face, so why do they do so to a woman? Why are the expectations different? Ultimately, all you're doing is just opting to go with your natural face... which should surely just be the standard? Rather than wasting money on a bunch of products that nobody really needs, we should all learn to just embrace our natural face? Obviously there's nothing wrong with wearing makeup if it brings you joy and you genuinely enjoy applying it- in that case, it's money well-spent, but it becomes a problem when you feel like you *have* to wear it, in order to conform to societal pressure/societal norms; in that case, it's money wasted. Do what's best for you, rather than feeling compelled to meet society's arbitrary expectations. Using the term 'lazy' to describe someone's choice implies that women's worth is only tied to their appearance, and it perpetuates the harmful notion that women should prioritize our looks above all else. It's ironic given that we're supposedly in an era of natural body-positivity and self-acceptance. And by that logic, that means the current mindset of 'makeup is the norm; not wearing it isn't' should really be the other way round in current society. Promoting the idea that embracing your natural features is just normal could help to contribute to a much more inclusive and accepting societal mindset- I personally believe authenticity should be the standard.
When you scroll through Instagram stories, sometimes you hear 'sorry for my face' if they're not wearing makeup for that day (especially celebrities)... but what on earth are they apologising for? I think this is a very significant issue regarding the pressure placed on women to conform to beauty standards- when they're apologising for not wearing makeup, they're perpetuating the narrative that makeup is an expectation rather than simply a choice, and it again suggests that their natural face is somehow lacking, or that it should be apologised for. Once again, these little throwaway comments can make young girls who don't wear makeup feel insecure, because they seem to internalise the message that a bare face is a negative or undesirable option, and reinforces the false notion that makeup is some sort of requirement, as well as somewhat even reinforcing the false mindset that going make-up free is lazy; it doesn't make anybody lazy or less presentable; it's a personal choice that should just be accepted, not apologised for. Using such apologetic language perpetuates these harmful beauty standards once again, and the fact that nobody ever challenges this notion really bothers me.
Societal pressure and conditioning
Reading up on this topic, I've read forums how some people feel “forced” to wear it for special occasions when they don’t wear it in their everyday life (a few people on said forums have said they *only* wear it for special occasions) and I just think that they shouldn’t succumb to that societal pressure to wear it for special occasions if they wouldn’t wear it normally. The fact that people who don't wear it in their everyday lives feel compelled to conform to this expectation during special events is somewhat worrying- succumbing to that societal pressure is unnecessary, especially if they don't wear makeup in day to day life. Think about it- if somebody doesn't like wearing makeup in their everyday life, they're unlikely to suddenly develop a liking for it on special occasions- I think many do it because it's a societal expectation, but again, as I've addressed many times in the blog, it should simply be a choice, rather than an expectation. The fact that there's an expectation for women to wear makeup for special events, and that even those who don't wear it in everyday life succumb to said expectation, to me feels a little bit iffy and discomforting; it seems to undermine the authenticity of the individual. People should make the choice that aligns with their own personal preferences and comfort, regardless of societal expectations. Nobody should feel obliged to conform to standards that don't resonate with their true selves- true beauty lies in authenticity. As somebody who never wears makeup in my day-to-day life, it's perplexing that there's a societal expectation to wear it for special occasions. If the idea of makeup doesn't appeal to me under normal circumstances, there's no reason that it would suddenly become appealing simply because it's a special occasion- that would feel extremely disingenuous and inauthentic. If you wear it normally, by all means go for it, if you wear it occasionally and fancy wearing for said occasion, then by all means go for it, but feeling like you *have* to wear it purely because it's a special occasion, when you wouldn't do so in day to day life, shouldn't be such a common pattern. That point might get misinterpreted or lost in translation, but just to clarify- I'm not against fellow women making the choice to wear makeup if that's what they personally wish for, I'm just saying think about why you're making these choices- is it because you genuinely want to, or is it because societal norms/expectations make you feel like you *have* to?
Think about the way the beauty industry operates- it's inherently misogynistic when you think about it- profiting off the back of young women's insecurities in order to make money. The industry thrives on convincing women that we need specific products to 'fix' what our society and the industry itself perceives as a 'flaw'- implying that we should 'fix' our natural appearance. The impact that can have on women's mental health and self-esteem is immense- it only leads to a culture of people becoming dissatisfied with their natural appearance in a way that they weren't previously.
Advertising
Rimmel had a back-to-school advert recently featuring a 'Love Islander' (and I despise that show for many of the same reasons I've addressed here- it perpetuates harmful beauty norms), and the advert implied that teenage girls *must* wear makeup at school in order to succeed.... in 2023. The advert was rightfully banned, but isn't it concerning that it was allowed to be made in the first place? Young teenage girls who saw that advert before it was banned may never have given a second thought about their appearance, and now they might be thinking 'is there something wrong with my natural face?' 'Can I not succeed unless I slather my face with a load of extra chemicals?' etc, and I just think such an advert raises questions about the way the beauty industry promotes their products. I find it quite alarming that in 2023, an advert where the message is implying that success is purely based on wearing makeup was allowed to get through the cracks- what kind of message are we spreading? That you can't succeed with your natural appearance? That success requires the use of beauty products? Companies don't realise that they have a responsibility to be mindful of the effect their messaging may have on the target audience, *especially* when said target audience is young people who are very impressionable and easily influenced. (Source- https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/newsbeat-67770706)
Observations
As an outsider looking in, I've still somewhat 'observed' the cosmetics world and it's really struck me that many people seem to struggle to apply it properly (where it enhances their natural features), and instead they end up with a heavy cakey orange look, but they decide to label it as 'glam'…. that somewhat annoys me. Sometimes it makes them look a whole different race. I understand that for some, makeup is a form of self-expression and different people will have different preferences, but from my perspective, I've always believed in the 'less is more' approach- surely makeup is about embracing what you have naturally and enhancing it subtly, rather than trying to completely transform your appearance so much so that you end up looking like an entirely different person. This look has become more common with the rise of Instagram, influencer culture and personally, I don't really get it- once you get to this 'glam' look- it seems to start veering away from the realm of enhancement and ventures into masking your features entirely- it can sometimes look as if these people have dipped their entire faces into a can of paint. Of course, this 'glam' look doesn't *always* look cakey or orange, but it does look very excessive, somewhat like people have put layers and layers and layers of makeup on their face, to the point that you can't really see their natural features at all. For me, if I see a person with that very heavy cakey excessive makeup, and then see the same person without makeup or with more subtle makeup, it feels like it's 2 completely different people. Makeup shouldn't affect the make-up (see what I did there?) of your face so much to the point that it makes you look like a completely different person when you apply it. There's a lot of common makeup trends that I don't like- the spider looking eyelashes, the marker eyebrows where you can't see the hair etc, and I'm just thinking 'do these people genuinely want to look like that, or is it only because current trends have convinced them that that's the ideal?'
Personally for me, as an outsider to the makeup world (albeit one who's researching into it for the purposes of this blog post- there seems to be several different styles of makeup with the more natural, subtle looks on one end of the spectrum and these more out-there looks on the other end- it's essentially a hierarchy with different 'levels'), I can't help but think there's beauty in simplicity and authenticity. I think that makeup should enhance rather than conceal- celebrate our unique features and individuality instead of conforming to societal standards of beauty. I think embracing that philosophy of 'less is more' allows us just to appreciate the beauty of simplicity/authenticity and imperfections, in a world that often values/glorifies excessiveness and perfections. Whilst I may not be a makeup enthusiast myself, I understand that many are, but for me and potentially for many others, the beauty in makeup lies in embracing your natural self, letting your unique features shine through, with just a touch of enhancement here and there, rather than masking your features with layers and layers of heavy makeup.
Debates
As recently as 2017, This Morning even had a debate about whether a woman can be successful without wearing makeup (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rSDRI03UzxA&pp=ygUadGhpcyBtb3JuaW5nIG1ha2V1cCBkZWJhdGU%3D)- there was one woman who didn't wear makeup (who was making the argument that of course they can still succeed- I agreed with her), and another woman who *did* wear makeup, who said she wouldn’t even hire someone if they weren’t wearing makeup… so she wouldn’t hire someone who showcased their natural face. I think the fact that there was a whole debate segment dedicated to that question is very disheartening, and if I'm honest, infuriating- you shouldn't have to subscribe to societal norms that dictate your appearance, and when your worth and potential for success is reduced to something so trivial, it's really frustrating. The idea that my ability to succeed in my career depends on whether I wear makeup or not is not only insulting, but also deeply sexist. I can guarantee you that the woman who said she 'wouldn't hire a woman if she's not wearing makeup' wouldn't apply that same mindset to men and that she'd hire them irrespective of whether they wore makeup or not. Success should be based on skills, qualifications, hard work etc- not whether I choose to conform to outdated beauty standards. It implies that a woman's appearance is more important than her capabilities and adds further societal to pressure to conform in order to be taken seriously in their careers. Choosing not to hire an otherwise qualified person purely on the basis that 'she wasn't wearing makeup' is extremely unprofessional, and it implies that women must adhere to certain beauty standards to be taken seriously in the workplace. Makeup is a choice, not an obligation or a requirement.
Women shouldn’t feel pressured into believing that they *need* to hide their natural face… whether that's in the workplace or just in everyday life. If you do wear makeup, make sure that you're wearing it because you genuinely *want* to, not because society has told you that you *have* to, not because everyone else is doing it etc- make sure that it's because you personally want to do so. I think it's a lot harder for the younger generation now to avoid giving into societal pressure, because of the rise of social media, which means all this advertising and societal conditioning is going on *constantly* and insecurities (that the individuals in question may not have initially had), can form much more quickly and much more easily. As mentioned numerous times in this blog post, men don't have that same societal pressure to hide their face- nobody bats an eyelid at a bare-faced man, so why is it any different for women? Expecting us to conform is not only unfair but it's also detrimental to our self-esteem.
This social media induced societal pressure for young people to conform doesn't just apply to makeup either- it can apply to multiple things. I mentioned my thoughts on Love Island and influencer culture earlier, and I think fillers are another thing you could apply the whole 'there's societal pressure on young people to adhere to this' mindset to- specifically lip fillers- for example, think about the rise in lip fillers in young women over the last few years- it's only really since the rise of shows like Love Island (who try and present these people with excessive lip filler as the most attractive people in the world- the show is primarily watched by a young audience who then absorb the message that filler= ideal, and then decide to succumb to pressure to undergo procedures like that themselves, when they wouldn't have done if the media they consume wasn't spreading that message) and 'influencer culture' (the same principle- lots of influencer women, with excess lip filler are being presented online to young women as the most attractive women in the world, those young women will then try and emulate what their idols are doing, despite the danger, and it becomes a trend) that lip filler in young people has become so trendy, and I doubt that's a coincidence- influencer culture creates insecurities in those that consume it- insecurities that they didn't have before.
Bare faces on TV
There's a perception/expectation that makeup is required for television appearances- it's seen as being required to “avoid looking too washed out”, but numerous people have gone on TV without makeup before, and looked perfectly fine… a friend of mine who went on a TV game show didn't have any makeup applied (much like myself, the friend in question is autistic and sensitive to texture)- looked fine on screen, didn't look any different to in person, which proves that you can still look 'presentable' on television without wearing makeup. However, I've read a few behind-the-scenes blogs about game shows, and there seems to be a default practice where they automatically take the contestants to the makeup department (because a lot of the blogs that I've read have clarified 'even the men')- this perpetuates the false belief that makeup is necessary for a polished appearance, whatever your gender. I feel that approach overlooks the individual preferences of contestants and assumes that they all desire makeup application. Game show contestants are there to answer some questions, maybe win some money- they're not there just to look pretty (and even if they were, makeup isn't a prerequisite to looking pretty either). Rather than automatically assuming that everyone requires makeup, I feel it would be more respectful and inclusive to offer contestants the option to opt *in* if they want makeup applied, rather than automatically assuming they do so unless they opt out (and even then, I'm not sure if all opt-outs would necessarily be accommodated- yes it was for my friend but that's the only example that I know of). The way I see it, it's completely optional in day-to-day life so why not on TV? I also think the current system might instil some insecurity into certain contestants who might start to think 'oh my god- these TV people think I'm ugly so they're suggesting I use makeup to look better and to cover up my flaws'.... first of all, there's no such thing as a natural facial flaw- everybody's face is different, and the fact that many TV executives still use this process automatically proves that we still live in a very superficial appearance-centric world. Of course, some people may really look forward to the makeup process, which is fine, but I think they should maybe ask a 'yes or no' question on the application form about whether the contestants wish to have makeup applied or not. The fact is, people have gone on TV without makeup before- nothing about their faces has looked odd. For some, heavy makeup might throw them off the game and make them unable to focus on the gameplay, so it shouldn't just be an automatic process (with a potential opt-out approach). It should be an optional process, with an opt-in approach. They're game shows at the end of the day, not modelling shows. Even if they were modelling shows, there's nothing wrong with them going barefaced either. 'It washes you out on camera if you don't wear makeup' doesn't make sense... and if anything, surely game show contestants looking 'washed out' shows that they're nervous, and may help the viewer empathise with the contestants more? I think this makeup tradition comes from the days of black and white TV where makeup *was* needed in order for you to make out anybody's face at all (since colour TV didn't exist yet), but surely in the present day era, it doesn't need to be a necessity?
In addition to this, some TV shows like Steph's Packed Lunch (Source- https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=4158801730865591) even had an episode where the regulars went makeup free- this was when they were discussing the topic 'could you live without makeup'- they removed their makeup for the rest of the show and they all looked perfectly fine. What I find baffling is that during COVID, TV personalities (men and women alike) *had* to do their makeup themselves due to close contact being forbidden- they all got given their own little makeup pallettes. The underlying implication there is that showing one's natural face without makeup is somehow 'shameful' or 'unacceptable', even though several people have gone on TV makeup-free and looked absolutely fine. Doesn't the fact that TV personalities were all just automatically expected to have makeup applied (even when the pro makeup artists were unavailable) highlight that societal pressure to wear it?
The whole 'it washes you out on camera' is a load of bull. There's an actress in America named Glennon Doyle, who went on the Ellen Show as a guest without having *any* makeup applied (Source- https://people.com/style/glennon-doyle-went-makeup-free-on-ellen-degeneres-show/), and her face looks pretty damn normal to me. It doesn't looked washed out whatsoever... even if it did though, would that *really* be a problem? I agree with her point- the excessive use of it makes many people compare their own faces to others they see on TV, which in turn makes them feel as if their own faces need enhancing. What I don't understand however, is why it was viewed as this massive huge statement for somebody's natural face to be showcased on screen- surely that should just be standard? She even says 'everybody looked at my naked face and nobody died', which is something that the media industry, the beauty industry, and the world at large are still struggling to grasp. (And again, Glennon went to the makeup department and specifically requested no makeup- opting out. As I said earlier, I don't believe people should automatically be taken to the makeup department immediately- it should be an 'opt in' system where they're only taken to said department if they opt in to having makeup applied) and the concept of 'it makes you look washed out' has been debunked.
A prime example of somebody who challenges these conventional beauty standards is Alicia Keys- yes she occasionally wears makeup but not all the time and she's been seen frequently opting for a bare face even at public events and TV appearances (e.g. the 2016 VMAs- source-https://www.glamourmagazine.co.uk/article/alicia-keys-explains-why-she-wont-wear-makeup)- this completely contradicts the myth that going makeup free on television washes you out- she still looks beautiful without it, which shows that it's not a necessity to look polished on television- that's just a lie that the media and makeup industries keep trying to sell to us. I like Alicia Keys- I think she's a great role model to women like myself. By showcasing her bare face across numerous different platforms, she can inspire others to embrace their own natural beauty and challenge the stigma around makeup-free appearances. I think her advocacy for natural self-acceptance proves that, regardless of what societal expectations say, true beauty comes from within. And looking at Twitter, at the recent 2024 Super Bowl, she did wear makeup (indeed I believe she’s started a makeup company) and opted for what’s referred to as a a "no makeup makeup look” (which she still looks beautiful with- it doesn’t look cakey or heavy- I didn’t watch the Super Bowl so only discovered that she opted for “no makeup makeup look” after coming across a Twitter thread linking an Instagram post from her makeup artist ), but ultimately, I admire her for the fact that she went barefaced to a Showbiz event in the first place regardless of how many years ago it was- I believe that it should be more commonplace, to stop it from being lauded as “brave”. At the 2023 Oscars, Lady Gaga even did a performance during which she removed all her makeup (Source-https://www.harpersbazaar.com/uk/beauty/make-up-nails/a43293980/lady-gaga-make-up-free-oscars/), and she still looked beautiful; it didn't wash her out at all, so the idea that it's a necessity for television is all just a farce really.
Special occasions
There's also pressure to wear makeup on dates which has always baffled me- there's this expectation of 'date night' makeup, which implies that going out with your natural face on a date is somehow 'wrong'/less desirable/not enough... it's ridiculous. And here's the thing- if a date goes well, a person will eventually see your natural face regularly afterwards anyway. And even if it doesn't, well, you've only seen each other once and are unlikely to cross paths again, so what does it matter whether it was your real face or not? That societal pressure reflects society's unrealistic beauty standards, which suggests that makeup enhances attractiveness; but I think it's all a load of bollocks- yes, physical attraction is important to many in a relationship but I believe true connection/attraction come from 1) personality, 2) chemistry, and 3) compatibility rather than superficial enhancements. For me personally, if I was on a date, I wouldn't wear makeup just to impress the other person- if they simply can't accept my natural face, they can fuck off. Men don't face that same societal pressure to wear it- my argument is that if it's perfectly acceptable for men not to wear makeup on dates, why can't it be for women? When dates don't go well, and I've read a few stories online about this, with many women saying something along the lines of 'I wasted good makeup for this?'; you also often hear lines like 'I don't want to ruin my makeup', but the thing is nobody is ever obligating you to wear it in the first place (if they are, that's deeply controlling and concerning), and again, throwaway lines like those reinforce the sexist mindset that makeup is necessary to look your best. I believe, as women, we should feel comfortable being our authentic selves whether that's on a date or any other situation. Embracing our natural selves just shows that we're not afraid to be genuine. If wearing makeup for dates brings you joy, then by all means go for it, but make sure you're doing it because you genuinely want to, rather than doing it simply because it's a societal expectation that's been imposed onto you. Makeup is a choice, not a requirement.
Another element of where this societal pressure for makeup is extremely prevalent is during weddings. There's a lot of pressure on women to wear makeup for their wedding days... but surely if any day was a day to embrace your natural face, it's your wedding day? You shouldn't need to waste all that money on bridal makeup purely because it's the 'traditional', 'conventional' thing to do- after all, shouldn't your natural face just be enough for your spouse anyway? Weddings are deeply personal things and societal expectations often place an undue burden on brides to conform to conventional beauty standards. I think the automatic assumption that brides should invest in elaborate bridal makeup is extremely questionable- your wedding day is a celebration of love, and you'd want to feel as comfortable as possible. Many people like myself who don't wear makeup in their everyday lives have even succumbed to this pressure for their wedding days, and as always, my argument is that if they don't like wearing it in their everyday life, it's highly unlikely that they'll suddenly develop a liking for it just because it's a special occasion. The pressure to visit a makeup artist and undergo extensive makeup routines can cause a lot of unnecessary stress and expenses. And it's especially not a fair pressure to place on individuals like myself who are in the autism spectrum and have sensitivities to texture- wearing makeup would make my wedding more uncomfortable and stressful rather than celebratory- I couldn't think of anything worse. A wedding should be a day to enjoy, and for me, that means accepting the most comfortable version of myself- my own natural face, rather than slathering it in chemicals to make it look like someone else's.
And I think on your wedding day of all days, that's a day to embrace your natural beauty and it should be encouraged more often. As said earlier, your spouse is marrying you for who you are, and your natural face is just a reflection of yourself. The expectation that brides *have* to undergo all this makeup in order to be considered 'bridal' enough is one that I find extremely outdated. It shouldn't be a taboo to be barefaced/go really minimal on the makeup on your wedding day. The focus should mainly be on the celebration of love. Again, if you want to undergo these elaborate makeup routines, by all means do so, but do it because *you* want to, not because society at large is telling you that it's a key part of a wedding. Even amongst wedding forums (a major one called WeddingWire that I recall browsing- not going to link any of those threads because the comments made my blood boil), brides have posted about potentially not wearing makeup for their wedding days, and you'd expect these posters to be cheered on/encouraged for it... instead the responses in the comments are 'you should wear makeup- you'll look too plain otherwise'.... what a ridiculous form of internalised sexism, and the worst part is that a lot of them took that feedback on board... by doing so, it means that barefaced weddings remain a 'taboo' subject. I recall a lot of the points people made were about 'you have to wear makeup because otherwise you'll look washed out on the photos'... but again, that's a ridiculous mindset to have, and a sexist one at that, because nobody ever says that to the men. And plus the men in the wedding photos typically aren't wearing makeup, and guess what? They look perfectly fine... they don't look washed out at all- why would it be a different story for women? The beauty/bridal industries perpetuate this myth that a bride must undergo a transformation to fit this fairytale image of 'perfection' on their big day. Not only does that add unnecessary pressure, but it also contributes to the notion that your natural appearance isn't enough for such a significant occasion. Your spouse is entering into a lifelong commitment with you, appreciating you and loving you for who you are, I doubt most caring spouses would be bothered if they married somebody with no makeup.
And personally, when there's the whole 'you may kiss the bride' routine, I want my husband to kiss *me*, not somebody who somewhat looks like me. Makeup would make me feel as if I'm portraying somebody I'm not- as if I'm playing the role of a character for the day. I wouldn't want my spouse to feel like they're marrying a completely different person either. Even now, I can see somebody with little to no makeup, and then see that same person with very excessive makeup, and it feels like I'm looking at two completely different people- some makeup transformations make people look unrecognisable- I'd want to look in the mirror and still see myself. I also think the financial burden of professional bridal makeup is worth mentioning- weddings are expensive enough as it is, so pressure to invest in expensive makeup services will add extra stress to an already very intricate planning process. Shifting that expectation away takes a burden off the brides and they can then allocate resources in ways that resonate much more with their own personal preferences/choices. It should simply be a choice, not an expectation. A more diverse representation of beauty in weddings, where brides can feel empowered to showcase their natural faces without judgment, is a step towards a much more inclusive wedding culture. Every bride should have the freedom to decide how she wants to present her self on her wedding day, rather than letting societal expectations, or some randos on a forum sway her decisions for her.
Proms are another thing where the makeup culture is immense. I never attended my own prom (I was bullied quite severely by a number of kids in my school so the thought of spending a whole evening with them was torturous) but I remember seeing people's posts about it online (this was in the late 2010s), and a lot of their makeup looked extremely excessive, which wouldn't have helped with the recognition thing I mentioned earlier (I believe the word is prosapagnosia). If I'd seen them in school with no/natural makeup, and then seen them at prom with excessive makeup, it would've felt like two completely different people. But I think it's incredibly frustrating that makeup is almost seen as a requirement for proms- many young people feel the pressure to conform to those heavy exaggerated looks- faces covered in yellow or orange makeup. What concerns me more is that these over-the-top looks are often praised as 'stunning'... anything less than a full face of makeup is seen as inadequate for some reason. I don't think I can recall a single girl from my year who went natural in their makeup for their prom... they all opted for that really excessive heavy 'glam' look- even the ones who were typically more natural- but the most concerning thing is that some of this was done by professional makeup artists... and based on that I'm so glad that I a) don't wear the stuff, and b) didn't go to my prom, because if I did wear it, went to a makeup person, requested 'prom makeup', and they gave me *that*, I would be fuming. For special events, makeup artists seem to forget that concept of 'less is more' and go very heavy... a lot of young people might then feel insecure after that- they might think 'are you suggesting my natural face isn't enough'? It doesn't sit right with me that professional makeup artists are passing those extreme looks off as acceptable, especially for young people... instead of enhancing natural beauty, they're caking on layers of product- makeup should enhance people's natural facial features; the makeup I'm talking about completely covers them up to the point that it makes it feel like a disguise.
What I worry about for the future is that the makeup industry is ever-growing; which means that younger makeup artists will break through. Young people are much more likely to be impressionable, they're also much more likely to be subjected to/consume 'influencer culture' where these cakey 'glam' looks are not only presented as the norm, they're presented as the ideal. So I worry that with younger makeup artists coming in, the cakey look that they idealise will be the norm, and even those who request a 'natural' look may just get a slightly milder version of the cakey look, because society's threshold for what constitutes a 'natural' look will have shifted- maybe that's just a very irrational worry.
Online
As I was browsing through reddit the other day, I stumbled across a very interesting thread in the makeup subreddit (https://www.reddit.com/r/Makeup/s/MDu4FGY1e7)- the woman who posted it was concerned about her boyfriend making the comment 'you look better without makeup' and the commenters were all accusing the boyfriend of 'negging' her rather than complimenting. To me, it seems like a sincere compliment- her boyfriend is saying he loves her natural face and that she doesn't need to hide behind makeup in order for him to consider her as beautiful. And I think what's concerning in that post is the underlying implication that makeup is a necessity to look attractive- she worries about about not being 'hot' without makeup, which again showcases that pressure for women to adhere to societal beauty standards. I think rather than seeing her boyfriend's comment as a critique of her makeup skills or an attempt to undermine her confidence, I personally view it as a reassurance that he values her just as she is, but the comments have a knee-jerk reaction where they suggest breaking up with him.... over a comment that clearly didn't have any malicious intent. I think if anything should be challenged, it's the notion that makeup is a requirement for attractiveness... we should be encouraging self-acceptance; makeup should be a choice, and comments like the one the woman on Reddit are talking about should be viewed as affirmations of your natural beauty rather than as criticism of your cosmetic choices. Societal pressures surrounding makeup/beauty standards are the main things that I think are affecting people's perceptions. There was a few people interpreting that comment as sexist... and I just think 'really'? At best, it's a misunderstanding and at worst, it's a man stating his personal preference without being asked to... hardly the crime of the century. That comments section baffled me.
Another social media related thing to this topic- these before and after makeup Instagram posts/reels use the term 'glow up' when describing the after. That term seems to imply that a natural bare face is somehow undesirable whilst the 'glam' makeup look is a 'step up' or an improvement- it's actually quite an outdated and nonsensical mindset to perpetuate; in fact it could be potentially quite harmful to young people scrolling through social media- it implies that your natural appearance is inferior and needs enhancement to be considered as 'valuable' or 'attractive'. By promoting the idea that wearing makeup is a 'glow up', these social media posts contribute to these unrealistic beauty standards.
When sometimes people (usually men) question women about why they wear makeup, a typical response you may hear is 'I wear it for myself not for others'- that sounds perfectly reasonable- however, I don't think that's the case for everyone. Think of the COVID-19 pandemic; many people who were regular makeup-wearers didn't wear it throughout the lockdown,,,, and it confuses me because if they were truly wearing it for themselves, why wouldn't they continue wearing it whilst in lockdown? If it's because there was nobody around and therefore people were unable to see it (due to social distancing regulations), doesn't that somewhat imply that some of these women *do* wear it for others? I found another intriguing Reddit thread on this topic- the lockdown had taught her that, contrary to her previous beliefs, she wasn't wearing makeup for herself, and in fact *was* wearing it for others- https://www.reddit.com/r/muacjdiscussion/comments/hjopst/lockdown_has_taught_me_that_i_dont_wear_makeup/?rdt=46424. Obviously this doesn't apply to all makeup wearers, but I do think it's something intriguing to ponder- if you are a regular makeup wearer who wears it for yourself and not for others, why did you stop during the lockdown? Surely if you're wearing it for yourself it wouldn't matter whether there was no-one there to see it? Is that just my neurodivergent brain thinking about things in far too much of a black-and-white manner again?
Different types
There are many different types of makeup- there's complete barefaces (as mentioned, Alicia Keys opted for this during the 2016 VMAs), 'no-makeup makeup' (Emma Stone opted for this on a recent Graham Norton show appearance- there were a few comments saying 'she looks sick'... she didn't- it's just that people are *so* used to seeing her with stronger makeup looks that they find it somewhat jarring when they're presented with her not opting for a lot of it- some comments I saw were 'she's opting for no makeup makeup to promote her new movie'- whilst that may be true, I think that's a bit of a jump- can the reason for a celebrity going on a chat show with 'no makeup makeup' not simply be because she felt like it? The reason she went somewhat minimal might just be because she wanted to?), then there's the subtle 'everyday' makeup (the likes of Holly Willoughby on This Morning), then there's 'full-face 'glam' (which is where things can start looking a bit too heavy and excessive- a lot of younger celebs who are naturally pretty tend to opt for this look for "influencery” posts online or for awards ceremonies etc; the older ones *usually* opt for something that makes their natural features pop instead- they’ll go somewhere between the everyday and the glam look- having said that, the 'glam' look on certain celebs could potentially just be down to their makeup artist's preferences, but I'm unsure because they never make up the men to have that 'glam' look- the men mostly just look the same with makeup applied as they do without it), and then there's the cakey look (which a lot of the 'influencer' ilk use- this makeup doesn't match their skin tone at all- it looks overdone and often completely covers up their natural features to the point that you can't see any facial features at all). And yes, I know there's lots of things in-between those 5 categories- they're just the main ones springing to mind.
Pageants
Even in pageants, not everyone wears makeup these days. In 2022, a then 20 year old politics student named Melisa Raouf decided to participate in the Miss England contest completely barefaced- she wanted to embrace her natural feature and inspire other women to do the same, and to break free from those societal expectations. And she landed a spot in the Miss England final and advocated for a #barefacetrend movement. This success proves that makeup isn't a prerequisite for beauty or success, and that people can still succeed in beauty pageants without wearing it. A brilliant and beautiful role model for young people- I believe me and her would be around the same age now, and I'm glad to see that there's somebody in my age group that shares my stance on these things (she actually might be a good person to share this blog with). Whilst she may not have won the trophy, she won in a different sense- she's hopefully helped many young girls and women realise that wearing makeup isn't a necessity. Reading through this article about it (https://www.tyla.com/news/first-miss-england-beauty-pageant-makeup-free-812097-20231003), her quote is absolutely spot on. "It means a lot to me as I feel many girls of different ages wear makeup because they feel pressured to do so; if one is happy in their own skin we should not be made to cover up our face with makeup; our flaws make us who we are and that’s what makes every individual unique- I think people should love and embrace their flaws and blemishes, as we know real beauty lies within simplicity'- that's a very wise head on young shoulders. She then says that she never felt comfortable in her own skin when she wore makeup. Another very wise quote from her here- "I never felt I met beauty standards- I have recently accepted that I am beautiful in my own skin and that's why I decided to compete with no make-up. I still feel confident in myself, with makeup I'm all concealed. This is who I am, I’m not afraid to share who I am. I wanted to show who Melisa truly is. I'm going to the finals bare faced. I would love to use my Miss England platform to empower natural beauty and eliminate this toxic mindset. I’ve had so many girls message me telling me how I've made them feel more confident in themselves. With mental health being such a big topic, I want to make all girls feel good. I just want to remove all the beauty standards. I feel like all girls are beautiful in their own way" and to that, I 100% agree. The organiser of Miss England, Angie Beasley supported Melisa by saying "This is the first time I've seen a contestant completely makeup-free competing in a semi final and she said she felt empowered against all the other contestants. I'm all for make up to enhance your natural beauty but there's no need for youngsters to wear It so thick that it looks like a mask.". I agree with that completely, I do agree the 'glam' look can look excessively thick, and that makeup should enhance rather than conceal. I just hope that one day we can get to a stage where somebody not wearing makeup in a pageant doesn't have to be viewed as noteworthy, and that it can just be accepted, being just as normalised as those who *do* wear makeup to enhance their beauty in pageants. Finally, Melisa's statement on Instagram after the pageant was this "I did not expect my story to spread globally as it has done, but I am delighted that it has, and I hope that it can make a difference to so many women and girls. Moving forward, I hope to continue promoting the #barefacetrendmovement to help empower women of all ages to feel confident in their own skin, without feeling as if they have to conceal their self by wearing makeup in order to conform to societal pressures. Although I do still believe that it is okay to use makeup, we should not let makeup define our appearance. Wearing makeup should not be the default option, but a choice and women should be able to embrace their differences.", and this is yet another thing that she's 100% spot-on about- makeup is a choice, not a requirement.
Music
Plus think of all the songs that point about how there's value in natural beauty and that wearing makeup isn't a necessity. "Try" by Colbie Caillat talks about how there's lots of pressure to wear makeup in order to look attractive and mentions that you shouldn't care what others think of your natural face, and that you don't have to alter yourselves into acting a certain way just to 'belong'. Kendrick Lamar has a song called "No Makeup (Her Vice)" in which he discusses his appreciation for women's natural beauty and says he doesn't think they need to hide behind makeup all the time. Natasha Bedingfield's song 'Freckles' tells young women that features like freckles are beautiful and unique and makeup isn't needed to cover them up. Jess Glynne has a song 'Thursday' with the opening lyric 'I don't wear makeup on Thursdays, cos who I am is enough' which tells young women that they don't need to succumb to that societal pressure to wear it, because who they are should be enough for people to accept them. In the song Suddenly Seymour from the musical Little Shop of Horrors, there's a lyric that states 'you don't need makeup, don't have to pretend', which informs girls and women that makeup isn't a requirement and that in some cases, it's like hiding behind a mask. I do find it interesting that despite all these people saying it's not a necessity, many women are still so influenced by this societal conditioning, to the point that they feel incomplete without it. And I personally believe it shouldn't be an expectation placed on us- nobody bats an eyelid if a man doesn't wear makeup, but when it's a woman going barefaced, that's somehow seen as a massive statement? And it's due to societal conditioning telling us that we *have* to wear it- these musical artists are calling out that pressure in their songs if you really take a deep listen to their lyrics. These songs convey messages of self-love and acceptance, and encourage listeners to embrace their natural beauty and feel empowered without feeling the need to rely on makeup all the time. There is probably more- comment below if you have any.
Dance
Even kids are pressured to wear it for dance contests. I think the pressure for kids to wear it places a very unnecessary burden on young girls in particular- female dancers are expected to wear far more excessive makeup than their male counterparts.. there's an argument that 'it will wash you out on stage if you don't wear it'- does anybody have any evidence of that? And also would there really be anything *that* wrong with it doing so?
Here's a Reddit thread I found on the topic- somebody who doesn't want their 4 year old daughter wearing makeup- in this thread, it's mentioned that there's a boy in the class, and that he isn't expected to wear any makeup... so doesn't that show an element of sexism there? The girls are all expected to wear makeup so as not to look 'washed out', but the boy isn't expected to wear makeup... so they're not bothered about him looking 'washed out'.... my argument is that they're 4 years old- what does it matter if they look 'washed out'?
We've already debunked the myth about studio lighting 'washing you out'- does anybody have any visual evidence to suggest that stage lighting washes you out? And if it does wash you out, why is the boy allowed to get away with not wearing makeup? If the boy doesn't look 'washed out' on stage, isn't that proof that stage lighting doesn't wash you out? If they don't pressure the boy into wearing makeup, then why do they do it for the girls? Won't that potentially even pressure them later in life (e.g. teenage years) into believing that makeup is a necessity as they've had it conditioned into them from a young age that it's necessary in order to look 'complete'? Some advised the poster to find a studio that doesn't do recitals as 'it's just part of the uniform' during recitals.... however that argument doesn't work because
then there's other studios that allow a bare face? This woman commenting on a thread about the same topic says that she was the only girl in her class that didn't wear makeup... which implies that makeup *isn't* actually a requirement.
The only thing that concerns me about the way the post is worded is "they'll tell you what makeup to wear" rather than "they'll recommend what makeup to wear for those who choose to use it"... I just find it interesting that this studio is perfectly happy with their students choosing not to wear makeup for a recital and that a bare face really doesn't pose any problems on a 9 year old (the only difference it makes is that her face isn't as 'defined' in pictures as the girls who are caked in makeup, but that would be the case even with a group of people wearing everyday makeup vs a bare face), whilst many studios see makeup as requirements (even for 3 and 4 year olds) so as 'not to wash you out'... when people call out that nonsense, people advise them to 'find another studio that doesn't do recitals as makeup is uniform for recitals'... when the idea that 'makeup is uniform for recitals' isn't actually true, as the last two screenshots I've posted here have been about girls who *didn't* wear makeup for their recitals, and that it didn't pose a problem. What I hope for the studios that don't require it for kids, is that there's no upper age limit for a bare face (such as only kids under 10 or so being allowed go barefaced- allow it for all)- I'm not saying to ban stage makeup as a whole for those who wish to wear it- I'm saying to have it be a choice rather than an expectation or a requirement, just like in everyday life. And what I hope for the studios that *do* require it for kids is to have a look and realise that many studios actually don't see it as a necessity, and that it doesn't wash you out as much as some would have you believe, since some studios allow kids to have bare faces for recitals with even parents saying it hasn't posed any problems at all that their kids don't wear it.
Conclusion
I’ve got lots more to say on this topic :)
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