Every morning we do a lot of "putting on." We put on our pants, shirts, socks, and shoes, butter on our toast, and cream cheese on our bagels. We get into such a rhythm of "putting things on" that we forget when enough is enough! Why is it we are so inclined to continue layering and covering things up, especially when it comes to the one thing that is so beautiful when left uncovered?
It's routine for us girls to wake up and dab a little something here and there to enhance our appearance. We feel naked without foundation, ashamed without mascara, and inferior without a little eyeliner. It's essential that we "put on our faces" before we even think about stepping foot in public.
Makeup does wonders. Especially when it comes to those unavoidable blemishes. I mean, I don't know about you, but I just love waking up in the morning to a brand new zit. Nothing makes me happier than the moment when I get to name the second head growing on my face.
Okay, but in all seriousness, for as awful as we make them out to be, zits aren't that terrible. The thing I love most about them is we all get them. They show we are imperfect and flawed, and therefore simply human.
It is comforting to know we can turn to makeup in times of these blemish crises, but there's something to be said for those who can recognize their flaws. I'm talking more than zits now. It's important to understand your imperfections and learn to live with them, rather than let them live your life for you.
Nothing is wrong with a little makeup to make us stand a little taller and walk with our heads a little higher, but we must not let it muddle our perception of beauty.
According to the Merriam Webster Dictionary, beauty is the qualities in a person or a thing that give pleasure to the senses or the mind. I love this definition. More often than not, beauty is associated with physical attributes or anything that is appeasing to the eye, but how often we forget it is so much more than that.
One of my favorite female figures is Audrey Hepburn; she's classy and full of wonderful beauty insight. One of my favorite beauty quotes of hers is, "For beautiful eyes, look for the good in others; for beautiful lips speak only works of kindness, and for poise walk with the knowledge that you are never alone." She didn't say "for beautiful eyes put on two coats of mascara, for beautiful lips apply lipstick, and for poise walk with the knowledge that your eye shadow matches your handbag." NO! She saw depth in beauty, and makeup as surface level.
Makeup is a tool for making impressions. We can't deny it, we wear makeup to impress our friends, our crushes, and even ourselves. Isn't it so sad that half the time we can't even accept ourselves without a little cosmetic help? Out of all the people in the world, we have to spend a lifetime with ourselves, so we better start learning how to appreciate the unique beauty we all embody.
Beauty doesn't come in a lipstick tube but in the realization of our inner worth. No matter how good we may be at creating the perfect smokey eye look, that smokey eye won't be able to tell anyone about the courage, goofiness, or compassion we hold within.
Let's focus less on the "putting on" and more on the "putting out." Put out kind words and actions, put out smiles, laughs, and support. These are the world's true beauties.
The less "putting on" we do to our faces, the more the rest of the population will be inclined to choose to learn how to accept natural and authentic beauty.
