Makeup. It can be used to cover up a pimple or turn someone into a different creature all together. There's professional makeup, palettes, and individual pieces. Attaining any of these things can be quite costly. There are other costs that come along with owning makeup as well.
First things first: The actual cost.
Concealer: $7.50
Mascara: $5.00
Liquid Eyeliner: $6.00
Blush: $11.00
Bronzer: $12.00
Lipstick: $8.00
Eyeshadow: $10.00
The average total cost for makeup is: $59.50. Now this cost would include buying all of these products. Not everyone buys each and every one of these makeup "necessities" but the average cost for makeup can still easily be around fifty dollars. These costs increase as people run out of makeup, require more professional grade makeup, and different types of makeup needed for movies, special effects, etc. It's pretty easy to see however that makeup is pretty expensive.
People believe that they need makeup in order to make themselves prettier.
This "cost" isn't just a monetary value. It is however something that can cause problems for those who purchase it. Makeup ads focus on the fact that covering up your imperfections will consequently make you a perfect being. Girls become obsessed with this image and will go to great lengths to have this be the case. They start off at too young of an age, trying to put on makeup and end up making themselves look older. As they get to the age when it's more acceptable to wear makeup, they start covering their blemishes, freckles, scars, and anything else that they feel needs to be hidden. They believe it makes them look better and are taught through the media that they shouldn't embrace their natural look. Instead, a natural look should be put on through seven layers of makeup.
Doing makeup is time-consuming.
We've all heard the jokes about girls taking so long to get ready due to the fact that they have to "put on their face." This is extremely relevant however, because putting on makeup can take anywhere from fifteen minutes to an hour depending on how in depth a beauty routine is. There are so many other things that people could be doing in the hour that it takes them to put on makeup. Instead they choose to stand in front of a mirror applying different products to their face.
Makeup can be bad for your skin.
Yes, there are products out there that say they prevent you from getting acne, but the fact of the matter is, makeup clogs your pores. It can be just as harmful to your skin as the dirt that settles on your face throughout the day. If you don't wash your face daily, the makeup can make you break out, which consequently will make you by even more products to cover your newly found pimples.
Makeup is a vicious thing. It's a touchy subject and can be costly. It costs a lot to buy it, a lot of time to apply it, and even more emotion to keep up the appearance you've created after the fact. Makeup can be a good thing for people if done correctly--you can make it highlight your already amazing features and make your eyes pop.