As girls (or even guys), we tend to disguise our beauty by covering our faces inexpensive and false advertising. We believe that if we shellac our face to hide the way we truly look, we may be more appealing to those around us. Sometimes we even think it may help us gain friends or approval in society. Makeup may seem to be a way of dressing up for a date or a way of hiding a mountainous zit on your nose, but it has become a standard that our generations' women feel compelled to live by.
Some of my closest friends and other people I know are not comfortable going outside the borders of their homes without some sort of application to their face. Even if they are going to sweat it all off at the gym anyway, makeup is their comfort. It is their way of hiding, and unfortunately, that is the truth for so many girls out there. By hiding under a mask, one is able to cover up insecurity and fear that may be lurking. For example, that fear may be judgment, other people, embarrassment, rejection, and more. Makeup is like war paint and it allows us to feel convincing and more put together than we may actually be.
We use it to be a warrior. Makeup is like armor going into battle. For football teams going into the playoffs, war paint helps cut down on glare on the field. In this instance, makeup cuts down on our body image anxiety. It keeps us focused on other things than the look of our own face. It even helps us camouflage ourselves into society, similar to how war paint has helped soldiers blend into their surroundings since World War II. By putting on that shield of protection, we feel we can conquer anything.
We use it to look polished and put together. I'm not going to lie and say that makeup doesn't help me feel better about the things I wear or how I desire to present myself in public. If the clothes I'm wearing seem professional or classy, makeup can help my face match the style I'm trying to achieve. During events or other occasions, groups put on war paint as a sign of togetherness (i.e. a football team, sporting events, charity runs, and more). Makeup is a way of feeling polished and a way of putting on a "finishing touch."
We use it to feel strong and confident. If you've never put on war paint, you should try it some time. You look in the mirror and you automatically feel the need to flex your muscles and make a manly sound. Makeup helps create confidence and strength; we may feel as if we can tackle anything. It shows intent in the way we go about our day. Makeup can add a level of confidence that some people need and desire.
We use it to gain authority. We often want to demand control or develop establishment with others whether we realize it or not. It could be in an actual position of power, or simply our position in a friend group. We want to fit in and have friends with whom we can connect. War-paint adds a level of presence for those who are wearing it, while makeup allows us to feel bold in our social roles. The queen bee in high school stays queen bee by dominating over all her subjects. Makeup can hide our insecurities and make us more comfortable around others, creating self-assurance. With makeup, we may be able to establish who we are to whom we want to be with.
We use it for enhancement. It's pretty obvious that one won't go into a war without a weapon; that just doesn't make sense. Weapons enhance the way soldiers fight and give them a boost. Makeup is a "weapon enhancement" for taking on life.
We use it for identification. If you have a record of wearing makeup every day, it may seem a little odd showing up to school or work without it. A person's standard appearance may help others recognize them (like the way Native Americans used war paint to sort out their own). Makeup may do the very same thing. It can place recognition within a group, society, or even among friends.
Even though it may be a strange comparison, makeup is similar to war paint in many ways. But it's a problem our society faces because our women and men feel as if they need something to feel more secure with themselves and those around them. There's nothing wrong with the way we look naturally, no matter the day or circumstance.
I won't deny that I'm guilty to the trend and feeling of safety that makeup brings. I will say that some days I desperately need the ego boost of feeling comfortable in my own skin; my favorite outfit won't always do my self-worth justice. But I've realized as I streak foundation across my cheeks, that makeup is war paint in disguise. Our society has fallen captive to its deceptive nature and has stopped believing in the true nature of how we were made.
If you wear makeup every day to hide behind the way you were made, I encourage you to step outside your boundaries sometimes. Go out for coffee, go on a date, or go run a mile mascara-free. Find strength and confidence in who you are inside, rather than what is on the outside. Maybe even focus on your inner qualities and personality and how people perceive you that way. You may benefit more and learn something about yourself along the way.
