If you've ever seen me without makeup on then you know I've got some acne issues. Even with makeup, you can probably tell that I'm covering up some acne. Last weekend, I could have brought makeup with me on a camping trip, but I decided not to.
It would have been easy for me to bring makeup along and to "fix" my face. To hide the scabs, red bumps, and inflammation. To fix the dark purple bags under my eyes. To fix my cheek structure and to make my nose look smaller.
But then I decided to not bring it. I decided to let myself go on this trip without makeup. Without my kind of "shield of protection". Makeup is a shield, but it's also something that's fun for me. There are many different components to the makeup process, and they can be interesting if you want to pay attention to them. Not everybody has to wear makeup -- it's a personal choice. Making a society where it is required for women to wear makeup takes away their choice to express themselves how they want to.
Personally, making the choice to not wear makeup was empowering for this weekend. It let me enjoy the scenery and nature around me. It let me relax and not worry so much about my appearance. This is no to say that people who wear makeup are insecure about their appearance. I wear makeup often and I enjoy wearing it because it's a conscious choice that I make.
This choice of wearing makeup has also been publicized by celebrities such as Alicia Keys, Demi Lovato, and Lady Gaga. Not wearing makeup in a society that constantly blasts the need to wear makeup can be just as empowering as wearing makeup. Makeup can be seen in many different lights. For some, people who wear makeup are seen as superficial or insecure about their appearance. For some, makeup is an art form and it may even become their career. For others, makeup is just part of their daily routine and they don't think twice about it. (For me, it's the annoyance of getting foundation on my hands but in the end, having a solid result.)
Lastly, letting women, and men alike, have the choice of wearing makeup or not is a form of empowerment. Being able to make choices about your appearance and what you spend your time on helps you to express who you are. Coming back to the point of my acne, makeup has either helped or harmed me, depending on its make-up (pun intended). Makeup has been a way for me to cover up spots I would rather not be visible, but in some cases, it has actually worsened my acne. It all comes down to a choice, and deciding what is empowering for you. As long as you wear makeup for yourself, and not for someone else, have at it. We shouldn't spend so much time looking good for people other than ourselves. Because truly, most people don't care if you wear makeup or not.
