In my experience, makeup is something that many college girls, including myself, wear on a daily basis. Whether it's just a simple coat of mascara or full on glam, makeup is always something I did in my daily morning routine. Makeup erased those dark circles from staying up late cramming for an exam, hid those stress-induced pimples, and enhanced or concealed features. In relation, one of the biggest insecurities of many girls in college is going out bare-faced. Why is that?
Today's generation revolves around one certain thing: Looks. Appearance has become so important, maybe even more important than anything else. Take for instance Instagram, Tinder, or even Facebook. Almost all of the time, people are liking pictures or swiping right based on looks. The number of followers or the number of likes someone has is mainly dependent on how attractive the person in the picture looks. It's not really about the witty caption or what the person is really doing, but how well the picture flatters the person. I, myself, am someone who will take countless pictures in different lighting just to get the perfect Instagram picture. In every picture, I have a face full of makeup. Except, I'm not the only one. It's rare to see Instagram pictures where a person is of natural beauty, without doing anything to enhance it. We always try to look our best, even if we don't really need to.
Looks are not only important on social media, but also in job hunting/career situations. Studies have shown women who look more attractive than other women are hired more often than others who aren't as attractive. Why is this? This is because the more attractive you are, the more successful you are perceived to be.
Now back up. How do looks denote success? They don't. However, that's what so many think. Celebrities, who are successful and popular and beautiful, that is the standard of beauty so many desire. But what they don't know is how much effort they put in every day to take care of their health and their looks. Celebrities work out for countless hours every day to maintain their bodies. They get expensive facials, or even surgeries to always look perfect. Professional hair and makeup artists lavish them every red carpet event.
So why, as normal everyday young women, do we try to strive for this unattainable perfection? Why are we so insecure when our mask of makeup is gone? Being attractive will not make you successful. Makeup will not make you successful. Yes, it's okay if you do your makeup to engage your creative side, or if it's something that you're passionate about. However, it should not be the one thing that denotes your daily confidence. Yes, makeup can help gain attention and popularity, but it will not make you successful. What will make you successful is hard work. What makes you successful are those late-night study sessions and coffee-driven days. So don't be afraid to go to class or the grocery store without looking perfect. Don't be ashamed to show your dark circles or uneven complexion. Embrace your natural beauty. Embrace the hard work that your face is reflecting because at the end of the day, the one person who's the harshest critic of all, is you.
