Makeup is something different to everyone. Call me crazy, but I see makeup as an art form. Makeup allows me to express myself, gives me a sense of repetition and control in my hectic life, and serves as my downtime.
When I get a new plum lipstick, especially matte, I feel like I'm on top of the world. I feel confident in myself—powerful. It gives me a way to express myself through more than just fashion trends. I can look like who I want to be, regardless of whether people like it or not. Some people feel good in a nice nude, and that's wonderful! You're putting yourself out there in the way you choose, based on your outfit, mood, or whatever else represents you. You can go full-face glitz and glam, or natural, depending on the day; makeup allows you to express how you're feeling at that point in time. I personally love being able to change my look so easily every day just because color can have such an impact in a dull world.
Makeup makes me feel like an artist, and I'm using my face as the canvas. I like trying out new looks and seeing how I feel when using different colors and products. I love the fact that I can be a little more edgy on one day and go for a neutral look in that very same week. I love the brushes, the packaging, the colors. Granted, I don't love cleaning my brushes, but you do what you have to. Makeup is an art form to me because of how expressive it can be. It is colorful, neutral, vampy, and girly. It can be anything you want it to be, and you can do your look the way you feel expresses you. I love contouring, not because the Kardashians do it, but because I feel like a professional when I chisel my cheeks and put a beautiful highlight above, ready to take on the world.
But makeup is also a practice for me; I do it almost daily. It's something I know I will set time aside to do. I will be particular in my form and techinique. I don't always have time to mix up my routine and looks every day, but it's nice to know I will be doing winged eyeliner in the morning. It's a sense of control I have in my life. I may not always be in control of my hair or my senior thesis, but I can control my liquid eyeliner.
As much as I love makeup, though, you have to let your skin breathe. It's healthy to not always wear makeup. Let your natural skin relax, take a down day, or don't. But seeing who you are is a beautiful thing; makeup just enhances how you want to feel. I love seeing girls who go without makeup because they gain a confidence in themselves and know that it's OK not to look perfect all the time.
Makeup or no makeup, everyone is beautiful on the inside and out. So do whatever you want; you are beautiful the way you are.
