Women and makeup have the weirdest relationship in the world.

Women who choose not to wear makeup are either viewed to be fighting against the social expectation of femininity or to be careless about their appearance. Meanwhile, women who choose to adorn their face with makeup, whether it's just a natural dash of mascara or a full-face of foundation, are often seen as insecure.

Honestly, in this society, women just cannot win.

But for someone who has loved makeup upon first discovering YouTube makeup tutorials in high school, I understand the negative connotations that go along with people constantly commenting on how I wear makeup every single day.

I will admit, in high school I did feel extremely insecure, which was one of the reasons I chose to wear makeup. Once I started using foundation to cover my unsightly pimples that had arisen after puberty, I felt like I couldn't stop. But as time went on, I began to wear less and less makeup. Today, sometimes I even choose to forgo my typical makeup routine for an extra 20 minutes of sleep in the morning.

With a new love for my face sans makeup comes the common disbelief from others about my claim that my insecurities have all but vanished. Some people simply cannot grasp why I still choose to set aside those 20 minutes for makeup every morning even though I feel more confident in my skin than ever before.

I have a stunning news flash for y'all: makeup is not all about covering up insecurities. Over the years, makeup has come to mean so much more to me.

I wear makeup because it empowers me. Nothing makes me feel more confident than dark red lipstick. I have completely fallen in love with the feeling of glancing in the mirror and knowing that I look fierce with my eyebrows lined in dark brown. Why would I stop doing something that makes me feel good about myself?

However, the main reason I still choose to wear makeup most days is because makeup is an art form. I have always wished I could be an artist, but I've simply come to accept the fact that I cannot draw or paint to save my life. But with years of practice, makeup comes easy to me now.

Makeup is a way to express my creativity on my own body. I can change it up everyday. It's a calming 20 minutes in the morning to be able to put on makeup, using my face as a canvas so I can be the artist I've always dreamed to be, no drawing or painting skills required.

So next time you look at the woman who chooses to paint a cupid's bow on her lips every morning or winged eyeliner on her eyes every night, consider that maybe it isn't because she feels inferior without it on. A lot of women use makeup as a way to empower themselves and show their creativity.