Makeup is a wonderful thing. The addiction started off small and consisted of putting on mascara and lip gloss on the middle school bus so my mom wouldn't know. But then I grew up and I bought the good stuff. The stuff that costs more than an expensive dinner. I then started to fall down the rabbit hole. Suddenly, I lived in Sephora and Ulta and I couldn't imagine going a day without putting at least the bare necessities on. I didn't think that my makeup would offend or insult anyone, but suddenly people had all these opinions they felt about the statement I was apparently making. I was told what I should do, what I shouldn't do, and how I was sending out the wrong message. Eventually, the same statements kept being reiterated over and over again until an eyeroll became the only acceptable response.

1. "You look better without makeup."

So... you're telling me I spent 20 minutes perfecting this cat-eye for nothing?

2. "Why would you waste all that money?"

This is not a waste. It's an investment on myself. And let's be honest - if I wasn't spending all this money on makeup, it would probably just go to food anyway. So shush.

3. "Could you hurry up?"

My contour is art. My eyebrows are sculpted. This kind of masterpiece takes time. Be patient.

4. "You're just wearing all that makeup for a boy."

I know this might be shocking, but my makeup is for me and me alone. Try to alert the media.

5. "Guys don't like that much makeup on a girl."

Funny, I don't remember asking, but thanks for the heads up.

6. "You should try a more natural look."

Okay, I can do that and it will still look flawless, but some days I want plum lipstick and a smokey eye, and that's my choice.

7. "Why are you so insecure?"

Since when did makeup equate to insecurity? I'm not hiding my face, I'm enhancing it.

8. "You're basically lying about your appearance."

Honestly, if anyone believes my lips are naturally maroon and that I was born with gold, shimmering eyelids ... that's on them, not me.

9. "Maybe you should spend your time on something more productive."

You mean sleep? Setting my alarm for 7:20 instead of 7:00 does sound nice, but that small change can be covered by my concealer, so I think I'll pass.

10. "You can't be a feminist if you wear that much makeup."

These two things don't even correlate. Argue with me all you want, I'm still going to do my makeup routine all over again tomorrow and I highly doubt it's going to hinder any social movement.

11. "I just don't understand why you think you need it."

And I don't understand why you think I need you to understand. Thankfully, my morning routine is not a group activity, and how I choose to present myself is my business only.