Makeup is truly wonderful.
Makeup allows us to conceal and brighten those dark bags under our eyes after late nights of studying, it allows us to add a wash of color to our cheeks, it allows us to lengthen our lashes and accentuate our brows, it allows us to cure and cover up those wretched pimples, and it allows us to shade and plump our lips.
Overall, makeup allows us to open the door to a whole new world of creativity, experimentation, and exploration.
Unfortunately, there are people -- deemed as “makeup shamers” -- who emotionally attack women for wearing makeup, claiming them to be “fake,” “insecure,” or having the need to “impress others.”
As an attempt to shut down such beliefs, YouTube beauty blogger NikkiTutorials uploaded a video entitled The Power of Makeup. In this video, Nikki takes a stance against makeup shaming by demonstrating a tutorial in which she applies makeup to only half of her face.
Nikki began this tutorial by announcing that she has been noticing how “girls have almost been ashamed to say that they love makeup,” and that, “Lately, it is almost a crime to love doing your makeup.” These are not emotions or opinions that women should have to experience, especially in a world that promotes the freedom of expression.
After publicizing her tutorial, where she conclusively exhibits half of her face with “full-on glam” and half of her face as “raw [and] unedited”, Nikki sparked an anti-makeup-shaming revolution.
All over social media, women have been posting photos with half of their faces fully made up, sporting the hashtag #ThePowerofMakeup. In each post, women describe what they love about makeup, and also how they love themselves with and without it.
Now, Nikki also makes an important note at the end of her video when she stated: “By no means [do] I want to say that if you have insecurities, you should slap makeup on, feel better, and just never be content with your own self. I just want people to know that makeup is fun, and that there are no rules to makeup.”
Essentially, Nikki is proclaiming that makeup is an incredible tool to have at your fingertips to experiment and play with, but do not see it as a mask that you feel you must always wear. As hard as it may be -- believe me, I know from experience -- it is important to love and see yourself as beautiful, both with and without makeup.
In the meantime, however, this concept of “makeup shaming” truly needs to come to an end.
I can personally state, maybe even for other women, that I have never worn makeup for anyone other than myself. I love to put it on and experiment with different shades and colors on some days, and other days I love to sport a bare face. And though it may be difficult to see through my imperfections sometimes, I am still able to acknowledge my beauty and unique features -- both with a full-on glam face and, a raw and unedited face.
I wear makeup because it is fun, and there is nothing shameful about having fun.
