I’m not sure when it happened. It seems as though one day I was a wanna be tweenager trying on my older sister's mascara, and before I knew it I'm standing in line at Sephora deciding that $50 for a small tube of velvet concealer was a solid investment (that’s matter of course). Makeup is one of the first things that come to mind when I wake up.

Will I slim the shape of my eyes with a sharp liquid angle, focus on a dramatic vampy lip color and leave the rest simple? The “look” that I hope to achieve each day is what gets me going in the morning. Of course, I coordinate the theme of my makeup to my hair and outfit, it’s just second nature at this point. Overall, I’m here because I’m confessing that I love makeup and that I need help…or do I?

The earliest traces of a civilization using makeup date back to 10,000 BCE, where both women and men in Egyptian culture used cosmetics and oils as an integral part of hygienic routines. The early use of “makeup” and substances to alter a person’s image were also notably prevalent in Asian, European and African cultures. In each very different location, substances served an array of purposes in religious, traditional and practical senses.

So why is it that a practice dating back to 10,000 BCE still has such an unnecessary stigma in 2016? The topic of cosmetics is one that can be so situational that an agreement, or “middle ground,” about what it actually is and how it can function in a person’s life is hard to distinguish. We all know the tired meme that you need to take a girl or guy out to go swimming on a first date because then their makeup will rub off. You’ll see how bad they look underneath, they’ll be exposed for the lying tramp that they are and you’ll have won a competition that literally no one is entertained by. So funny. File that one next to all the “Y U NOO’s" and John Cena GIFs in the bowels of the Internet.

Well, I propose this: Makeup is art and art is makeup. They are one in the same. I have been studying too hard and for too longer under the Michelangelo’s and Rembrandt’s of the YouTube style guru community to have my craft trivialized in any way, shape or form.

Truth does exist in the claim that people may utilize makeup to mask insecurity. The ability to alter one’s look can become a crutch, holding them back from standing on their own and being proud of who they are. However, more often than not, makeup is not some crippling addiction nor is it a chore that people dread because of an invisible obligation to society. In my experience, makeup is one of the most intricate and exciting ways that I express myself. The interaction of colors, lines, shapes and textures creates a masterpiece that I can not only wear, but repeat, alter and emphasize. The most fantastic part about this idea is that I can do it almost every single day.

Like a master artist, I take pride in my supplies. I save to buy the latest palettes, study mascara formulas like a chemist and purchase the most capable brushes that I can afford. Each shape, size and type of makeup accessory allows me to tell a different story when I use them. Black eyeliner does not just line my lids; it creates an attitude. That contour is not just to emphasize my check bones, but to sharpen the angles of my entire manner. The more highlight that I place into my inner eye corner, the brighter my smile for the day.

I am speaking from personal experience, but I think it’s safe to assume I’m not the only person who feels this way. We makeup lovers play with shadows, tones and consistencies to create an image we can be proud of. Makeup has far surpassed just covering up blemishes or following a certain standard, it has blossomed into a community of art lovers who have found the perfect medium and wield impressive talent. On the other hand, the dislike or indifference of makeup is not something to be ashamed of. Some find cosmetics trivial and unnecessary and that’s a completely understandable position; however as a makeup admirer and amateur artist, I think those Egyptians had a good thing going when they began applying rosemary oil to their skin.

The point is this: As a culture, we are in the process of changing the way we evaluate many concepts, and makeup is one of them. As we progress, the stigma around cosmetics needs to die out. In most cases, makeup is not an obligation, hindrance or constraint. It is an expression of ideas, of style and of emotion. The use of makeup is a booming art form that should be appreciated as much as I appreciate the staying power of quality, waterproof mascara.