Since the day I was born, I had very fair skin. Along with fair skin, I have had severe rosacea for as long as I can remember. Rosacea can flare up at any time, whether it’s because you are under emotional stress or even if you are exposed to heat for too long.
Either way, it is there, on your face for everybody to see. Therefore, I began to wear makeup to cover it since I was about 11. I have always heard, “You don’t need makeup! Natural beauty is way better!” I agree. Natural beauty is way better, however, naturally, I do not have what everybody classifies as natural beauty, and I am OK with that. I have a bright red nose and cheeks that I prefer to cover when I am around my peers.
Different people we meet are facing different things every day. Everybody has different body types, hair colors, interests and styles. No two people are completely alike, even twins, and that is special. So, when you access any sort of social media today, there are a ton of people who want to place shame on others for what they are doing to make themselves look and feel good. Whether they are too fat, too thin, too tall, their hair is too curly, too short, they dress “weird” or they wear "too much" or "not enough" makeup, they are being criticized. We are afraid to admit that we feel good doing what we are doing for ourselves, but why?
So, we should ask ourselves, what is the real reason we wear makeup?
Is it to impress boys? No.
Are we are insecure? No.
Because we don’t love ourselves the way we are? Not even close.
Many people (myself included) wear makeup because it is fun! It gives you the extra confidence boost you may need, and it is simply just fun to play around with. If makeup is that extra boost to make somebody feel good about themselves, why would you put that down? Everybody has something they do to their appearance that makes them feel better, and for some people, that just happens to be wearing makeup.
As you can see in the photo above, half of my face has foundation and half does not. It makes the difference. When I have even just foundation on, I feel 110 percent better about myself. There are days when I lounge around and I don't feel the need to put makeup on, but if I am anywhere in the public eye, it is a much better first impression than a face that looks covered in red splotches. People respect me more and take me seriously with clearer skin.
I am comfortable with the body and the skin I am in. I just happen to have rosacea. It does not control my life, but it is a part of my life I refuse to ignore. I have been shamed for wearing makeup before, but it does not hurt me. Makeup can help my confidence, but on the inside, I am already confident in who I am. The ones who are probably shaming you for wearing too much makeup are the ones, in fact, who are not able to be confident with themselves on the inside, so they have to shame others for their outward appearance.
