My sister and I have very different relationships with makeup: She has been using it ever since she no longer needed her hands to crawl; I began when she dragged me to the Clinique counter at Macy's my sophomore year of college (during Christmas season, no less) and had me sit through an entire tutorial. She experiments, whilst I do exactly the basic "makeup for dummies" routine I was taught at that counter. My sister and my reasons for wearing the stuff are entirely different.
Thus, when I asked my sister to write me a piece on why she wears makeup, I figured our stories would be different. I didn't expect that they would be remarkably similar.
Here is her story, exactly as she originally wrote it (well, edited slightly for grammar):
When did I start liking makeup? Honestly, it's been as long as I can remember. My favorite part of reuniting with extended family growing up was having my older female cousins do my makeup for me. Most of my play dates with friends consisted of checking out what makeup products they had accumulated from birthdays or holidays and begging to play with them. Was my excitement to wear makeup because I was trying to impress a new crush? That wasn't even on my radar. Was it to try and look flawless for a new Facebook profile picture? Facebook wasn't even a thing. Was it because I watched my mom put on makeup and wanted to be like her? Most definitely not. On a fancy night she only wears mascara and lipstick. Bottom line, it was always something I was drawn to.
As I became older and crossed into the age where wearing a little makeup was appropriate, my interest and love for it only grew. Then I discovered the world of YouTube and makeup tutorials and began to discover what it was that I found so intriguing about cosmetics. Throughout my life art has always been something I have enjoyed. I always opted for the art electives over others and normally it was what I looked forward to most about a school schedule. I wasn't a bad artist by any means, but I wasn't great. And I never felt like painting or drawing was something I wanted to invest a lot of time doing as soon as I stepped out of the classroom. But as I discovered more and more YouTube personals and watched videos full of new tips, techniques, and styles for makeup application, I was only more excited to try and replicate them either on myself, my mom, my sister, or friends. It wasn't until one day when I stumbled across a drag queen makeup tutorial that I realized how with makeup an entire face can be transformed. It was then that I realized what excited me most about makeup was the artistic aspect. Something that was creative and artistic, but completely applicable everyday of my life.
I won't pretend that beyond the artistic aspect wearing makeup doesn't do anything for me. I know for me and for many others wearing makeup brings some added confidence. I simply feel good with makeup. But there is this judgement that makeup is superficial or fake and the intentions behind it are wrong. Well, I'd like to know the line then. Because someone who throws on mascara every morning is wearing makeup. Someone who does the routine from the foundation to the false lashes is wearing makeup as well.
I spent a gap year traveling abroad where I didn't bring anything more than Chapstick. I played sports including swimming for a majority of my life where makeup just was pointless. And yet for me, putting on makeup still feels very worthwhile.
Wearing makeup doesn't mean you're only trying to look good for someone else or that you lack confidence. It doesn't even imply you're shallow. I think makeup is a great creative outlet and a confidence booster.
Im not really sure what else to write… sorry its all over the place. thats my thoughts
