Why "You look better without makeup" is NOT a compliment
I wear makeup for a few reasons. I started off wearing it because my face turns bright red very easily and I find it quite embarrassing. This amplifies the redness and I get and infinite loop of a tomato face and embarrassment. Cue a good coverage foundation.
But lately, the reason why I wear makeup is because I really really really enjoy applying it. I love thinking up of new looks, using different colours on my eyes and wearing lipstick that my mam thinks is "only ok for Halloween". I love the satisfaction of dousing my cheekbones in a new highlighter. I love spending too much time blending out eyeshadows so it's as close to perfect as I can get. I even love the challenge of trying to make my eyeliner even on both eyes. I love buying makeup, spending time applying it, and wearing it. It's the same way as a tech lover loves spending money on gadgets they "don't need" and using them all the time.
On the odd day that I'm not wearing makeup and someone says "you look better without makeup" or "you don't need to be wearing makeup at all" or the worst - "I prefer you without makeup", you're actually just being insulting. I usually spend anywhere between 45 mins to 2.5 hours putting this *art* on my face, and then someone says that. People think they're complimenting natural beauty, but they're insulting my favorite hobby. I don't wear it for the satisfaction of anyone else, but that seems like such a difficult concept to grasp in this modern day and age. I don't feel like never wearing makeup again because I've suddenly realized I'm a natural goddess without it (because I don't think any differently about my physical appearance after you said that). The way I see it, it's like telling a gamer that you prefer them when they don't play games. It doesn't make sense, because it has so little to do with vanity or self image. It has so much more to do with a pastime.
Instead of telling someone that they'd look better without makeup, how about appreciate the work they put into create the face they're wearing today. Compliment their highlight, their blending game, their eyeliner that is so sharp it could cut a man. Don't tell them they're better without it. It's a back handed "compliment" that doesn't really work at all. I'm really not trying to "have a go" at people who say it, I'm trying to show what these words mean to a makeup addict, or at least just me.
And on that bombshell, here's a before and after of me with and without makeup. I'm definitely feeling the turquoise eyelids and some eyebrows...
Stay hydrated,
Sophie
But lately, the reason why I wear makeup is because I really really really enjoy applying it. I love thinking up of new looks, using different colours on my eyes and wearing lipstick that my mam thinks is "only ok for Halloween". I love the satisfaction of dousing my cheekbones in a new highlighter. I love spending too much time blending out eyeshadows so it's as close to perfect as I can get. I even love the challenge of trying to make my eyeliner even on both eyes. I love buying makeup, spending time applying it, and wearing it. It's the same way as a tech lover loves spending money on gadgets they "don't need" and using them all the time.
On the odd day that I'm not wearing makeup and someone says "you look better without makeup" or "you don't need to be wearing makeup at all" or the worst - "I prefer you without makeup", you're actually just being insulting. I usually spend anywhere between 45 mins to 2.5 hours putting this *art* on my face, and then someone says that. People think they're complimenting natural beauty, but they're insulting my favorite hobby. I don't wear it for the satisfaction of anyone else, but that seems like such a difficult concept to grasp in this modern day and age. I don't feel like never wearing makeup again because I've suddenly realized I'm a natural goddess without it (because I don't think any differently about my physical appearance after you said that). The way I see it, it's like telling a gamer that you prefer them when they don't play games. It doesn't make sense, because it has so little to do with vanity or self image. It has so much more to do with a pastime.
Instead of telling someone that they'd look better without makeup, how about appreciate the work they put into create the face they're wearing today. Compliment their highlight, their blending game, their eyeliner that is so sharp it could cut a man. Don't tell them they're better without it. It's a back handed "compliment" that doesn't really work at all. I'm really not trying to "have a go" at people who say it, I'm trying to show what these words mean to a makeup addict, or at least just me.
And on that bombshell, here's a before and after of me with and without makeup. I'm definitely feeling the turquoise eyelids and some eyebrows...
Stay hydrated,
Sophie
I cant agree more!!
ReplyDeleteThanks Emily! I thought it was just me! :P
Delete