By Brittanie Gutierrez |Staff Writer|
Women in the United States wear and spend thousands of dollars every year on different mascaras, eye shadows, and concealers. Seventy-nine percent of women spend $150 or more on cosmetics a year, according to insights.popsugar.com
But why spend so much money and time on makeup?
I believe wearing makeup gives women an extra boost of confidence because they get to enhance their favorite features and have a stronger sense of control in their appearance.
Some wear it for sexual appeal, social acceptance, or because it is fun and helps give them an extra bit of confidence.
When I was younger, I was bullied because of the way I looked; this resulted in me begging my parents to let me start wearing foundation at a young age.
Today I wear cosmetics not for a man or for other women; I wear it because I like it and it makes me feel like I can conquer the world.
“I don’t feel like I need makeup, but I do like to wear it because I feel more comfortable in it. Not that I’m not comfortable in my own skin but it does make me feel more confident,” said student Emily Anne Espinosa.
Often times when I wear makeup I am taken as a superficial person or self-absorbed because it seems like I care more about the way I look rather than issues going on in the world.
This is not true.
I do wear it almost every day but that does not mean that I rely on it to feel beautiful or confident.
Some people make it seem like I rely on makeup for happiness, but I don’t need it to be happy.
“It makes me feel better so why would you not want me to feel better about myself?” asked Espinosa.
Women are judged on every little thing: if we wear cosmetics, we’re shallow; if we don’t wear it we’re considered tomboys and don’t care about appearance.
“Having to wear makeup seven days a week in order to secure your spouse’s happiness seems bonkers. I don’t appreciate too much makeup use, because I know it’s fake and [seems] like the person is afraid to show who they really are,” according to Maressa Brown for thestir.cafemom.com.
It is true that makeup can help change your face into how you want to look, but is it fake to enhance what you like about yourself or to show your true personality?
When women wear cosmetics, they often feel more comfortable than without it; they are enhancing things they like about themselves and not paying attention to the things they don’t like.
“If you feel confident without makeup then that’s good for you, but you shouldn’t talk down on a girl who does wear makeup and feels confident with it,” said student Nancy Castillo.
“It didn’t change me but it did give me that little bit of confidence,” said student Yecica Soto.
Now I am not saying you have to wear makeup to feel confident—to each their own.
What I am saying is that women specifically are judged harshly for their appearance no matter what.
For example, my family happens to live on judgment lane (they’re loving, but judgmental nonetheless).
When I wear makeup to family gatherings, I am often told I am wearing too much. This is because none of the girls in my family wear makeup.
When I show up to a gathering without it, I am asked if I am okay, am I eating right, or more commonly, if I am tired.
This is the case with a lot of women.
The girls I interviewed all answered the same when I asked what are the types of reactions they get when they don’t wear makeup: “Are you tired?”
No, we are not tired, we just were not in the mood to put on a full face that specific day.
Who are you to judge a woman on what she likes?
If she feels beautiful with her choices, than that is the only thing that should matter in the end.
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