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Challenge the Idea of Beauty
In my early 20’s, I went to a make-up workshop with my best friend.
Most of the girls at the workshop had this glint of hope and anticipation in their eyes. I realized that this wasn’t just about making yourself prettier; this was their first step to becoming a more confident, mature and successful woman.
When the instructor needed a model to demonstrate on, he picked the prettiest girl. Although it came as no surprise, it struck me that we’re all being judged solely by the prettiness of our faces in that room.
From then on, I’ve regarded the beauty industry with mistrust. It irked me that most of the industry is built on the basis that we’re not pretty enough.
That said, I know the way the industry markets its products and the products themselves are two separate issues. Beauty products are not necessarily self-esteem bashing things. In fact, I admire beautiful makeup and respect it both as an expression and a skill. It can even be an art form. Like every skill or art, it should express you, not hide you.
It’s perfectly fine to wear makeup if doing so makes you happy.
The problem arises when the pursuit of beauty stems from a desire to look like someone else because we’re unhappy with our appearance, and when it overshadows our personalities and abilities.
