I have been thinking about this subject more often lately, mostly due to the no makeup selfie that has been going around on social media sites lately, but if i'm being totally honest, the wrong perception of what people think about you if you are, how shall I put it? in to beauty in a major way is something I often stumble across, both online and off.
If i'm being totally blunt, I often feel like people will always assume you are an air-headed bimbo if you love lipstick and would rather spend your time painting your nails than playing candy crush. This is not an entirely hard to understand assumption, but I can't help but also feel it's a rather shallow one. Just because you love beauty does not mean you are stupid, or shallow or even vain for that matter, it means you are just passionate about something pretty.
I will confess i'm the biggest beauty addict I know in my everyday life, and often come across sly, little comments from both men & women who just don't understand it. I don't go around talking about what products i'm obsessed with atm to people in my everyday life (I have YouTube for that!) but even the smallest mention can cause people to sadly assume one thing: you are a shallow, vain person. Now of course there is a certain element to loving makeup for example that yes, is vain, But what so many people don't seem to understand is it's not always about vanity. Sometimes, it's more to do with a form of self-respect.
I'm not saying that if you leave the house without a full face of makeup you don't respect yourself, of course not. What I am saying is that for me at least, wearing makeup, doing my nails and just general grooming is about enjoying it. It's not a chore for me, it's something that's like second nature to me and something that gives me great joy. There is something very old-Hollywood about being well-put together even if you are just going to tesco's and it's something that to me, just means enjoying being a woman. Think about how empowering a good red lip and a pair of heels can be when your feeling low, men don't have that option and it's something I think we should enjoy without being judged for it.
I'm not the most glamorous girl in the world, in fact, i'm currently sat here with my hair in a bun and hardly any makeup on at all (I am testing out a new BB cream so I am wearing a little something something, but still) but I would never leave the house like this, and no, it's not because i'm insecure or vain. It's because I think one should always feel good, and making the best of yourself does make you feel like the best version of yourself and I want to be that version all the time, everyday. I love reading (books, not just fashion mags), I can do DIY jobs round the house without worrying about my nails, I love serious movies and I watch the news, do these things automatically make me be perceived as smart? no. So why should a love of beauty make me seem shallow? I don't think every woman needs to wear makeup to look & feel beautiful, but I do think if you choose too, it should have nothing to do with how smart people assume you are. After all, beauty really is only skin deep but who's to say you shouldn't make sure that skin is looking the best it can?
Im totally agree Avia, as a teen managing really mean girls , and finding myself crying in the bathroom in school, the makeup its just beyond been shallow it helping me feeling more girly, glamorous and yes pretty ; I feel that this days even when they are crazy about looking perfect , when they critic they dont look their selfs , and even in my case been the more girly, fashion lover in my house it make me realize that the beauty and fashion community it goes beyond been stupid or shallow its a LIFE STYLE and it is how I am .
ReplyDeleteLovely post A
I LOVE THIS! I feel that makeup and beauty just make me a more rounded person. I also enjoy sports, cooking, reading (especially 19th century lit and biographies), sciences, and learning in general. I think it's important to have a number of interests and the more diverse the better! I dislike how beauty enthusiasts are perceived in our society but I LOVE smashing that perception when people get to know me.
ReplyDeleteThank you for writing about this, Avia. It's a topic I've never felt brazen enough to broach myself.
- Jodi A.
Amazing post and I can totally relate!! I never leave the house without makeup because i feel like one must always look the best they can in public. I do get mean comments about being insecure and all that and how i just use makeup for that reason and although I have to admit I am a little insecure, that isn't the only reason why i love makeup and fashion.
ReplyDeleteThanks again Avia :)