Do You Need Makeup?
A science based view
Makeup can be a fun way to express oneself or a way to make an extra effort to look more attractive. There is nothing directly wrong with makeup. However, a large number of women feel that they can’t leave their homes without makeup out of fear of showing their real face. Feeling unable to show ones own face in public without covering it in cosmetics does not seem to be a healthy.
Two different reasons for why women wear makeup
A well cited 2008 research paper on makeup use, found that makeup is primarily used for two different functions. It is used for “camouflage” or “seduction”. They found that women who use makeup as camouflage are more anxious, defensive, and emotionally unstable. While women who primarily use makeup for seduction (to look more attractive) appear to be more sociable, assertive, and extrovert. In short, makeup seem to be a way to hide unwanted facial features and a way to not stand out for insecure women. On the other hand, makeup is a source of fun, seduction and identity for more extroverted secure women.
“Seduction” — Does wearing makeup make you more attractive?
Research seem to indicate that women faces with makeup are seen as more attractive. Some data also indicates that women faces with makeup are seen as more competent. When makeup is self applied heavier makeup seem to have a larger effect on attractiveness than light makeup. However, previous research indicates that light makeup when applied by a makeup artist has the most positive effect on facial attractiveness.
“Camouflage” — Can makeup reduce anxiety?
A 2006 study on acne in women analysed the effects of skin care and makeup instructions from dermatologists on the quality of life of these women. The study had two groups of women. Both groups received medical treatment for acne but only one group received coaching from a dermatologist in terms of a skin care and makeup routine. It was found that this coaching resulted in a significant improvement in quality of life and psychological well being compared to the control group.
The problems with makeup
This far we have found scientific research showing that makeup can be used to hide insecurities and increase attractiveness. However, now we are going to look at the negative aspects of wearing makeup.
- Makeup can easily create a negative feedback loop. In short, you use makeup to cover an insecurity, but the makeup itself makes your skin worse, thus you use more makeup to cover up the new outbreak and so on…
- If you use makeup a lot, then you might associate compliments you receive with your makeup look. As a result, you might begin to identify with your makeup look and dislike your true appearance. It is not healthy to go around disliking how you really look.
- Makeup is quite expensive. A study found that the average US woman spends $40 per month on makeup. Furthermore, it takes time out of the day to both put makeup on and remove it.
Going without makeup
- If you don’t cover your face with cosmetics you can instead focus on skin health. You can take care of your skin instead of hiding it. Thus you will reduce the number of breakouts and improve your skin quality.
- If you don’t use makeup and show your “real face” to people in your daily interactions. Then this can lead to a healing experience where you begin to associate your self worth with who you are and not with the cosmetics you have in your face. You might become more comfortable in your own skin.
- You will save money as well as time during the day. Furthermore, you will not have to plan your day in order to protect your makeup.
Conclusions
Makeup can make you look more attractive and it can also be used beneficially to hide facial features one is self conscious about. However, the downside of using makeup is significant. Makeup often make skin problems worse, it can lead to a harmful self-image, and it takes up both time and money. Going without makeup can improve skin health, it can be a healing experience in terms of forming a healthier self image, and it saves both money and time.
Bellow are three videos which highlight the experience women have when they try to go out without makeup as well as the experience of a woman who stopped wearing makeup all together. These examples highlight how most people won’t notice if you don’t wear makeup for a day, how it is not that big of a deal and how it can be healing to at least try once in a while.
However, deciding to wear or not to wear makeup is a personal decision. What is best for you depends on your skin health, mental health, your current relationship with makeup, the reasons for why you use makeup and many more situation specific considerations. Makeup can be fun, it can make you look particularly attractive for someone you are interested in and it can be helpful for people who are very self-conscious.
However, in the long term. My feeling is that a culture where we show more of our honest selves and prioritise health over short term beauty fixes would be an improvement. Mostly in terms of how we look at ourselves and our own self worth.
Sincerely,
Bright Blue Dot
