We Are All Beautiful
Sherrell Martin
Issue date: 4/29/08 Section: Opinion
Are women beautiful without makeup? Growing up in a Christian home, I was not allowed to wear makeup. The only permitted cosmetic was lip gloss (uncolored) and lip balm. My parents let it be known that my appearance made a social statement; it advertised how I viewed myself and how I wanted others to interact with me. Of course as a child this concept made no sense to me.
As I began to question my parents' rules I learned that my mother felt this way because of the teachings she was receiving from her church (my mom is Apostolic). But my father (my dad is Catholic), on the other hand, taught this lesson to me because he believed that there was nothing more beautiful than natural beauty.
My parents considered makeup a form of artificial enhancement that I would not be allowed to use. Instead, I was taught to love what I was given by God and make it work. I was reminded that I was smart and beautiful and my walk should exhibit just that. My father told me that I should never be ashamed to show the world the real me. Many men have the idea that women who wear makeup are trying to conceal who they really are. While actually many women are simple trying to hide imperfections and improve assets.
As a child I did not wear makeup because of the rules of the house, but now I don't wear it because I don't want to. I am beautiful without makeup.
I have to ask, "do women really need makeup?" Do we really need lip stick and blush to feel gorgeous, or is it just a mask we use to allow ourselves to be someone else? Ladies, are you different when you wear makeup?
By no means am I telling you that you are not attractive if you wear makeup and in return I ask that you not criticize me for not wearing makeup. It is safe to say that makeup does enhance the features but women should know that they are beautiful no matter how dressed up their faces are; the smile, the twinkling eyes, the sassy walk and the amusing banter is who we really are.
There is absolutely nothing wrong with giving Mother Nature's work a little touch-up now and then but the overuse that some apply, makes the rest of us wonder who is actually under the mask. As women, we most certainly care how we look and we should. Appearance is sometimes the only impression others will get from you.
I do understand that women have used cosmetics since ancient times. Some historians may go as far as saying that ancient Egyptians are largely responsible for our Western sensibilities about what forms of cosmetics are acceptable to be used. This topic is as old as time and by no means am I trying to discover which is best. But I do have a challenge for all the ladies who wear makeup on a daily basis.
For one day only go with out makeup. Not wearing makeup for a day seems like it would be a good way to assess the effectiveness of the makeup that is worn daily; after all, feedback to going barefaced is a sure way to see which works best for you.
As I began to question my parents' rules I learned that my mother felt this way because of the teachings she was receiving from her church (my mom is Apostolic). But my father (my dad is Catholic), on the other hand, taught this lesson to me because he believed that there was nothing more beautiful than natural beauty.
My parents considered makeup a form of artificial enhancement that I would not be allowed to use. Instead, I was taught to love what I was given by God and make it work. I was reminded that I was smart and beautiful and my walk should exhibit just that. My father told me that I should never be ashamed to show the world the real me. Many men have the idea that women who wear makeup are trying to conceal who they really are. While actually many women are simple trying to hide imperfections and improve assets.
As a child I did not wear makeup because of the rules of the house, but now I don't wear it because I don't want to. I am beautiful without makeup.
I have to ask, "do women really need makeup?" Do we really need lip stick and blush to feel gorgeous, or is it just a mask we use to allow ourselves to be someone else? Ladies, are you different when you wear makeup?
By no means am I telling you that you are not attractive if you wear makeup and in return I ask that you not criticize me for not wearing makeup. It is safe to say that makeup does enhance the features but women should know that they are beautiful no matter how dressed up their faces are; the smile, the twinkling eyes, the sassy walk and the amusing banter is who we really are.
There is absolutely nothing wrong with giving Mother Nature's work a little touch-up now and then but the overuse that some apply, makes the rest of us wonder who is actually under the mask. As women, we most certainly care how we look and we should. Appearance is sometimes the only impression others will get from you.
I do understand that women have used cosmetics since ancient times. Some historians may go as far as saying that ancient Egyptians are largely responsible for our Western sensibilities about what forms of cosmetics are acceptable to be used. This topic is as old as time and by no means am I trying to discover which is best. But I do have a challenge for all the ladies who wear makeup on a daily basis.
For one day only go with out makeup. Not wearing makeup for a day seems like it would be a good way to assess the effectiveness of the makeup that is worn daily; after all, feedback to going barefaced is a sure way to see which works best for you.
Viewing Comments 1 - 3 of 3
Wendi
posted 6/18/08 @ 10:20 PM CST
I work in the veterinary medical profession, where most of the women I work with do not wear any makeup, nor do they have a hairstyle besides a pony tail. (Continued…)
Glenn
posted 8/25/08 @ 4:23 PM CST
We've gone beyond cosmetics now.
Go to room.tv and click on the beauty reel
Now we're doing digital video manipulation to smooth out skin and shrink waistlines. (Continued…)
movers
posted 7/16/09 @ 12:53 PM CST
It's true that makeup can be good in moderate amounts, but some people really overuse it. I prefer a makeup-less look, but everyone has different preferences. (Continued…)
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