You Look Better Without Makeup!

Written by Morgan Mullings

With indirectly offensive phrases, it’s not the words itself that hurt — It’s what the phrase implies.

“You’re pretty for a black girl” implies that you think black girls aren’t usually pretty.

“She’s really strong for a woman” implies that women are expected to be weak.

“You look better without makeup,” (and other variations) implies that you think I use makeup to make myself look prettier, and on top of it I’m not succeeding. Some makeup is really expensive, and now I’ve spent that money for nothing? Yikes.

Yes, many women and men use makeup to cover up perceived imperfections, hide insecurities, and they do believe that makeup makes them look “better.” This might have to do with how beauty and cosmetic companies advertise their products, but that’s a different conversation for a different article.

What people should understand, cake-faced or not, is that many people use makeup to enhance the naturally beautiful features they already have, as an art form, or as a profession. Makeup artists are exactly what their title states: artists. Makeup is a conglomeration of many skills that can be learned and improved upon, and adapt to many different faces. And may I just say, it is an art that is to be admired.

A lot people do makeup just for fun, and are quite content with their naked face. Many Youtube makeup gurus are seen bare-faced in public or wear makeup mostly for special occasions.

For those who don’t know much about makeup, different products and different techniques have different effects on the face. I could go into detail for 10 pages, but here are a few examples: Contouring your face with darker and lighter shades can make facial bone structure more prominent. Using a concealer product under the eye can get rid of dark spots and “bags.” Using mascara can make the eyes look more open and awake. Bright lipstick colors are just fun to wear!

There are a lot of different uses for makeup other than making acne disappear, and those who cake their face are not putting on a mask to hide. Persecuting people for doing what they love to do with their body shouldn’t bother you, and if it does, it surely isn’t the makeup artist’s problem. I am fully aware that makeup is not a necessity, so don’t tell me that I don’t need it to be pretty. Beauty is relative — have fun with it! You aren’t a better person (or more beautiful than anyone else) if you wear a naked face.