Makeup is the key to self expression

Piercing bright lipstick, ghastly pale eyeshadow and a faint blush to contrast; makeup is an art form for anyone to express themself using the appliance of cosmetics. Despite this, countless controversies surround makeup, such as accusations that users are deceiving others with too much makeup. This spurs the question: what is too much makeup?

While it is contended that “too much makeup” looks bad and sets unrealistic beauty standards, in technicality, too much makeup is a myth. Typically, it is not even the quantity of the makeup but the quality that provokes the idea that incredulous amounts of makeup look bad. For instance, a low-quality foundation may create a cakey base, and mismatched shades may look cheap. Still, some find that even the slightest amount of lipstick is “too much,” even if it is of the highest quality.

So what if someone thinks you look bad with too much makeup? It’s impracticable to appeal to everyone and there will always be that person who will find the need to sneak in unwarranted comments about others’ appearances. In the end, if someone is a genuine person, any comments on your makeup should have good intentions in mind.

The argument remains that wearing too much makeup can set unrealistic beauty standards. However, this isn’t completely true, as the media can be blamed for these high expectations, be it airbrushing photos to remove texture from human skin or ridding blemishes entirely from a photograph. If all faces were normalized, this issue wouldn’t occur. But instead, we are stuck with misrepresented edited faces that are passed as all natural. Therefore, it is not those wearing makeup who contribute to unrealistic beauty standards. In fact, the true victims of these heightening standards are those trying to conform to an impossible standard through makeup.

But, you can never win! If you wear makeup, some may assume that you’re ugly. Why should someone be held accountable for what is supposed to be a form of expression? No matter what you do, someone may always be judging you. 

The best thing to do is be aware that not everyone can or will accept you. No amount of makeup is ever too much, and so what if there’s one person judging? Live your life freely; society shouldn’t deem what amount of makeup is acceptable for you.