To Makeup or Not to Makeup: That is MY Question, Not Yours

By Kelly Kinas ‘17

After being inspired by two Buzzfeed articles about a woman not wearing make-up for a week here and another woman wearing makeup for a week here, I decided to create my own challenge. For one week, I would not wear makeup and write down what happened because it’s only science if you write it down. The next week, I would wear a full face of makeup every day and also write down what happened throughout the days. This would be Monday through Friday.

For me the last week of January was my no make-up week. This was very strange for me because I love makeup. I enjoy trying new lipsticks and curling my hair and creating outfits, which include makeup. This week was a totally different experience for me. I felt compelled to apologize that I wasn’t wearing makeup to people when I met up with them because I did not feel like I was worthy of their time unless I looked a certain way.

So to start my challenge, I did not wear makeup for a week. Or let me restate that. I TRIED not to wear makeup for a week. Let me explain. I did nothing to my face every morning when I woke up. But I felt less confident. I felt like people were judging me, even if they just saw me in a passing glance. I also felt more tired throughout the day and needed more trips to the cafe for a coffee refill. This is where the weird part comes in. A common activity for college students to partake in on Thursday nights is to go to a fraternity and chill and party with the brothers. My sorority was “mixing” with one of the houses that I feel extremely comfortable at because I know a large amount of the brothers. I really WANTED to not wear makeup but I felt so pressured by the tradition of how things were always done that I caved. What was difficult for me though was that I felt the need to wear makeup and curl my hair to go to this party. I knew that I would be judged for not “looking my best” by some of the guys. I was so worried about what these random guys thought of me that I did put on a full face of makeup to go out. For me to feel good enough to go out, I needed to wear makeup and fit in. I insanely regret this decision because I think it would have been much better for me to go out without makeup and see what happens. I am a very talkative person and still would have talked to guys but I have a hunch that some of them would not have talked to me. I’ll keep you updated on this progress.

(These are not from the last week of January because I noticed after the fact that I didn’t take any photos of myself. This is part of the problem but look at these other photos of me without makeup~~~)

Something that makes me really proud of the people I surround myself with is that during my week of no makeup, none of my close friends told me I looked “tired” or asked if “I was feeling okay”. My friendships are based on more than what we both wear or don’t wear on our faces. Many of friends complimented me on my face without makeup and with makeup. It also was really satisfying when someone who I used to be close with and am no longer close with made a back-handed comment about my appearance during these two weeks. I was even more confident in my decision to cut that person out of my life. 

My makeup is not usually tied to my confidence level. But in nightlife at most universities, girls feel compelled to wear a lot of makeup and wear smaller shorts. Personally, I see absolutely nothing wrong with this. If one of my friends wants to wear fake eyelashes, go for it! It is when the guys expect us to wear these outfits and look a certain way, that is starts to get dangerous. A little exert for the boys: Girls are going to wear whatever we want and we shouldn’t have to feel the need to dress “sexy” for you, especially if we don’t know who you are. NOTHING WE WEAR IS FOR YOU. If I am wearing something, it is because I want to be wearing it. YOU ARE ENTITLED TO NOTHING FROM ME, NO MATTER WHAT I AM WEARING. If I am wearing a small dress and full face of makeup, that’s my decision. It does not mean I want anything at all from you. If I want something from you, I will let you know. Truthfully, if I am looking damn fine with a face full of makeup (which I do 100% of the time, whether with makeup or without), I am probably doing it for the photo evidence and because I felt like it.

The following week of February 2nd, I wore full face of makeup and a really fun lipstick color every day. I love lipstick. I think a really interesting fun color of lipstick or eyeshadow can change the shape of your face and I think that’s really cool. The first day, I wore a cool plum color, trying to channel my inner Rihanna. I forgot how much upkeep is involved with makeup. I needed to reapply my lipstick twice. I needed to blend my makeup after class because I sweated on the way to class and there were creases. It was difficult. Again, there is a stigma with women and makeup. If I wear lipstick and full face of makeup to class and not “natural” looking makeup, people looking at me twice. Some people were confused, like why would I be wearing that color of lipstick. Literally, because I want to. Also because I was wearing such fun makeup, I wanted to make my outfits look as awesome as possible too. It was rough waking early to do so but it was an awesome feeling for me to step outside with a fully formed outfit and feel accomplished on looking super funky or chic. No one told me to look this way but I did anyway.

(I’m wearing my glasses most of the time because these were selfless taken during the day. But notice the smooth looking skin and killer lipstick *oooooh ahhhhhh*)

7 people on Monday stated how I looked nice when I wore a full face of makeup and a dark red lipstick. 6 people commented on my “pop of color” lavender lipstick and one person said I looked like I was freezing to death. It’s not everyone’s cup of tea, I know but I really don’t think guys understand the artistry behind makeup. They think of it as a way to make us prettier to attract more men. That’s not the point at all. Please get off your high horse of thinking “I’m a male and everything a woman does is to impress me” and come back to reality. Makeup is fun. I know a couple girls who feel the need to wear makeup every day because they think boys will not like them or think they are attractive without it. They “haven’t reached that point yet”. I totally get that but that is such a horrible stigma.

If you want to wear a bright lipstick, go ahead. It’s really fun! If you want to wear no makeup, please feel free. You can rub your eyes and nothing gets messed up. But for the love of GOD, PLEASE do not decide what to do with your own body based a boy’s opinion. Scratch that, don’t decide what to do with your own body based on ANYONE ELSE’S OPINION BUT YOUR OWN.

I learned that I felt ashamed for wearing no makeup and I felt like i had to explain myself when wearing a bright lipstick and a lot of makeup to make sure people knew I was doing this for a blog. I shouldn’t have to explain myself. My lips, my face, my body, MY CHOICE.

You can dislike it. You can love it. But you cannot tell me to change it. If I like it, even if you think it looks horrible, YOU DO NOT HAVE THE RIGHT TO FORCE YOUR OPINION OF ME ON ME. I do not care.

Imagine an ex-significant other or an ex-best friend telling you that they don’t like your makeup or your lack-there-of. You should want to say “Well, your opinion doesn’t matter because you’re not in my life!” That is every random person that gives you a weird look or gives you a thumbs up. I can appreciate your approval because I agree but I can also not care at all about your criticism because you have no power over me.

In conclusion, I felt inclined to explain myself no matter what sort of makeup I was wearing. If I wasn’t wearing anything, I said sorry for looking “bad”. If I was wearing a lot of makeup, I apologized for dressing up. I will not feel that way anymore. This is my body, my choice. People’s random opinions don’t matter at all. I am awesome, intelligent, passion, attractive, and damn cute and no one’s going to take that away from me, no matter what they think of my makeup choices.

Fight on!