Makeup's Many Meanings

Eyeshadow, mascara, blush, concealer! Ever heard of these but don’t understand why they’re such a big deal? They’re the foundation (hah) for a much bigger picture.

This blog is meant to help you understand what makeup truly is by explaining all of its complexities. There’s a need for a reliable and educational source about the wide range of topics relating to makeup, and I would like to give you insight to some of my personal knowledge and experiences. If you’re interested in makeup and would like to know more about it, stick around (like some long-lasting primer)!

Doing my makeup is a part of my everyday routine, as it is for many people. I’ve been using makeup since I was in middle school, so I've spent almost half of my life (10ish years) learning to perfect my application methods and finding products that are the best fit for me. I’ve educated myself through watching reviews and tutorials, reading articles, and much more. Friends of mine that don’t have much experience with makeup have asked me to do theirs for special events, which made me feel honored and super excited to be able to introduce them to the makeup world.

I choose to wear makeup for several reasons. One is because it lets me represent myself the way I want to be seen. I’ve had problematic skin for years and that has given me self-esteem issues. Unfortunately, we live in a society where we’re pressured to look “perfect” in order to fit in and feel accepted. Everyone should feel confident in themselves whether they choose to wear makeup or not, but if you feel more confident when you wear makeup, then that is perfectly fine. I get to take control of what people see and how they perceive me (to an extent). I’m incredibly proud and strive to be like people who are able to feel confident in their “imperfections” (the concept of “perfect” is unattainable and doesn’t exist, so why stress ourselves out over it?) [reminder to self]. Many people use makeup to diminish their “flaws,” which if that’s what makes them feel better about themselves, more power to them.

Nikkie de Jager, better known as NikkieTutorials, is a famous Dutch makeup artist and vlogger who has been sharing her makeup journey on her YouTube channel since 2008. In her video “The Power of MAKEUP!,” she completes a makeup look on one side of her face while leaving the other half untouched. She created this video to show those who wear makeup that they should not feel “ashamed” for wearing it and how it shouldn’t be a “crime,” while she talks about the misconceptions as to why people choose to wear makeup.

Besides reducing what you don’t want to be seen, makeup enhances the features you like to emphasize. If you have luscious lips, adding some gloss will make them a focal point! If you have strong cheekbones, highlighter will accentuate them! Canyon Ranch is a health and wellness blog which mentions some really helpful ways to bring out your best features.

Another reason why I love makeup is because it is an art form. I use my face as a blank canvas every morning, and it literally brightens my day looking at all the colors in my eyeshadow palette and deciding which ones I’m going to use. Bellus Academy, which is a cosmetology school in CA, made a great post that compares the similarities of art and makeup. Lots of people use makeup as a creative outlet. It allows you to experiment with your self expression and it helps you find out what you do and don’t prefer to look like.

Lastly, doing makeup is fun! It’s relaxing and it’s meant to be lighthearted. Some consider it therapy. It puts you in a meditative state of mind and you get to ignore the outside world for a little bit. It’s a stress reliever!

Next week, I’ll be going over how makeup first began. Why did people start wearing makeup? What did they use as makeup? How did we get to where we are with makeup? Thank you all for joining me on this adventure. See you soon, raineglows! #raineglowxo #raineglows