Are we wearing too much MAKEUP?
We always hear in conversation that older women wear less makeup and younger women wear “too much.” However, in my experience as a makeup artist, I’ve always found this quite interesting, as it may not be an accurate assumption.
Youth can provide the wrinkle free face and blemish free and toned firm skin that life’s experiences haven’t yet come to show.
So why is it that “the younger ones” are so eager to cover up their fresh faces with excessive amounts of makeup? Perhaps it’s a phase of experimentation with self-expression, or maybe it’s a longing to look older? It may even be a misconstrued idea of beauty constantly promoted by the celebrity world, magazines, pop culture and social media. The irony of this is that the history of cosmetics is closely tied to a desire to recreate the look of youth.
I would like to believe that as a girl transitions into a woman, there may be a level of comfort that she finds within herself that makes her confident without having to mask perceived imperfections, a realization of her unique innate beauty. The woman may also be more in-tuned to what it takes to care for the skin and body so that makeup comes into play as a very minimal enhancement, more as an accessory than a face overhaul. However, the prevalence of cosmetic surgery nowadays could easily squash this notion. Perhaps older women can find and afford more permanent ways to create their desired appearance than a bag of cosmetics and this would explain why they are wearing less makeup.
But older women do not always wear less makeup especially those engaging in cosmetic procedures and younger girls do not always wear too much. I’ve come to realize that it really boils down to the individual and the image of oneself along with the woman’s personality. Working with women of all ages ranging from teens to the elderly I’ve had modest and loud requests in every category. The common denominator is that most wear and request too much in the hopes of hiding perceived problems or they just really, really love loads of makeup to express themselves.
Life can be challenging for women with every decade of age, from hormonal changes with puberty, to childbirth and menopause, problems with acne, pigmentation, sun damage and hair growth… the list goes on. I would suggest through all these stages makeup be used to spot treat rather than create a new layer of flesh. Products have come a long way with achieving a skin like finish to cover blemishes while using very little product. The Internet is also a goldmine for tutorials on the right technique and choices (just be careful who/what websites/channels you follow).
Although this post may have made it clear, my professional opinion as someone with experience in the beauty industry is for all women to bridge the gap between their natural “born this way” look and their “made up look”.
I always recommend achieving this through a holistic approach to beauty: balanced diet, proper hydration, regular exercise, lots of fresh air, sufficient sleep, stress management, good hygiene, customized skincare, visits to professionals like dermatologists and estheticians, use of quality cosmetics, and most importantly living a positive and fulfilled life.
To me, nothing is more beautiful than a warm smile and loving eyes. Be confident in everything that you are, so if someone threatens to wipe your face with a makeup wipe you have no fear! Taking care of yourself inside and out is a guarantee for feeling good, confident, and beautiful without ever having to worry about “wearing too much”.
Looking forward to hearing your thoughts! If you have any questions feel free to ask and i'll get back to you.
Stay tuned for my next post about beauty tips and product recommendations!
