Makeup: Expression or Expectation?

"You look tired today! Are you alright?

"Ah, no I'm fine. It's probably because I'm not wearing any makeup today!"

Sound familiar? It probably does. 

I feel like makeup has definitely drifted from a form of expression to an expectation. I certainly feel more 'put together' when I have a face of makeup on but is this my own opinion, or one that has been ingrained into me?

Don't get me wrong, I often enjoy putting makeup on. I find the process therapeutic and love how a single swipe of bold lipstick can completely change both how I look and how people perceive me.

But as soon as it becomes another chore and just another task to complete in my busy morning, I begin asking myself:

Why are you doing this??

I feel like I have to have a reason for not wearing makeup. Perhaps I'm having a lazy day or just popping to the shops with mum, maybe I've got spots so am letting my skin 'breathe a bit,' or the climate is too hot and I'll sweat it all off. 

I think we all forget that how we look at ourselves is usually very different from how others do so. I distinctly remember walking to lectures in my first term of university with a course mate. She said my eyebrows looked good and asked what product I was using, so I replied:

"Really? I'm not actually wearing any makeup today."

"Wait, what?" She turned, "you're not wearing anything?"

"No," I mumbled. 

"Wow, you have a really good face," she nodded. 

I blushed and walked ahead. She was American and I can safely say, although I don't want to stereotype, that they are much less prudish when it comes to compliments than us Brits. 

I think it's so easy to view ourselves as plain without makeup these days. Don't get me wrong, it comes with its huge advantages. The confidence it gives to people is amazing and this should certainly not be frowned upon. It also provides careers for very talented people, and opportunities to don a different face in an expression of creativity. It is when people feel that they should hide behind makeup in order to appeal to a certain expectation that it becomes a problem.

I'm not sure when makeup became a staple in our lives, but I think it should be the person's choice, and not a decision enforced upon them. And I guess that's all I have to say for now x