Tuesday 14 November 2017

Let's Talk About Makeup

Makeup - very developed art and business of the XXI century which has many advocates, many girls love to play with it but it's also heavily criticized. People go long way making such a sweet thing an evil.

And I wonder WHY?

glitter makeup
What's wrong with putting (or not) makeup on your face? Women always wanted to be beautiful and since ancient times were using tricks to enhance their beauty. Using beetroot to add color to lips or starch to make white, doll-like skin are just basic examples which probably everyone knows. But I'm pretty sure you didn't know that in ancient Greece and Italy women used to put juice of Atropa belladonna berries into their eyes to enlarge pupils. Dilated pupils make an impression of bigger eyes and big eyes have always been associated with young looking face (look at babies, their eyes are huge relatively to face!). But the alkaloids in the berries are strong poison and make a person blurry vision and eyes sensitive to light. These compounds were actually later isolated and used to dilute pupils during the eye check procedure by doctors and have other medical uses but need to be taken under strict doctor supervision!

Well, thanks God, now we have Asian contact lenses to make our eyes bigger.


So what is bad in the fact that girls like to make themselves a bit prettier?


In my opinion, nothing until it's a serious problem of hiding behind makeup and covering insecurities and complexes with it...
What we need to do is, instead of demonising it and putting fault on the whole world for forcing us to look perfect and put makeup (and do all sorts of more or less safe treatments), we should just learn to accept ourselves. I would say that this should be taught at school. Young girls (and what's more horrifying - many older women!) should understand that makeup is just a TOOL and that there is a face without it which is totally OK.
I accept that I have two faces. One with makeup and one without. And I use both of them appropriate to the occasion. I always do makeup when I go to work or go out. But really can't be bothered to do it when I go to do grocery shopping or for a walk. I assume that my face won't scare people out. I would also skip makeup if I meet a friend and we stay home or just stroll to a coffee shop nearby. I have no problem to show my face without makeup to anyone if it comes to staying together in a hotel or beach or... whatever the situation is.

girl with no makeup
My no makeup face :) 


But I usually put makeup if I go to a shopping mall simply because the lighting there is so strong and unnatural that it makes naked skin look way worse than it is! And that's one of the important things to realize - it is not because I'm ugly or have bad skin, in some places it will just look terrible because of light. From the other side when sun is setting down your skin without makeup will look amazing!
I rather advise to take care of skin regularly doing peeling and applying moisturizers, this basic will make your skin look OK (I'm talking about an average person which doesn't have serious skin conditions which require doctor's help). If you don't put effort into maintenance sorry, but it will pay you off!


So what are the reasons I do makeup?



1. I think in this era makeup is part of standard dressing up procedure. It makes me look more professional and put together. If you want to attack me that I'm just following what the world is forcing me to do and all the blah blah I want to ask you why do you wash your hair? Or take shower everyday? People used to do it once a week or a month even. It's not the point to stand against the changing environment but find yourself in it. 


2. I like it. I have always liked since I was a young girl. For me the time I spend putting makeup in the morning is a type of mediation, it relaxes me and I think about many things and get new ideas (the bad side is that it takes me a bit of time tough...)

3. It's fun. Makeup is an art which allows us to play and explore. One day I can look sweet and cute another I put nearly black lipstick and look like a drama queen! I love colors and sparkles! I love seeing how colors blend and make my eyes more blue, gray or greenish... and ohhh how much pretty eyeshadows can iridesce in the sun!


Makeup is made to enhance natural beauty and that's amazing
. We can boost what we have and shine even stronger. Makeup wasn't invented against women but for them! Every single woman feels better and prettier with a bit of makeup and this is why it's worth doing it. Not for the whole world but for own good feeling. Use it, enjoy it but don't let it be your mask!

xoxo
Natalia

plamena petrova evening makeup reykjavik
Makeup by Plamena Petrova


lace evening dress dotti
Dress - Dotti