Real conversations with women about the impact makeup has on their lives.
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“She’d say ‘You look better without makeup’, because that’s how she prefers herself and her daughters. It’s nice to hear, from your Mum especially. “
Emily
“I probably wear makeup once or twice a week and it’s only if I’m actually going out or doing something, some activity, other than just going out to the grocery store or out to class. I don’t really feel the need to wear it, it’s more so I wear it when I want to kind of thing. I like makeup but I don’t feel the need to do it all the time and I think that makes it more special for when I do wear it.
Why do you think people wear makeup?
I think it depends on the person really, I think there are probably a few reasons: I think confidence is one of the main ones. I think it definitely can help boost confidence for people who might feel insecure without makeup on, but I do think it can boost confidence for people who already feel confident. It can make you feel like you’re adding something.
Do you think there’s pressure on women to wear makeup?
Yeah, I think especially when you’re supposed to be looking nice in the workplace. It’s perceived that women should be wearing makeup and I think that kind of sucks. If I take the time to do my makeup, that’s an extra 20 minutes of morning that a man in the same position wouldn’t have to spend. It’s meant to show that women almost take more care of themselves when they wear makeup to work, but I don’t think that is necessarily true.
Because makeup wouldn’t impact the quality of her work?
No, it doesn’t impact the quality of her work. The main reason I don’t wear makeup that often is because I notice that the more often I wear makeup the worse my skin, eyelashes and eyebrows are.
If I don’t feel the need to go to work all dolled up, I don’t think that’s something I should be pressured into. I don’t think that impacts how well I take care of my work and myself. If anything, it shows that I take care of myself more: I’m not worried about having something on my face at all time.
Has anyone ever said anything to you about your makeup? Positive or negative?
My sisters! I have big sisters, so they’re always ratting on me. When I was going through my angsty teen phase, they’d make comments about me wearing heavy eyeliner. And looking back on it, I don’t like it either. My Mum has made comments about my eyebrows being too thick when I overdo them, which I tend to do, but that’s fine.
How does it make me feel? I guess with my sisters I don’t really care because they just make comments randomly and I never really listen to them. My Mum I listen to more, so it does make me self conscious when she says something. And good comments, like that I’ve done my eye-shadow well, that makes me feel happy. I don’t really know how to do makeup, I’m always winging it, so doing my eye-shadow well is an accomplishment!
Do you think mothers have a big impact on how their daughters wear makeup?
Definitely! My Mum has never really worn heavy makeup. Growing up, watching her, I feel like the heaviest make I would do is a little eye-shadow and mascara and some eyeliner, and my Mum wears even less than that.
But watching other people, I’ve always felt like the level of makeup I have to wear is lower, because I look like my Mum. I think that is definitely something that played a major role.
She never even really taught me how to do makeup. It was kind of like a touch and go, and me learning, and me taking tips from her. She’d say ‘You look better without makeup’, because that’s how she prefers herself and her daughters. It’s nice to hear, from your Mum especially.
And it’s also a confidence booster. I’d say you don’t feel like you have to wear a bunch of makeup to be pretty, and most people are just pretty as themselves.”
Real conversations with real women about the impact makeup has on their lives.
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