Does Make Up Define Who You Are?

[The Big PINK One♥]

I was reading this over at BELLASUGAR and thought to myself... since when does makeup constitute who we are in society. Here's what the article was about.

Do You Think Makeup Is Empowering?

I've always found it odd that some people think you can't be a smart, with-it, independent woman and enjoy wearing makeup. Hello? The two aren't mutually exclusive! It's not as though there's a secret society of with-it ladies that bans lip gloss. (In fact, noted feminist Gloria Steinem has some of the longest, most neatly manicured nails I've ever seen.)

That's exactly the topic that this article examines. While the author acknowledges the fact that women, not men, are expected to wear makeup, she also argues that using cosmetics was historically a form of empowerment—and even rebellion. She points to the late 1930s as an example, arguing that although most men disapproved of noticeable makeup, women decided to buy cosmetics anyway. And wait until you hear what they were buying:

Volupte introduced two new lipstick shades to American women, labeled "Lady" and "Hussy." "Lady" was marketed toward women who prefer lighter shades and "quiet, smart clothes and tiny strands of pearls," while "Hussy" was developed for women who wear dark shades and "like to be just a little bit shocking," according to Mademoiselle magazine in 1936. "Hussy" outsold "Lady" five to one.

I so wish I could buy a lipstick called Hussy. Anyway, while I don't agree with everything the writer says—I think looking good can be empowering, but wearing lipstick alone isn't going to smash sexism—it's an interesting read. And so I pose the question to you: Do you feel empowered by wearing makeup? Or is it just something you happen to do?

Now here's where I was confused. I always thought it was the other way around, that if you were successful and independent that you would actually WEAR MAKEUP. Not the other way around. I always thought that women who wore makeup where the ones who were percieved as the womens woman. She's sophisticated, very well put together (or at least tries to be) and GROWN! I never looked at make up as empowering. I always looked at it as... MAKEUP! Its a cosmetic that you use to temporarily enhance your natural features.

But if you are like these people and see a woman with brightly colored shades on, would you consider her a hussy? or some sort of tramp or lose woman? Or would you see her as just being FEMININE? The same goes for someone with subtle makeup... would you automatically consider her professional or career oriented?

Im quite confused with some of the views of today's society.
More so because I feel like, once that makeup comes off, who are you then?

So I ask, Do you define who you are by wearing makeup?

[cloudxtears]

I agree with you I've always seen make-up as make-up. Maybe it's our time period, cause it's so normal to wear it now. Plus in the article, it said it used to be a form of rebellion.

I never really thought make up had any connotation to success or whatever. There have been sucessful women with less make up, and unsuccessful women with a lot on. Also, the amount of make-up put on could have a lot to do with insecurities. But i do believe that based on personality, people will choose different make-up choices. Like, me and my friends are all different and we all like/wear differnet types of make-up. It's kinda like how your clothes define you, make-up does the same thing. I love eyeliner, and bold, vibrant eyeshadow colors. Some of my friends only put some eyeliner on, some only wear more natural colors, and some of my friends choose not to wear makeup at all. That's where i think it's a personality thing.