Makeup: Why the daily ordeal?

Recently, when chatting with my good friend, we happened upon the topic of makeup. Both of us agreed that makeup is gross and a vast waste of energy, time, and money. And yet why is the cosmetic industry a worldwide phenomenon of over $170 BILLION annually? To really delve into the subject, I decided to do a little research with the wonderful google machine, since I really can't be bothered to do much more research than that. We are a society of skimmers, it's true. But that in itself is a completely separate blog. Back to business. So why is it that both women and men work so hard to cover themselves up? To present a fresher, younger, happier, more sparkly side to the world? Is it really so important that we not show who we really are? Are wrinkles and scars that much of a deterrent to those we may call future friends or loves?

I myself have little to no interest in makeup, as shown before. If I do ever apply anything, it is mascara and lip gloss. The mascara and gloss must be tediously applied until it almost looks as though I'm not wearing anything at all- almost completely pointless, wouldn't you agree? And yet this time drain is a ritual done not only to appease my mother and friends when we attend formal events, but in what sometimes seems a desperate attempt to catch the eye of a certain someone. Realistically speaking, how likely is it that a small amount of black cream applied to our upper eyelashes will reign your soulmate in? Heck, I think some would just settle for a nice guy. Is that extra sheen on our lips doing it for you boys?

It sounds ridiculous laid out in such a fashion, and yet, people buy it. Not just mascara, but foundation, blush, bronzer, any part of your skin, the cosmetic industry has something to cover it up with. I recently attended a Mary Kay party. For those of you who have never attended one, it's basically a get together of people interested in Mary Kay products, or to support someone who is a consultant. I was of the latter group, since I have no idea how to apply anything. At the party, we got to try every product under the sun. I was intimidated. All the girls around the table picked up fluffy brushes, brushed on powders, and dabbed creams as though they had done it every day of their lives. And then it dawned on me. That's exactly what they did!

I'm a girl who loves her sleep. Having suffered from insomnia my entire life, I cherish every minute I enjoy in my bed, blissfully ignoring the "early bird". I used to think, if the worm can't wait to do business until noon, it isn't worth my time. And yet, on high school trips, at sleepovers, in my college dorm bathrooms, girls wake at the crack of dawn to begin their morning rituals. Some waking as early as 4 am, just to perfect their looks. What could possibly possess girls to put themselves through this? How can they possibly stand to work on their appearance for HOURS before their day even begins? I asked a friend about her typical day, as she told me her schedule. She said she wakes at least 3 hours before any event she has in the morning, say her first class, in order to have enough time to get ready. Starting with a shower, she said she spends at least 30 minutes lathering, shaving, and cleansing. From the shower, she goes to her blow dryer, straightener, and curling irons, all of which can take an hour or more. Depending on the day of the week, she may pluck or tweeze where needed, another good 15 minutes. After being thoroughly purified, she proceeds with her daily makeup routine. Moisturizer, foundation, bronzer, blush, mascara, eyeliner, lipstick, lip gloss, shimmering body powder. Loading all these products onto her face take at least 30 minutes. So far, my friend has spent more than two hours getting ready, and she hasn't even chosen clothes or jewelry yet!

Why the ordeal? Is makeup really worth the trouble? I asked another friend why she wears makeup, after her comment that she "could never leave the house with a plain face". She replied, "Makeup is a way of accentuating your natural beauty. It makes pretty girls look prettier." But does it really? I was lucky enough to be born with skin that rarely breaks out. And yet this apparently lovely skin needs to be covered in layer upon layer of product. At the Mary Kay party, I had at least four kinds of powders and creams layered on. By the time we where done, I didn't even recognize myself. True, my blue eyes looked out from my face, and my nose ring still twinkled from my right nostril, but the rest... it was so foreign. The dark under-eye circles that have always haunted my face were gone. The slight redness around my nose and chin, vanished. All these seem to be good, right? But in the process, I lost the freckles I adore, and the rosy glow in my cheeks. I was frustrated to find that once my natural blush was covered, artificial blush was to be applied as well. "Well doesn't this just seem like a complete waste of time," I had huffed to myself. Was I happier with a cleaned up version of myself?

Simply put, no. After an hour of rubbing and brushing and sponging and dabbing, I was completely unrecognizable. I was hot, my face itched, and frankly, I wanted to go home. But when the section of complementing each girl's look came to me, I was pleasantly surprised that almost all the girls in attendance thought I looked great. That the gloss I had picked really matched my true lip color, and that I didn't look fake. Suddenly I was thinking to myself, "Yes, Tessa, you can do this! You can get up a little earlier every day, spruce yourself up, and who knows what will happen?"

Of course, being me, this endeavor did not become a life changer like I had briefly hoped for. The dorm hours of staying up til midnight at the earliest, followed up by classes at 8 am did not leave much hope for such a change. Instead of sacrificing sleep I desperately needed, I slept in. 'Til 7:45 some days, finally pulling myself out of bed, grabbing the first clothes I see, hair hastily tied back, and out the door in 5 minutes. Some might be horrified by such behaviour. Certainly my mother, though she loves me so, claims that I need to put more stock in my personal appearance. But at the end of the day, would taking those extra hours, or even extra minutes, make me a happier person? A prettier, more attractive person? Maybe. But like I said, if the worm can't wait until noon to do business, it isn't worth my time. And in the same way, if a person cannot see past tired eyes and slightly crazy hair to the interesting and unique person I am, then they aren't worth my time, or your time for that matter!

I honestly have nothing against people who wear makeup. It can be a confidence booster, it can help hide your flaws, it can even keep you healthy, say if you're using a moisturizer with SPF to protect your skin from the sun. All I know it that makeup is not for me. I just wanted to give a brief glimpse into the life of a girl who isn't into the products. Knowing this blog will leave me with tired eyes in the morning, I sign off. I can't wait to see those dark circles in the morning. :)

With much love, Tess