Makeup And Mental Health

Hello, lovely reader. I have wanted to incorporate mental health and beauty for quite some time now. People often equate makeup with being superficial and fake. A work colleague once called out as I was reapplying my lipstick, “who are you tarting yourself up for?” as if our sole purpose for putting on makeup was for the lure of the opposite sex.

I wear makeup because it makes me feel good about myself, I feel more confident and proactive in my daily life. They don’t call it War Paint for nothing! Now, don’t get me wrong here, I don’t hide behind my makeup I use it to enhance what I’ve got and I enjoy the ritual of putting it on. It lifts my mood instantly like a light switch.

It doesn’t matter what you do or what your lifestyle consists of but just incorporating a little indulgence of beauty, be it wearing your favourite perfume or a bit of mascara or getting your brows microbladed can make a world of difference to your overall well-being.

The beauty business is a multi-billion dollar industry that previously targeted women’s insecurities with the advertisement of young flawless models, the image of perfection. Now it’s becoming more inclusive and age celebratory. It’s Pro-Age, not Anti-Age. It’s about pushing aside your insecurities and embracing your true self.

Social media, particularly Instagram and YouTube has had a major effect on the way we view beauty, showcasing airbrushed images of perfect skin and makeup application that can feel unobtainable by young and vunerable people. It can be debilitating on your mental health being bombarded daily by your feed. I’m not surprised so many people are feeling inadequate. What you have to remember is that nothing is always what it seems, people don’t post the worst of themselves. There are tons of filters and apps that can change the shape of faces, bodies etc so don’t believe everything you see. Take it at face value. Focus on you and what makes you feel good. There are many ways to gain inspiration without torturing yourself by comparison.

Tell me what makeup means to you and how you incorporate into your daily life. Even if you don’t wear makeup, what do you do for yourself that makes you feel your best?