Why do we spend the extra 30 minutes in the morning perfecting our faces? 

Research showed that women experience huge emotional and physiological benefits when wearing makeup and studies have shown that women feel more positive, attractive and powerful when wearing makeup. 

Some people feel that the beauty industry created our need for makeup; by making women feel less attractive, less perfect in their most natural form. It suggests this developed from women being perceived in a certain way, the perfectly polished face and of course those chiselled cheekbones. We have all seen the edited pictures either on social media or high-end glossy magazines, we have all swooned over the perfect brow, Right?

Whilst some believe it has been forced upon us as we are made to feel like we need to look a certain way by society. Polished and pruned. Others believe it is the need to control our appearance that forced there to be a beauty industry in the first place. It is reported that the cosmetic industry is worth 93.5 billion dollars in the US market. 

Can an industry that is worth so much be purely based on these polished images we have seen? An industry in its entirety built because we have been made to feel a certain way?

Makeup is my passion; I am lucky enough to work as a freelance makeup artist. Quite frankly I simply cannot get enough of all things Makeup. It is an industry, a craft that evolves constantly, there is always something new being released, new ways of doing something. It’s a forever growing industry. 

Having said this, I do feel that a major factor has been overlooked. The fact that beauty is more than skin deep. Beauty runs to the human core. No amount of makeup can make a person beautiful. Makeup does not define a person’s beauty it simply enhances it. 

It is so important that even with makeup we show ourselves, our truth. The phone apps you can download within seconds that will whiten your teeth, smooth your skin is crazy. It makes the expectations of women unrealistic. It’s not our truth! 

Rather than it being something that can be used to highlight what your mother gave you; these apps lead you into a false sense of security. I gently morphed into an extremely polished version of myself as I smooth my skin, stretch my jawline and lift my eyes.

 It is not reality, being back in front of the mirror I was quickly welcomed by my own reflection, my pointy jawline, and my freckled face. Unedited, unpolished, my truth! 

Makeup to a lot of women stands for a lot of different things;Fun, it allows you to let loose with your creativity, relaxation, an escape, free expression, and armour. It does not always have to be about attraction or acceptance from the outside world. 

The original claim; the beauty industry was forced upon us due to women believing they were not good enough. Got me thinking, back in the times of Ancient Egypt women used Kohl for darkening their lashes and eyelids, chalk was used to whiten their complexion and rouge used to pink their cheeks. The items that were used by Ancient Egyptian women were not forced upon them; they were pure creativity due to the fact women wanted to control their appearance. 

Sometimes, it is a case that we want to wear it. Not to appear more powerful, not to appear more polished or attractive. Just because we felt like it. 

Makeup is an art, it is a form of expression, It can be supportive; it can be inspiring, and it can make us feel better about ourselves. 

But, Ladies, always remember, we are still supportive, we are still inspiring, and we are still powerful, even without our masks. So, it is OK to lift your armour to show your over-plucked eyebrows or blemishes. With or without makeup you are beautiful. 

Whatever your reason for wearing makeup, what you believe is true. 

I will be back, with tips/tricks, hints and hacks for all my makeup-loving girls! Until then keep doing you because that is will what will see you through. 

Written by Carran Smith 

CBeauty: https://www.facebook.com/CarranSmith Mua/ 

Instagram: carransmith_makeup