There’s a negative stigma associated with women who love makeup. Some people believe women who wear a lot of makeup are “fake,” “hiding something,” or “probably ugly” underneath their Maybelline foundation. On the contrary, a woman could be wearing makeup for many reasons. She could want to enhance her natural features, experiment with a new color (whether it be her eyeshadow or her lipstick), or she could use makeup just because she finds enjoyment in it. I am one of the ladies (which there are probably many of us) who use makeup for all three of these reasons, and probably other personal reasons as well.

I LOVE makeup – no, it’s not because I want to hide my true self or fool people into thinking my eyelashes are really THAT long. I love makeup because it allows my creative side to come out and play, and I mean literally play, with all of the fun makeup I have and buy. Makeup for me is an outlet of creativity and stress relief, and some days I just want to pretend I’m a makeup artist instead of a double major, dancing, retail working, Dean’s List merit scholar and aspiring psychologist. I love colors and shimmer, and as a performer, it is important to have basic makeup application techniques down because when you have a show – there is little to no time during a performance to touch-up your face.

Within the last year, I’ve really started exploring makeup and all of the different ways to apply it. For example, a year ago I didn’t know the difference between contouring and applying bronzer. To any other person, this isn’t really relevant. But if someone enjoys applying makeup, this difference might be something fun to try for the next time they apply it. Applying makeup is just like art – you have to practice it and find the products that work best for the look you are trying to achieve. And the best part is the possibilities are ENDLESS.

For the record, I don’t really ever have time to apply a full face of makeup. Because of being a dance major, four out of the five week days I usually only apply mascara and a tad bit of concealer under my eyes because I dance most of the week and I sweat a lot. On the weekends, I don’t really find the need to do my makeup either unless I’m working my retail job, or going to some sort of event or gathering. Thursdays are a longer day for me at school, so most of the time I do my makeup after my morning class. But other than Thursday, I only have the opportunity to apply it on Saturdays and Sundays. I enjoy the time I am able to apply it, however, and I don’t think women should feel ashamed for loving their matte and satin lippies, or their plethora stock pile of assorted eyeshadows.

My interest in makeup inspired a blog I started last year as well, and now my little beauty and lifestyle blog has gained a small (but decent sized) pool of readers who enjoy my makeup reviews, tips, and discoveries. My experience blogging about makeup and reading other blogs has showed me this whole online world of beauty bloggers and YouTuber’s who love makeup just as much as I do! This online world wouldn’t exist if women were purely into makeup for the sole fact that they want to attract attention from their gender of preference. This online community exists because people (particularly women) enjoy playing with makeup for the sheer enjoyment of creating makeup looks on their own faces and expressing their individuality through their beauty products.

It is disappointing when people tell me or other girls who enjoy makeup they wear too much of it, or when people say it makes them look “fake.” I personally think my natural face is just as beautiful as my made-up face is, however, the experience of playing with the makeup is where my true enjoyment lies. I’m not speaking for all makeup lovers when I say this, but for me personally the experience makes me happy (and the result of it just happens to work in my favor because then my eyeshadow looks fierce.) I also want to clarify I am in no way claiming there isn’t a woman or man out there who applies makeup for superficial reasons. What I am saying, however, is there is a majority who enjoys makeup for the sole fact it is fun, pretty, and an artistic expression of one’s individuality. If this difference is understood, maybe one day there won’t be a negative stigma associated with makeup lovers and those who could live without it.