The first time I ever wore lipstick for anything other than a theater or dance performance was the summer before my senior year of high school. I always felt like wearing lipstick regularly would make me look like I was trying too hard. I didn’t want anyone to think that I was wearing lipstick to try to get noticed. That particular summer I was fortunate enough to be a part of Hairspray the Musical and I met a lot of new friends. One of these friends was a soon to be sophomore in college. We were getting ready at her place for the cast dinner that night when she started staring at me.

“You need lipstick.” That’s what she said as she grabbed my face and started pressing a tube of bright coral color against my mouth. The feeling that I got from having someone my age telling me that I looked great wearing lipstick gave me a huge self-esteem boost. From that moment on, I rarely went a single day without wearing lipstick. On the days that I didn’t wear it, I could tell the difference in how I felt. So thank you, Michaela, for making me realize my love of lipstick and the power it has. I now have at least 8 tubes in my purse at all times.

Being a woman is hard enough as it is, even before you start mixing in all the drama that seems to attract itself to us. We are constantly dealing with self-esteem and image issues. Young women sometimes face these problems more than older women because of the stigmas placed on us by our peers. Something that I've found that really helps me to forget my insecurities is lipstick. Simply applying my color of the day gives me a boost of confidence that allows me to get the day started.

Lipstick has major power when it comes to self-image. We look in the mirror and think horrible things about ourselves. I have a big nose. I hate my ears. Why can’t I grow eyebrows? Let me tell you something: you are beautiful no matter what. But I understand not feeling that way about yourself. So try putting on some lipstick. Even if you don’t have any other makeup on, just a little lipstick can add just the right amount of bright to your aura.

Even when people are getting you down, lipstick can come to the rescue! It’s easy to say we will just ignore the haters, but that is much easier said than done. We can’t help but care about how people view us. When you wear lipstick you automatically give off a vibe of confidence and will command respect from others. Whenever I see a girl wearing lipstick, I automatically want to be her friend and ask what shade she’s wearing. It doesn’t even have to be super noticeable. Just a little light gloss can be enough to give you that extra edge you need.

Anyone who is negative about your lipstick isn’t worth your time. In fact, that goes for anything that makes you happy, whether it’s crop tops, high heels, or nail polish. If it makes you feel good about yourself then nobody else’s opinion matters.

So from now on, start your day by putting on some lipstick. I think you’ll find your day to be much brighter and a lot more colorful.