As an avid makeup enthusiast, I cannot tell you how many full faces of makeup I have worn out in public or even just in my own home, only to be asked: "What are you wearing so much makeup for?" The question has always irked me and made me feel as if my makeup is only a way to show off and not worthy of being appreciated within itself. Makeup is something I do for fun and I'm tired of being made to feel bad for wearing it without a reason to.

I discovered my passion for makeup in early 2017. I had known before that I enjoyed experimenting with what few makeup products I owned, but it wasn't until I stumbled upon a few makeup vloggers on Youtube that I realized that I wanted to do more than just mess around with cheap eyeliner and remain an amateur. Watching so many talented people share their craft with the world and create amazing looks, paired with the influx of new products that resulted from a changing community, made me realize that I wanted to take makeup more seriously. It started as a hobby, something I enjoyed doing for a special occasion. But as I experimented more, discovered new tricks and continuously learned more and more, my love for it grew and it turned into something more than something I dabbled in...it became a passion.

Makeup, for me, is a release.

I've been artistically inclined since I was young, but mediums like drawing or painting tend to wear me out and quickly become frustrating due to how involved they can be. A painting or drawing can be anything you want and I have always preferred being able to take something already done and make it my own than to pull out something original. I find that I am strongest when I am building and molding something to my own tastes.

I am a fan of immediate results, and drawing or painting just isn't enough for me. The quick satisfaction of completing a makeup look is the kind of instant gratification that I enjoy. Makeup is very rarely frustrating or annoying. There are certain steps to a makeup routine and I enjoy the structure of it; I can try new looks and push myself, but still know what the next step is. I can expand on something already developed by a community and that allows me to express my creativity without starting at block one. Structured routines give me guidelines to follow or disregard as I please, and that is where I thrive. The endless possibilities are what truly pull me in--this community and those within it are always experimenting and feeding off each other to push limits and explore new trends.

As you can probably tell, I love makeup a lot. I love doing it on myself, I love doing it on others, and I love it in any other capacity I can get it. It takes a lot of practice and time (SO. MUCH. TIME.) to perfect the way I do it and I'm proud of that. It's a stress reliever and a confidence booster all in one. I take pride in it.

So, if you ever see me and decide to ask "who are you wearing all that makeup for?" Let me save some time and give you the answer: my damn self.