Why do I wear makeup? This question has been circulating through my brain for weeks. Now I do not wear a whole lot of makeup. My daily routine consists of: foundation, powder, eyeshadow, mascara and lip gloss. Eyeliner and lipstick on special occasions.

Makeup really does give me confidence. I cannot help but smile when my eyelashes are on fleek. Can I get an amen? Sometimes I feel pretty when putting on makeup, and other times I feel like it is just something I do.

I can think of multiple reasons why young girls should not wear makeup. “You are too young to be worried about makeup.” “Your beauty shines through your heart.”

When I play a scenario in my mind of a little girl asking me why she cannot wear makeup, and I stumble on the statement, “But you wear makeup.” This has caused me to look deep inside myself and figure out exactly why I wear makeup.

My mom had a system to introduce makeup to my sister and I. It went as followed:

Before sixth grade, it was lip gloss and nail polish only.

Sixth grade: Mascara and eyeshadow

Seventh grade: Ears pierced

Eighth grade: Foundation, powder and blush

I remember in sixth grade, when I was allowed to wear mascara and eyeshadow. Although I was nervous about poking myself in the eye, I was also very excited. I cannot remember my exact feeling of putting on makeup for the first time, but I can remember the feeling of looking in the mirror after my ears were pierced. I felt pretty.

My sister and I always sat on the counter and watched our mom, aunts and grandmother put on makeup. There were even times, when we were younger, that our grandmother and aunts would put “big girl” makeup on us when we would have tea parties.

Our parents never failed to tell us that we were pretty on a daily basis. Most importantly, they reminded us that we are daughters of a King and instilled that identity in us. Momma always told us, “Man looks on the outward appearance, but God looks at the Heart.” — 1 Samuel 16:7.

A thought that has crossed my mind when writing this article, little girls see us wearing makeup so they want to too. To be like us. Every girl has watched a woman they love put on makeup. Could a young girl’s desire to put on makeup be as innocent as wanting to be like us?

I feel like I am contradicting myself with my statements in this article. With my excuses of why a little girl should not wear makeup. Do those reasons not apply to us as well?

I do not have an answer to my own questions. I do not know why I wear makeup. I do not have an answer to give a young girl who wants to wear makeup, but I am telling her no. I believe I need an answer to give them to justify my reasoning and to help them understand. How can I help them understand if I do not even understand?

So I am asking you beautiful women. Why do you wear makeup? What about it has captured your attention? What do you tell young girls, when they ask you why you wear makeup?