‘I Am A Feminist And I Like Makeup’: Navigating Beauty Standards While Being Feminist

Editorial Note: Being Feminist is a fortnightly column that options private narratives documenting the feelings, vulnerabilities and innermost contradictions each feminist encounters whereas making an attempt to push via numerous levels of patriarchy in personal, skilled and public areas.I nonetheless keep in mind that one morning when I sat on one of many excessive chairs in an costly make-up studio. After going beneath the arms of a number of artists, I lastly discovered an individual who can be particularly placing on lipstick. It’s simply lipstick, what’s the large deal? I thought. But in additional than half an hour period, the lady juggled with colors in a make-up palette she held, looking for simply the best shade that might go along with my lehenga. When I lastly appeared within the mirror and noticed the gorgeous shade of lavender, I realised why an MUA (make-up artist) is really an artist.This was the start of me going via make-up merchandise and watching make-up tutorials. It was a giant leap for somebody who prevented placing on even a moisturiser, to develop into somebody who was wanting on the variations between contour pencils and bronzers. A a part of the rationale for such reluctance was making an attempt to save lots of a hefty quantity paid for each social gathering makeover, whereas one other half was about how make-up appeared doable to me.I had all the time prevented drawing or sketching, considering I was by no means good at making artwork. But make-up appeared prefer it could possibly be an entry level that might train me a type of artwork that’s virtually relevant in actual life.One day, when a buddy instructed me that I actually didn’t must placed on any make-up, it virtually offended me. Even extra so as a result of it got here from an individual who didn’t even use sunscreen or knew the distinction between make-up and skincare merchandise. Makeup can imply various things to completely different folks.For some, it’s to cover their blemishes, whereas for others, it’s to create complete new appears to be like. For some, it’s merely to boost their very own options. In my case, I had merely picked it up as a result of I needed to experiment. It by no means rose out of a necessity or insecurities, however out of a real curiosity. Feminist media wants feminist allies!Get premium content material, unique advantages and assist us stay impartial, free and accessible.BECOME AN FII MEMBERChoose Your Plan!
During that part, I hated make-up. Not as a result of I had any clue of how the entire thought of utilizing make-up stemmed from a system that thrived on girls’s bodily insecurities, however as a result of my pores and skin situation was so unhealthy that the considered caking it extra to cover all of it appeared absurd to me. Meanwhile, my sisters placed on basis and powder on their clean pores and skin and requested me to comply with go well with. I sided with my mother and father by calling them out. Nobody within the household knew or had seen the make-up merchandise that my sisters introduced into the home. Everyone was skeptical about them. I simply added extra logs into the fireNow it’s straightforward for me to say that this was by no means associated to a necessity for validation as a result of I have been at that crossroad earlier than. In my prime teenage years, my pores and skin suffered from the worst zits breakout. I spent hours watching teleshop advertisements that includes Kendall Jenner and Justin Bieber selling a sure face wash to battle off zits. I desperately wished somebody would purchase these merchandise for me. When the breakout began, my confidence actually drooped. Every image I posted on-line went via the flowery strategy of filtration and enhancing. I detested going out and assembly new folks as a result of it meant exhibiting them my unfiltered face. Going out all the time appeared like a confession and I didn’t need to be weak. I canceled plans and stayed inside. Most of my pals belonged to the web.There have been dermatologist visits, and normal routines of Caladil and Retiderm have been prescribed. During their use, the zits subsided solely to return once more. I was sick of following the prescriptions whereas sneaking into bogs in between breaks in school. During that part, I hated make-up. Not as a result of I had any clue of how the entire thought of utilizing make-up stemmed from a system that thrived on girls’s bodily insecurities, however as a result of my pores and skin situation was so unhealthy that the considered caking it extra to cover all of it appeared absurd to me.Meanwhile, my sisters placed on basis and powder on their clean pores and skin and requested me to comply with go well with. I sided with my mother and father by calling them out. Nobody within the household knew or had seen the make-up merchandise that my sisters introduced into the home. Everyone was skeptical about them. I simply added extra logs into the hearth. I don’t bear in mind how I ever acquired over my insecurities. Maybe it was the ultimate realisation that this was how my pores and skin was all the time going to be and I needed to make peace with it. But surprisingly with this realisation, my pores and skin additionally began clearing up. Suddenly, day-after-day I was a naked face which supplied a lot potential to be a canvas. So when I spent round 4 hours in that costly make-up studio, I knew I needed to exploit the probabilities that lay forward of me. Also learn: ‘I Feel Like A Hypocrite When I Cringe At My Hairy Arms’: On Removing Body Hair While Being FeministOf course, rejecting skincare doesn’t robotically push back all the implications of dwelling in a patriarchal world, as a result of it isn’t actually about skincare however the entire system. As Constance Grady writes in The Vox, “It’s a few system that’s designed to make girls really feel horrible it doesn’t matter what they do. And the easiest way we can assist girls via that system is to chorus from judging their selections as they do their greatest to get via it anyway.”However, one thing did hassle me. All of the ladies who got here out after the makeover appeared the identical. The shades of basis have been completely different however the handful of make-up artists did the identical routine with everybody. I appeared completely different from myself, but additionally like everybody else. This actually prompted me to experiment with make-up. To use it to not cover however spotlight my current options. I realise this isn’t simply me. Today, greater than ever, people aren’t utilizing make-up to achieve inconceivable mainstream requirements. They are drawn in direction of magnificence which appears to be like extra like themselves than anybody else. Similarly, the skincare routine that I comply with just isn’t a retaliation to who I already am, however an exploration. It is a few valuable time I give to myself. I ensure to not overdo it. Sometimes only a gentle cleanser and a light-weight moisturiser after an extended day is all that I want earlier than my sleep. As I write this text, I am additionally skimming via opinions and discourse telling me that the entire thought of a skincare routine could also be a facade. The pores and skin is an organ which may supposedly maintain it by itself. There are numerous YouTube movies on following a skincare routine for a complete month and seeing no large modifications. In latest years, there was a lot debate round skincare and sweetness practices. The use of make-up is commonly stated to make one silly and immodest, whereas rejecting skincare could seem to make one gross, lazy and even unclean. Of course, rejecting skincare doesn’t robotically push back all the implications of dwelling in a patriarchal world, as a result of it isn’t actually about skincare however the entire system. As Constance Grady writes in The Vox, “It’s a few system that’s designed to make girls really feel horrible it doesn’t matter what they do. And the easiest way we can assist girls via that system is to chorus from judging their selections as they do their greatest to get via it anyway.”Maybe it really works, perhaps it doesn’t. I know for a undeniable fact that my skincare routine doesn’t hold my zits at bay. My zits marks are nonetheless there, and but, it nonetheless feels good to rub ice over my pores and skin on a type of days, to placed on recent aloe vera, and to drink considerable bottles of water (even when it means repeatedly going to the washroom as a result of you may look over a mirror that many occasions). None of this makes me useless. Loving oneself appears to be like completely different for various folks. You simply want to search out the model that works greatest for you.Also learn: ‘Feminists Are Yet To Feel Comfortable In Family Spaces’: Aligning To Family Values While Being FeministFeatured Illustration: Ritika Banerjee for Feminism In India

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