What does it mean to 'Make-Up'?

I made a post earlier today that was originally going to be the introduction to THIS blog post but I got on a role and it turned into a full blown bit of poetry stream of consciousness.

If you're interested, To Make up or to Make down? That is the question...

There has been a rising trend lately in pop culture of the anti-make-up campaigns. Women taking a stand against the pressures of companies and society to be a specimen of perfection. Women are breaking down the boxes of perceived beauty and taking a stand for self-love and confidence.
This can be seen most recently in the new viral music video for Colbie Caillat's song "Try"

In the video, Caillat and a series of women of all ages, sizes and backgrounds proudly shed their make up, freeing them to a natural beauty. Her message exposes many of the reasons that women wear make up:

"So they like you" 

We are told time and time again that this mascara will make our eyes pop, or that this eyeliner will make you sexier, this foundation with brighten your skin, this blush will bring colour back to your face...because we must always be our most desirable. We are specimens to be looked at and should be appeasing to look at in order to have self worth.

It is expositions like this that are turning heads and making us think about society's perception of beauty.

A similar argument was made critiquing the fashion and advertising industries' obsession with photoshop, also in a music video, earlier this year by Hungarian singer Boggie in which she is transformed via photoshop into a 'glamourous pop star' 

 Now that the box has been opened, more and more stories like this are popping up around the world. Like Dorothy and the Wizard, women are exposing the tricksters behind the veil in hopes that others will follow and be proud of themselves beyond advertisements in magazines.

At the same time, this is not to necessarily critique the existence of make up products themselves. Make up can be awesome and amazing. Search almost any make up tutorial on youtube and you can be blown away by the talent and creations people can do. As much as make up can be a security blanket to hid behind or to feel the need to put on for others, it can also be empowering and create confidence in onesself. A great reflection of this was brought up by YouTuber and author John Green in one of his most recent videos "Why I Love Makeup"

John brings in the male perspective of the social pressures against men who wear make up and for women having to wear make up. He states he likes make make up because "it feels good" and makes him happy. I know many women who wear it for the exact same reason.

There is nothing wrong with wanting to put on make up because you like it, there is nothing wrong with not wearing make up because you don't like it. The problem lies within in society of guilt-tripping us into believing it is something we must be applying to be appreciated.

In the end, who cares if they like you - as long as you like you.

To Make up or to Make down?

To make up or make down? That is the question.
Whether tis nobler in the mind
to suffer the boxes and confinements
of society's pressures to perceived beauty
or take arms against a sea of traditions
and by rebellion, end them?

To conform, to blend in,
no more; and by blend in to say we end
the erasure of diversity in a thousand natural pigments
that flesh is heir to. 'tis a revolution
devoutly to be wish'd.

To remove foundation, to risk bags under eyes;
To risk bags under eyes, aye there's the rub.
For to expose the imperfections and blemishes
what impressions may come
when we are not hidden behind a masked face,
must give us pause: there's a respect
we demand with a painted pretty face.

For who would bear the quips and scorns of others,
the oppressor's wrong, the proud woman's standing against.
The pangs of childish insecurity, pride's delay,
the acceptance in Office and the assumption
that we are the unworthy of stakes.

When she herself might her quietus make
a pretty face? Who would want her without?
To grunt and sweat is an unladylike life,
But that the dread of someone to see you without
the face society has created as your truth.
The undiscovered beauty from whose real face
no one observes, puzzles the mind
and makes us rather continue in our disguised self
that is shown off to those we know not of?

Thus conscience does make cowards of us all;
and thus the native hue of natural foundation
is painted over with the pale concealer and lipstick blots;
As we are encouraged to be specimens of perfection,
Though we are all imperfect and have the power to turn away
and create our own course of action.

-
Apparently I have thoughts about make up...also thanks to our man Billy S'peare and Hammy for writing the original soliloquy a couple hundred years ago