My journey with makeup is one of self-love and growth. I first started experimenting in high school with a foundation that was waaayy too orange for my skin. It may not have been the best look, but it made me feel beautiful. I loved the creativity involved in makeup and every time I looked in the mirror, I actually liked what I saw. I’ve spent the last few years perfecting my makeup skills, and I’ve come a long way. I’ve also learned a lot about the industry. Unfortunately, there are still folks out there who have misconceptions about makeup, so I’m here to help differentiate between truths and myths. Myth #1: People wear makeup to cover up their insecuritiesWhile this may be true for some people, the vast majority of folks who wear makeup do it because it’s a creative outlet. It’s a therapeutic and enjoyable part of our routines. Our body is our canvas, and we’re here to have fun with it. And if someone wears makeup because they’re insecure, who cares? They’re doing something to make themselves feel good, and we have no right to invalidate that. For me, makeup started out as a way to hide my acne, and it quickly evolved into a self-care practice that helps me appreciate my God-given features.
Myth #2: Women wear makeup to impress menMen, you are not as important as you think you are. We don’t spend hundreds of dollars every year just to impress you. We do not need your validation. We wear makeup so drunk girls in the bathroom of bars can tell us how pretty we look and ask us what lipstick we have on to which we eagerly reply. We do it for the girls, the gays and the theys. But seriously, we don’t spend our time and money impress men. Get over yourselves. Go to therapy. Jesus. Myth #3: Only women wear makeupWhat century is this? Actually, that doesn’t even matter because in every century EVER, men and women and everyone in between have worn makeup. In some places, makeup was ONLY worn by men. Your favorite action hero on tv? He’s caked in makeup. But truly, this should not matter because makeup has no gender. Some of the most talented makeup artists don't identify as women. Once again, get over yourselves and go to therapy. Myth #4: You need to go bankrupt for your makeup kitThere are plenty, and I mean PLENTY of brands and products that are both affordable AND good quality. This didn’t always use to be the case, but in recent years, “drugstore” brands have really stepped up their game. Many of these brands have also started to diversify their products to include shades that work on dark-skinned people. Drugstore products are perfect if you’re just starting out in makeup. Below are some of my favorite drugstore products: E.L.F. Cosmetics Jellypop Dew Primer ($10) L.A. Girl HD Pro Concealer ($5) NYX Can't Stop Won't Stop Foundation ($15) Colourpop No Filter Matte Concealer ($7) Patricia Bright x Makeup Revolution Rich in Colors Eyeshadow Palette ($25) NYX Matte Bronzer ($10) Milani Strobelight Instant Glow Highlighter in Sunglow ($10) All the products I use are cruelty-free FYI Myth #5: The more expensive the makeup, the higher the qualityJust because a product is more expensive, does not mean it is of good quality. There are plenty of high-end products that are absolutely not worth your money and can easily be switched out with something affordable. Take the Laura Mercier Translucent Setting Powder I truly do not understand why people obsess over it when the E.L.F. Cosmetics High Definition Powder exists! It does an OUTSTANDING job of prepping and setting your skin and it makes your makeup stay on all day. It’s only $6 compared to Laura Mercier’s $39. Plus, all of E.L.F’s products are cruelty-free. So not only will you save a ton of money, you won’t be supporting a brand that tests on innocent animals. Win-win. Myth #6: Having a diverse shade range doesn't matter/It's only for cloutFor some reason, whenever a brand comes out with a foundation with a diverse shade range, people are quick to say, “They’re just copying Fenty!” Okay, so? Is that not the point of capitalism? To compete in the market? And do consumers not want a wide variety to pick from? Come on. For YEARS, dark-skinned folks have been forced to compromise or be left out because brands failed to make products that were suited for their skin. Even I sometimes found myself mixing foundations to get the right shade, or packing on a lot of eyeshadow to make the pigment stand out. And my skin isn’t even that dark. A range of products that takes ALL skin tones into consideration is well overdue, and I’m glad more and more brands are catching on. I hope this is helpful to folks who are just starting out on makeup or to folks who want to be assholes about makeup. It’s truly one of my most favorite things on this planet, and I’m happy to share my knowledge with you all.
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