Makeup

Makeup is not simply a cosmetic product. It is a societal weapon crafted to mask, distort, and modify the natural female face to suit patriarchal standards of desirability. Women are conditioned from girlhood to believe that bare skin is “ugly” and “unprofessional” while painting themselves is a requirement for acceptance, love, or even basic respect. Makeup, while sometimes seen as empowering, is deeply rooted in misogyny, capitalism, and the commodification of the female body.

Control

The societal expectation for women to wear makeup dates back centuries. From ancient Egypt to modern America, makeup has always been a performance. Women are expected to give to satisfy male gaze. In modern times, the billion-dollar beauty industry profits off female insecurity, reinforcing the idea that without concealer, mascara, blush, and contour, a woman is not “complete.”