FRESH START

MISS OHLALA DELVES INTO THE WORLD OF MAKEUP AND SOCIETY’S ONGOING AFFLICTION WITH IT.

We live in a generation that is obsessed with makeup. We see it all around us, especially on social media: Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, etc. They are overflowing with makeup tutorials, pictures and videos showcasing amazing makeup skills. How is that affecting us? Lately, I see people criticising the makeup skills of others; they criticise people who like to wear bold makeup AND people who don’t wear any amount of makeup. Telling someone that they don’t look good without makeup can make people feel super insecure, but trying to stop a person from putting on makeup is also incredibly rude.

I think it’s perfectly ok for people to never leave the house without it and for people to never wear any amount of it. Personally, I have a love/hate relationship with makeup. Ever since I was little, I liked everything about beauty and fashion. I love how it makes people feel beautiful and how you can use your creativity to come up with looks.

The average woman spends 11 minutes a day putting on makeup. And there are reasons why you shouldn’t feel guilty for a single second of that. Our society has a long history with makeup. In fact, evidence of cosmetics dates back to 10,000 B.C. in ancient Egypt. Both men and women used ointments to clean the skin and cover up body odours. Kohl, a ground black mineral, was used to line the eyes to decrease sun glare and reduce the risk of eye infection (believed to be true at the time). Soon after, coloured clays and dyes began to rouge lips and stain nails. And we never stopped.

So if “doing you” involves getting all dolled up with a dozens of different products every day, cheers to you! It can boost your confidence. You know the phrase “fake it till you make it”? Cosmetics can help you sell that. It can help you connect with other women.

In other words, admitting “I use concealer too” can create a kind of cosmetic camaraderie among women — and maybe help you finally find your favourite foundation along the way.

It can prepare you for “battle.” Just like we have certain clothes for working out and certain ones for going out, the idea of “putting on our face” with makeup can help prepare our mental mindset for whatever “battle” we are heading into.

It can keep your skin protected. Makeup helps you to protect your skin and keep it safe from pollution, smog etc that harm your skin. Makeup creates a slight barrier around your skin to keep it from being directly exposed to dust. While makeup is not going to offer total protection, the risk of being harmed will at least remain minimal.

It’s fun. Makeup isn’t all business, though. It also can be downright fun to create a brand-new look with a few simple pencils and palettes.

It’s designated “you” time. We know you’re busy. But whether your morning makeup routine takes you four minutes or 40, that time is time you are spending on yourself — even if there are kids or furry animals vying for your attention every 30 seconds.