Lipstick Under Your Mask

by Sofia Paredes

art by Kait Feely

“Make yourself look nice, put a little lipstick on!”

You may have heard this phrase many times before. However, with the onslaught of COVID-19 and less and less people (hopefully) leaving the house, it seems as if there is no point in putting effort into one’s appearance. On the surface, not wearing makeup makes sense as half of your face is (again, hopefully) covered by a mask. So you may ask yourself, why would anyone care what you look like under your face covering? This is why since the start of this pandemic, millions-even billions-of people have ditched their usual lip tint... but is this the right decision?

As a society, we have a long-standing perception that the only purpose in wearing makeup is to improve one’s outward appearance. A way to look “presentable” when leaving the house. A task that takes time and effort out of one’s day. A hassle, some may say.

Yet, taking time to work on your appearance shouldn’t be a hassle nor should it be an effort you make for others. If you take the time to put on lipstick, regardless of whether you’re wearing a mask or not, you are bound to feel more confident. View it as an act of self-care.

Self-care comes in many different forms: some do yoga, some meditate, others simply put on lipstick under their mask. If you take those extra ten minutes in the morning to get ready, you are declaring that you are your main priority, and if you are your main priority, then what’s stopping you from achieving your goals? With this pandemic, we’ve had to let lots of things go, but making yourself a priority should not be one of them. Take the time to make yourself feel more confident. Put some lipstick on, even if the rest of the world can’t see it underneath your mask.•