The cult of womanhood gathers at the Clinique counter

As I probably made clear in my Label Able post about lipstick, I am not really a part of Makeup Culture. I say culture, because it kind of is. We recognize the symbols of the makeup companies and for the most of us, we can recognize what a lipstick is. We are indoctrinated in one way or another, by giving lip gloss packs as birthday presents or the cliche of putting on Mommy's makeup and pretending you're a grown up. This culture has norms and ideals, which I don't follow.

For instance, it seems to be the idea of Makeup Culture that every woman should wear makeup, and those who don't are not living up to their potential as women and haven't had a "good experience" with it that made them suddenly want to invest in a kabuki brush and some bronzer. They are seen as somehow not quite women, as a proto-gender, butch, inept, or damaged in some way. Why should we constantly wear makeup? Why should we cake ourselves with things that are supposed to make our skin look healthier when in all likelihood it will damage our skin in some way by clogging pores or secreting chemicals. Maybe we don't have time, or even the inclination.

Makeup Culture has also decreed in the last few years that if you wear makeup, it has to be noticeable. Or maybe it's just me. Isn't one of the primary uses of make up to compliment your natural beauty? Aren't there packs of eyeshadow that are supposed to accentuate your eye color? Aren't cat-eyes supposed to make your eyes look exotic and your lashes thicker? I understand the urge to ornament yourself. I really do. I like funky colors of nail polish and blue eyeliner. However, it should be a choice and an expression of individuality, not because Makeup Culture decrees that you should have a smokey-eye that looks like you got punched in the face by a fist covered in glitter.

Oh yeah. She gets it

It also seems that those who prescribe to Makeup Culture take everything or at least most things quite literally. When Makeup Culture decrees that you should put on foundation, out come the sponges and you have an orange oompa-loompa face because you were told to put on foundation and damn it, you did. Put on eyeliner? Make it as apparent as the eye black football players use, only instead of on your cheek put it right on your eyelid. Mascara? The closer you look like Blind Mag, the better.

I'm not completely against makeup. In fact, I am intrigued by it. I want to unlock its mysteries and then decide for myself if it is right for me. I just don't want to feel like I should have to invest a bunch of time and money into face goop just because I won't be considered feminine if I don't. I want to cherry pick my makeup. I put on foundation to hid some zits and so that I have a bit of sunscreen on my face. If it's cloudy and my face is clear, I'll go without. If I feel adventurous or retro, I'll break out the liquid liner and attempt a cat eye before becoming frustrated and wiping the thing off. Same goes for my blue eyeliner.

I just don't want to be peer-pressured into expressing my individuality.

(image from here)