The “No-Makeup” Makeup Trend. Ironic, Right?
The beauty world is buzzing right now with the widespread adoption of the “no-makeup” makeup look. Supermodels and teenage girls alike showcase their fresh and dewy faces, rocking a seemingly “natural” look. It might seem like this bare-faced movement is a step in the right direction, but the problem is that their faces aren’t actually fresh or dewy at all. The “freshness” is mimicked using a Vitamin C glow serum, and the “dewiness” is drawn on by a highlighter stick.
By labeling this look as “natural” or “no-makeup”, we are creating the harmful illusion that these girls rolled out of bed with a flawless complexion and perfectly fluffed brows. But in reality, most “no-makeup” makeup routines require just as many steps (if not more) and products as any full-glam look typically would. In fact, companies such as Glossier, Ipsy, and MILK have hopped on the bandwagon and formed brands crafted around the idea of creating a perfectly minimal makeup look. Their products range from low coverage skin tints to cream bronzers to brow gels and glosses that enhance the natural color of your lips. Girls will layer a plethora of these products onto their faces to appear to meet the standard level of “natural” beauty.
Image Courtesy: Style Caster
While there is nothing inherently wrong with these product lines or the trendiness of glowing makeup (I'll admit, I love a good soap brow and liquid highlight combo), it does not change the fact that false advertising of this look is damaging to young women everywhere. Instead of promoting the importance of girls feeling confident in their own skin, flaws and all, social media perpetuates the expectation of flawless beauty. Even the “no-makeup” look proves unattainable without some sort of enhancement. The act of requiring makeup to properly pull off the “no-makeup” look is a little bit ironic if you ask me.
When will it be trendy to go out into the world with a bare face, not masked by products, but actually representative of the natural beauty you hold? Your freckles, under-eye bags, acne scars, hormonal pimples, and wrinkles are all part of what makes you beautiful. They are normal, I promise. Societal standards ask you to appear confident in your own skin and comfortable with your imperfections but don’t actually want you to show them. In turn, this “no-makeup” trend has not lessened the number of products girls use because they are still burdened with the same inclinations to hide their true selves.
Image Courtesy: Beauty Bay
The truth is that an authentic “no-makeup” makeup look should require precisely that: no makeup. Everyone should be able to participate in this trend, not just the rare few who have the natural endowments of unblemished skin and long lashes. Hopefully, the trend of product-less faces and no makeup will be embraced soon, but until that day comes, remember that we were made to be beautiful long before eyeshadow and lipstick were ever created.
Strike out,
Writer: Sarah Gibson / Editors: Karina McCarthy & Lexi Fernandez / Graphics: Nicole Terry
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