Guys, Girls, and Cosmetics

"You don't even need to wear make up. You are perfect the way you are. "

Ever heard of that line before? What did you do? What did you feel?

Okay boys, have you ever used that line before? Did you mean it? Was it...you know...a hit?

If you are a guy like me who does not work in the world of vanity and all those business under the limelight, it might be safe to assume that you know little to nothing when it comes to makeups, beauty products or cosmetics in general.

Cosmetics

First off, what are cosmetics? If you have been an ignorant fool just like me, cosmetics may mean just makeup products. But let me tell you a shocking truth, it's not just makeup. Surprised? Yeah, me too. Anyway, cosmetics are the products we use to clean, beautify or change the way our bodies look. Yeah, so in that case, soap and lotions all those are part of it.

But for this one, let's just focus on makeups okay? Alright, if that's cool with you, we proceed, if not, I'll wait for you to change your mind. Alright, it's cool? Let's proceed.

Usage

For a simple definition I made myself, makeup are the products we use to alter, modify, enhance our outside appearance. Simple enough right? So why do people, ladies in particular use such products?

Requirement. Yeah, if you are part of the work force, you will encounter some companies or workplaces that require their female employees to wear makeups. Some of them also have that "standard" way of applying makeups too. Some will mandate the employees to wear a light and natural blend of makeups, others require some heavy applications on the women's faces. I'm not gonna name names here, you can just observe when you go out in the real world. Try going to the mall first. Maybe you'll get lucky.

Augmentation. We can infer it from the name itself "makeup". Some are applying makeups to "make up" for something that is lacking, missing or in their opinion doesn't bode well with their overall appearance.

Kilay is life. I know a lot of you are familiar with the phrase (eyebrow is life). There's this one time back when we were kids, my sister played with out stepmom's makeup kit. Then there was this razor blade there that we saw her using to somehow contour the shape of her eyebrow. My sister took it and went in front of a mirror. A few minutes later she was back with the razor and without one of her eyebrows.

I swear, that story never fails to make us laugh when we remember it. Anyway, since she can't possibly go to school event with a brow missing, they had to draw, something in there that will look like a brow. And well, they did.

That's one usage, the other thing that I'm familiar with is...alright, Filipinos could really relate to this, outlining the nose. Alright alright, we all know how most of us lack that protrusion around the bridge of the nose so many rely on the power of lighting and makeup to "make up" for it.

I frequently see drawn up nose lines during pageants, photoshoots and activities where the face of the subject shall be distanced from what it normally looked like, I don't know why.

Self Expression. Well there are instances too, that makeups are used to express themselves. Are you familiar with the "goth" style? Well if you are, you know what I mean. Oh hey, what about the word 'emo'. Again, you know what I mean. You know what, I also tried that "emo" vibe. Black fingernails, dark, as in dark lined eyes and with long bangs dropped all the way to the bottom of my chin. Wew. Those were some dark days. LOL

Here's the thing though. Why are those makeups so pricey? I mean, guys, have you looked at the prices of your girls' stash? One lipstick could go from $20 or $25 easy. You see that? Like, can I eat that? Does it taste different? Actually, how are they different?

Have you seen the selection of shades a lipstick line offers? For an untrained eye, like mine, all I see is pink, red, brown. But for girls, they can see hundreds of shades, plus, can someone really distinguish a preppy red from a power red? Or pink periwinkle from pink peonies? And also, there's the finish factor. There's glossy, matte, magnetic? I am lost with all those.

Also, why does buy another stick without using the old one until it's gone? Just why right? I'm like, just come here, I can make your lips red in a minute. ;)

Alright, back to the original topic which was the line above :

"You don't even need to wear make up. You are perfect the way you are. "

Here's what I have to say, sometimes it's just a line. But sometimes it's genuinely sincere. We are all different, some girls really do look good when they are all dolled up and wearing makeup, but there are some cases that a girl looks prettier with just a pinch on the cheeks, that when you apply makeup on their faces, they would look like out of their element. I can't really elaborate it, it's something that you should see to know what it means.

Of course, with the exception of those people who doesn't know what really suits them okay? That's a different subject altogether,

Anyway, I really don't know why you are bothering yourself with all those, and spending so much on makeups, the only makeup you need to wear, is your smile. ;) And also, guys really don't care about the makeups, we care how you would look the next day waking up. LOL. Kidding aside, guys, it's important to note that girls aren't wearing makeups just for you, okay? They don't really doll up for your service, get off you high horse and it's not all for you. More often than not, it's for themselves, for their self-esteem and confidence. The world doesn't revolve around you boys, wake up.

Hey there!!!

Thanks for reading this one. This is just a freewriting exercise. A light one at that. I started with a question on Noise and then I lost all my will for a structured article so there you go, just a rough exchanges that went on inside my head. I hope you weren't too confused.

I appreciate you coming here and as always,

Smoooch! I mean Cheers!!!

references :

Lead image : https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20150112-why-do-we-have-lips