Self-care can be categorised beyond improving your physical and mental health, but can come in a multitude of forms. It’s a common misconception that makeup is a mask, or a way to hide how you actually feel or look, but in a matter of fact, it can be a powerful tool which helps you unlock your true self or a more confident version of yourself.
Why Is Makeup Self-Care?
While some may believe that makeup is a misogynistic tool that we use to make ourselves appealing to the male gaze but it’s a matter of how makeup makes us feel about ourselves.
While some may paint on makeup for validation, it’s not just for those reasons that others decide to wear makeup. It’s a great way to enhance our natural beauty and is like a step in your self-care that makes you feel ready for the day ahead.
Makeup application can vary from person to person and activity to activity. To some people, even a tinted lip balm can be viewed as makeup, but to others, it is just a way to protect their dry lips.
Read: Can Supplements Help You Sleep Better? What the Research Says
How To Use Makeup As Self-care?
As mentioned above, people use makeup in very different ways, and that’s the beauty of this: there is no right or wrong way to wear it, and if that means doing a full face every day makes you feel your most motivated and confident self, then go for it.
Ritual
This might be something we have already done inherently, such as applying makeup right after a shower and skincare, which creates a positive association with starting the day and engaging in activities. Having a mindful ritual means you can make up as an important part of the routine that gets you fully ready and prepared for the day ahead.
It’s giving yourself this little time and space throughout the day, which is both therapeutic and prepares you and gets you happy for the day ahead.
Positive Associations
If you, by any chance, have anxiety leaving the home, having a morning routine that includes an everyday makeup routine helped me mentally and physically prepare to leave the home, which eventually rid me of my anxiety. It’s having and creating these positive associations, but also a way of putting on a metaphysical armour that helps you feel protected and ready.
Focus On Empowerment
As mentioned above, some women have different views on makeup and its empowerment. Some view a natural face as more empowering than the latter; either way, your view and outlook on makeup is your own, and as long as you are doing it for yourself, you are doing it for the right reasons.
Expression
Makeup is a fun part of being a human, and we’ve gotten to a time in society where you can do whatever you want as a form of self-expression; therefore, you could take every day as an opportunity to express yourself through makeup, whether it’s with bold makeup looks, fun eye makeup or bold lip combinations. The world is really your oyster with this but that doesn’t mean that you need to force yourself to try new things.
As a creator of habit myself, I like to do the same makeup look pretty much each day because it feels like me, and I know it suits and highlights my features, which is completely fine. You don’t always have to use every crayon in the box. If you happen to like your current routine, then stick to comfort.
Create A Good Environment
A nice, comfortable makeup routine, but within its own environment, is what can really make a difference with makeup application.
My go-to routine is to sit on the floor right in front of my mirrored wardrobe and have all of the products scattered around me. I have a small handheld mirror for close-up views, but the big mirror is to see the overall vision. I 9 times out of 10 will have my phone propped up and playing my current series binge as both background noise but something to keep me entertained or accompanied during my makeup ritual. Some people prefer music or complete silence, but it’s finding what creates a safe space and makes it an enjoyable experience each time.
Final Thoughts
Makeup is definitely a form of self-care, self-expression and self-love, as it’s a personal interaction with yourself which can boost confidence and remove anxiety but also harness your own empowerment. Whether it’s the simplest of steps with just a tinted lip gloss or a full glam, each makeup application is a form of self-care which allows people to unlock a version of themselves and accentuate their features. It’s also not to shame anyone who prefers to remove makeup from their self-care routine; it’s whatever makes you happy that matters.
