How grotesque would a girl look if she could not conceal the dark circles underneath each tired eye with a small brush every morning? Imagine the looks a highschool girl would receive if she entered school without a single touch of foundation to cover her flaws. A swipe of translucent powder, setting the foundation, and a dab of blush on the apples of each cheek remain just as important as coating every naked eyelash with a black mascara. Missing a single step results in immediate social rejection.

Thoughts of fear and anxiety often rush through a teenage girl’s mind when she looks in the mirror and sees imperfections. Makeup currently stands as a way to boost confidence and enhance facial features.

How would high school girls function without makeup at their disposal? Would girls feel comfortable in their own skin or ashamed to leave their houses?

Chosen randomly, 26 NC girls of all grade levels answered the simple question: “Are you comfortable entering school without makeup?”  

Surprisingly, out of those 26 high school girls questioned, only eleven admitted to feeling uncomfortable at school without makeup on. Senior Gabrielle Walker  would not want to show up to school without makeup on. “I feel ugly,” she said.   

Females use makeup for purposes other than covering up blemishes. Makeup provides an enhancement. Women completely comfortable in their bare skin feel even more self-assured when they intensify the features they already possess with makeup. Sophomore Brooke Phillips agrees, “I’m comfortable [without it] but I feel better with it on.”

According to InStyle Magazine, the average woman spends about $15,000 on makeup in her entire lifetime. $15,000 can buy a Tiffany & Co. diamond ring, a used car, or pay off tuition and fees for a year’s tuition at the University of Georgia, with money left over. Surprisingly, at the young age of sixteen, girls report spending a substantial amount of money on makeup products. “In my life I’ve probably spent like a hundred a year,” said sophomore Sandy Dang.

Adding to the pressure, famous YouTubers like beauty guru and fashion designer Bethany Mota influence young women to purchase makeup. Mota’s videos, along with many other beauty gurus, create “Get Ready with Me” videos. These videos advertise beauty products teenagers can purchase at local drug stores and elite beauty suppliers like Sephora.

Not only does Mota impact the amount of money teenagers spend on makeup, Mota also encourages young women to cover up their faces. She cites makeup as a way to find yourself. “After discovering the beauty community, I decided it would be a great way to express myself and use it as an outlet to be who I am,” Mota said.

Many agree that expressing oneself through makeup reveals an ideal image. Unfortunately in today’s world though, people do not always accept how women perceive themselves. For example, A semi-harsh contour of the cheek bones could start a war of controversy on Instagram. Em Ford, a beauty blogger from London, experienced a heart-wrenching feeling when she began posting pictures of herself without makeup on. Immediately, cruel followers started criticizing the blogger’s acne prone skin with hateful comments slandering her appearance.

Ford took the negativity as a way to stand for girls who struggle with acne prone skin. Ford posted a Youtube video titled “My Pale Skin,”) showcasing the comments she received with and without makeup on. Without any makeup, people attacked Ford for her acne. Contrastingly, with makeup on, people continued to bash Ford’s appearance by saying “She wears too much makeup.”

Young women should receive the option to create the person they want to see when they look at themselves, free of criticism. Social media may increase sales for makeup products, but sadly, the outlets also fuel negativity, by generating a place for offensive opinions anyone can read.

Sir Thomas Overbury once said, “Beauty is only skin deep,” describing a lack of correlation between outward appearances to the goodness of her heart on the inside.

Whether a female wears a full face of makeup or chooses to exercise her natural beauty makes no difference. As long as each young woman truly values herself and her morals, makeup should not stand as a “label” to whom she inhabits on the inside. Feeling beautiful goes far beyond what the naked eye can see.

Autumn Boekeloo