Why do women wear makeup? An estimated 44 percent of American women do not like to leave their homes without makeup on. Research shows there are two primary reasons why women wear makeup: Camouflage – Women who are anxious and insecure tend to use makeup to appear less noticeable. Seduction – Women who want to be noticeably more attractive tend to use makeup to be more confident, sociable and assertive. Those 44 percent of women believe that if they show their natural, untouched face, they won’t be able to accomplish either of those things, and they will be treated differently. It turns out there is some science to back up the fears driving them to wear makeup every day. Women have it drilled into them from a young age that to be successful in everything, from dating to job interviews to forming friendships with other popular girls, they need to be pretty, and the basis for that isn’t entirely cultural. It may not be fair, but according to the Association for Psychological Science, attractive people are treated more favorably in every area of life, from dating to jobs to criminal trials.
Recently, Buzzfeed compiled examples of men on Reddit and Twitter who had shared photos of women they found beautiful, seemingly amazed by their own enlightened taste: The women, celebrities like Rihanna, Jennifer Lawrence and Emma Stone, were, they believed, not wearing makeup. “Kylie Jenner looks so much better without makeup to me idk why. Im prob just weird,” one man bravely tweeted. In fact, these women were wearing makeup; in one particularly egregious instance, a photo had been taken from a magazine editorial featuring a natural makeup look, with products listed. The men had confused makeup that does not announce itself with makeup that does not exist. And who can blame them? “Natural beauty” has become less about lack of effort than about successfully hiding effort altogether. After a punishing night, when I use a fine-pointed brush to apply Clé de Peau Beauté concealer to my red-rimmed lower lashline, I am trying to fake wakefulness; I cannot fault a man who would, taking my illusion at face value, rush to celebrate his own wokefulness.
Obsessed with all things makeup? Us, too! HelloGiggles has everything you need to know about when it comes to the latest makeup launches, from life-changing concealers to the best mascaras and eye makeup on the market. Plus, find makeup tips and DIY makeup tutorials that will help you learn to apply makeup like a pro, and know about the latest trends all of the celebrities are wearing.