Why do we love our beauty products?

I cannot leave the house without something on my lips whether it be lipstick or lip gloss. I feel naked without anything on my kisser. As vain as this is, I even wear a little lipstick or gloss to the gym. Yes, yes, yes, it is so vain but I at least wear a muted color or earthy tone to get that there-but-not-there look. What can I say? I can’t help myself. 

Meg, over at Faking Good Breeding, brought up some good questions in a post called, "Why I love Beauty Products." She asks: 

• Why do beauty products hold so much power over women?

• What leads someone to pay $100 an ounce for a face cream that carries no guarantee of working?

• What do you love or hate beauty products?

Meg asked other women for their opinion, and to blog about it. I thought that was a fantastic question to ask, so I’m going to share my thoughts, and ask you to do the same. 

Beauty = Power

Whether we like it or not, all through time, in all cultures, and in all space/time continuums, beauty is a source of power for women and men. What is considered beautiful is subjective to the culture and time, but if you are one of those who fit into the designated ideal image of beauty, then you get adoration, privilege, and access. This is why we all want to look pretty and handsome. You get to have a “better” life. 

When you hang out at Sephora or the makeup counters at the department stores, you immediately start to feel the possibilities. Makeup and other beauty products like anti-wrinkle creams, lotions, and youth potions are tools that help us look pretty so that we can feel alluring and desirable. Yes, it's that sexy thing. And you know what; there is nothing wrong with that. It is absolutely natural to want to feel desired, accepted, and cherished. Where it gets weird is when we think that we are only defined by our physical looks, and that the other parts of us like our minds, spirit, and kindness don’t matter as much, or don’t contribute to our overall beauty as well. 

Make-up is also a fun part of being a girl. It’s fun to have the Mary Kay type parties with your girlfriends. It’s amusing to have slumber parties and try each other’s lipsticks, blush, and eye shadows. It's dazzling to get a manicure and pedicure with your best friend and talk about the latest hottie you're dating. It’s a blast to go to the spa and get slathered with their mojo potions. It’s glamorous to go to the MAC counter and have a professional “do” your face. 

And do we get suckered into buying all those things, or even at least one thing, that the pro used to make our face shine. Absolutely! We're buying the dream, and it is a powerfully enticing dream. It's the same dream that keeps us from parting with our last pair of skinny jeans. Most of us can’t replicate what the pro did at the store, but we try, and we may or may not get there, but it doesn’t matter. We have our beauty tools and they make us laugh, and smile, and sometimes even cry.

I love my make-up and beauty products. They bring joy and pleasure to me. And yeah, when I put on fire engine red lipstick it makes me feel zesty. For enquiring minds, my favorite lipstick colors at the moment are MAC CocoNutty, Chintz, and Fetish topped with the Lustreglass Sinnamon. If you think you may have seen me at the MAC counter trying on lipsticks, you probably did.

Comments

[Valeria Maltoni]

What fun! It's also the idea that we are preparing to enter a stage -- whether that be in our lives, or in our roles. For example, see if you've ever done these things:

* purchased new make up or beauty products before starting a new job

* buy the latest products when dating a new person (this actually works for both boys and girls)

* treated yourself to a SPA experience after concluding a tough negotiation, signing an important contract, etc.

* trying something new when traveling thus letting the spirit of adventure envelop your senses

In all these situations you are punctuating your journey with color, fragrance, texture, and look, involving all the senses. Rituals that are the more important to signal externally while something is happening inside.

[Maryam in Marrakesh]

I love beauty products too and just spent $200 at the Armani makeup counter and I live on a farm in Marrakesh. Go figure.

[Alison]

I buy new makeup after I get my hair done, for example. I don't wear it all that often, though!

On the other hand, I have lip balm in the pocket of every coat, on my nightstand, in the bathroom...

[Stephanie Quilao]

I love how Valeria put it "In all these situations you are punctuating your journey with color, fragrance, texture, and look, involving all the senses."

This is part of the enjoyment of our trek through life.

[KT]

Ooooh there's something just so fabulous about red red lipstick... Maybe it's the contract between lip and face... Maybe it's all those glamorous 40s movie stars... It just makes you feel so polished... so pulled together...

[BEN]

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