are beauty products sinful?

[simple_soul]

You know…in a weird and probable twisted way, in some peoples mind, I have found beauty products actually help me to be more virtuous.

 

[Lamafacaja]

Questions of morality aside, I always think that older women look much better without makeup. Natural aging is generally more attractive than artificiality; in fact, elderly people can be very beautiful, it’s just a different kind of beauty.

Well, I don’t like heavy makeup, but a little goes a long way.

Until the Church puts a moratorium on makeup, I intend to wear makeup.

 

[Shin]

I heard a priest say once, because Eve was placed before Adam’s judgement (Gen 2), she and her daughters have ever since then had a desire to please the judgement of Adam and his children of their appearance.

On the other hand, since Adam and his sons had no such occasion, they are less concerned with their appearance, and it is unsuited to them to be so to the extent the daughters of Eve are.

Moreover the daughters of Eve are all more skilled in attending to matters related to appearance than the sons of Adam, be it the home, furnishings, people, etc.

OTOH, on the spiritual journey we have to detach from all things, and not be enslaved to certain tendencies.

Moreover, since the sons of Adam who are corrupt judge externals according to sin rather than modesty… it will have a bad effect. Nevertheless their proper role is that of judgement…

 

[kozlosap]

My opinion, and what I heard from a traditional priest, is that it’s better not to wear makeup. Not that it’s sinful to wear it, but it’s better not to.

The female saints don’t seem to have worn makeup, except Teresa of Avila, who regretted it later.

Maybe I’m just a dense o’l baby boomer, but what on earth does “traditional priest” mean when the discussion is concerning make-up?

 

[Lamafacaja]

I heard a priest say once, because Eve was placed before Adam’s judgement (Gen 2), she and her daughters have ever since then had a desire to please the judgement of Adam and his children of their appearance.

On the other hand, since Adam and his sons had no such occasion, they are less concerned with their appearance, and it is unsuited to them to be so to the extent the daughters of Eve are.

Moreover the daughters of Eve are all more skilled in attending to matters related to appearance than the sons of Adam, be it the home, furnishings, people, etc.

OTOH, on the spiritual journey we have to detach from all things, and not be enslaved to certain tendencies.

Moreover, since the sons of Adam who are corrupt judge externals according to sin rather than modesty… it will have a bad effect. Nevertheless their proper role is that of judgement…

A little fun here and there, a blusher, a mascara, some hair color never hurt, my friend.

 

[Shin]

Ah Lamafacaja, I can’t help but think that the world would be better off without them than with them.

 

[JReducation]

Ah Lamafacaja, I can’t help but think that the world would be better off without them than with them.

Common, give these folks a break. They’re not talking about going out cruising. They’re talking about making themselves feel a little better and showing a taste for elegance. There is nothing immoral with either of those.

To the person who said that women saints did not wear makeup, that’s not true. I don’t know who said it. But’s it’s not so. We have several women saints who were royalty, aristocrats and upper class women and they dressed the part.

Just to name of few: St. Elizabeth of Hungary, St. Therese before she entered Carmel, St. Caherine of Genoa, St. Sophie (the elegant nun), St. Giana Molla (all photographs of her show her with makeup and more often than not, she wore slacks too), St. Therese’s mother, whose name escapes me now, but she’s a Blessed. She dressed very elegantly and wore makeup. We have photographs of her.

Fraternally,

Br. JR, OSF

 

[Shin]

I think you’re simply ignoring what the quotes say J.R., and then you come back with the opposite. Instead of trying to get an deeper understanding of the reasons why the quotes were said, you’re looking for outs that make them honestly next to meaningless.

As for photographs, now we have photos of folks before they necessarily were as holy as they should’ve been. I’m sure if we had some photos of St. Augustine from his early days it would be rather disedifying. A martyr dies for a cause, and that is the witness and not sometimes the life before.

 

[CanMan86]

When in doubt ask yourself, what would Mary do? Also Christ said to be perfect like our Father is perfect. Does wearing makeup help you be perfect like your Father?

 

[JReducation]

I think you’re simply ignoring what the quotes say J.R., and then you come back with the opposite. Instead of trying to get an deeper understanding of the reasons why the quotes were said, you’re looking for outs that make them honestly next to meaningless.

That is an unfair statement. I understand very well where the citations come from, the context and the concern of the speaker. The concern of the OP is not the same concern as those of the people you cite.

As for photographs, now we have photos of folks before they necessarily were as holy as they should’ve been. I’m sure if we had some photos of St. Augustine from his early days it would be rather disedifying. A martyr dies for a cause, and that is the witness and not sometimes the life before.

I’m afraid that you’re mistaken on that one. We have photographs of St. Giana shortly before she died. She’s in makeup and slacks. We have photos of Blessed Zelie Martin shortly before she died and she is always elegantly dressed, her hair elegantly done and her face madeup.

We have records in the Franciscan Archives of St. Elizabeth of Hungary that tell us about her elegance and regal presence and how St. Francis autorized the use of all the “adornments proper to a lady of the nobility” to be worn over her Franciscan habit.

We have, in our archives, notes and drawings of Joan of Arc dressed as a man, also wearing her Franciscan habit under her manly dress.

All of these folks understood the difference between elegance and beauty and immodesty. They were not idiots. Please do not underestimate them by alleging that they were not as holy when these things were said about them or when these pictures were taken. You offend them. These are just the women. There were also men who were members of the nobility, the aristocracy and the middle classes who had the means to dress well and take better care of their appearance.

It is true that there were many holy men and women who left the secular world to join the consecrated life, as such their dress and appearance was much more simple. But the Church has never expected every person to look like a monastic, not even consecrated religious.

We have to accept that there is a difference between beauty and inappropriate dress and appearance.

Fraternally,

Br. JR, OSF

 

[Cat_Herder]

The real problem here is confusing beauty with physical attractiveness.

They are two very different things.

Unfortunately the word beauty has been co-opted by the cosmetics industry.

 

[stormy99]

I am an 18 year old girl, and I am just wondering is it sinful to have makeup products, hair products, lotions, etc? Makeup has been around for centuries, but it is looked at in two ways 1) to enhance beauty or 2) to cover up beauty. When i go out with my boyfriend, or to a restaurant or such, I tend to put on makeup, even if just a little and do something generally with my hair, as most women (even men) do. But is this a sin? Am I altering the body God gave me? Please help.

**Nope…not a sin…enjoy…

stormy**

 

[JReducation]

The real problem here is confusing beauty with physical attractiveness.

They are two very different things.

Unfortunately the word beauty has been co-opted by the cosmetics industry.

Bold is mine.

Any industry is going to capitalize on what should be something simple. Just look at the commercials on detergents. What’s more simple than doing laundry?

Fraternally,

Br. JR, OSF

 

[spunjalebi]

I believe JREducation is spot on. There is also a difference between taking care of one’s appearance and also showing that you care for your appearance, versus vanity. Vanity borders self-love and self-idolizing-- caring for one’s self shows that you seek to please your husband (if you are married), you seek to please God for caring for the temple, and you wish to show that elegance. Since when was that sinful?

It is true that most men would rather see less makeup or even no makeup on women. Many women look better without makeup, or at least with a lot less. What is concerning to much men is the near-obsession with makeup that many young women around the OP’s age have. Also, it is sinful that many women place their self-worth into makeup, and can barely go out to the grocery store or the gas station without taking 10-15 minutes on their makeup.

Beauty products are not sinful in them selves, nor is the use of beauty products sinful. However, if one uses beauty products in lieu of establishing one’s internal self-worth, then it is sinful. If one uses beauty products to create a false visage (I’m talking heavy amounts here) that would be sinful. I think we need to realize that objects in them selves are not inherently sinful, often it is what we DO with them that can become sin.

ETA:

"I hold that not only virgins and widows, but also wives and all women without exception, should be admonished that nowise should they deface God’s work and fabric, the clay that He has fashioned, with the aid of yellow pigments, black powders or rouge, or by applying any dye that alters the natural features. . .

Defacing is often permanent. Makeup is removed and washed off.

 

[baltobetsy]

In our society today, wearing a bit of makeup, doing one’s hair and wearing reasonably fashionable clothing are indicators that a woman takes care of herself and is respectful of others. They are part of the accepted standard of good grooming. Failure or refusal to observe these norms could mark a person as careless, nonconformist or, in extreme cases, even mentally ill. None of these are helpful to the person presenting herself as an ambassador for Christ.

 

[Cat]

When makeup is skillfully applied, it is often invisible.

Many men think that their beautiful sweethearts are do not wear makeup. But they don’t realize that their sweethearts ARE wearing makeup! They just apply it with skill so that it isn’t obvious.

My daughter wears pots of makeup, but you would never know it. She looks like an American natural beauty.

 

[spunjalebi]

When makeup is skillfully applied, it is often invisible.

Many men think that their beautiful sweethearts are do not wear makeup. But they don’t realize that their sweethearts ARE wearing makeup! They just apply it with skill so that it isn’t obvious.

My daughter wears pots of makeup, but you would never know it. She looks like an American natural beauty.

Maybe this is why some people have a problem with makeup-- because that seems somewhat deceptive?

I wouldn’t call myself “skilled” at applying makeup, but it’s not extremely obvious. People have asked me before if I was wearing blush because the makeup I use is mineral makeup which has a slight sheen to it. I would say eyeshadow, eyeliner, and mascara are obvious. However, personally to avoid the whole deception thing, especially with my husband (whom I first met and dated and barely wore makeup with, if ever) I limit my makeup to covering blemishes, such as pimples and or dark scars that take a while to go away. I also have allergies, so my undereyes will sometimes have dark circles, but I keep it as minimal as possible. Or else we’d have a “what happened to you???” scare every morning I got up…

 

[Cat]

Maybe this is why some people have a problem with makeup-- because that seems somewhat deceptive?

I wouldn’t call myself “skilled” at applying makeup, but it’s not extremely obvious. People have asked me before if I was wearing blush because the makeup I use is mineral makeup which has a slight sheen to it. I would say eyeshadow, eyeliner, and mascara are obvious. However, personally to avoid the whole deception thing, especially with my husband (whom I first met and dated and barely wore makeup with, if ever) I limit my makeup to covering blemishes, such as pimples and or dark scars that take a while to go away. I also have allergies, so my undereyes will sometimes have dark circles, but I keep it as minimal as possible. Or else we’d have a “what happened to you???” scare every morning I got up…

But using this same argument, wearing clothing is deceptive, or more specifically, any clothing that disguises our body flaws. E.g., I should wear clothing that outlines my every bulge (and I have plenty!) so that I am not hiding my muffin top belly. And women shouldn’t wear bras because it keeps their bosoms from sagging; instead, they should let themselves sag, since to push themselves up is deceptive.

Or using the 'deception" argument, a man should never shave, since real men (at least most men) have facial hair. And for that matter, women should never shave, since real women grow hair under their arms and on their legs.

I just don’t buy the argument of “deception.” I would say that make up should accentuate our good points and hide our unpleasant flaws. And we have to be careful when we talk about our flaws–some people consider freckles a “flaw.”

 

[dixieagle]

Ah Lamafacaja, I can’t help but think that the world would be better off without them than with them.

Oh, bunk.

Believe me, the world is MUCH better off with my 58 year old self wearing a little makeup.

 

[UnusVeritas]

Hello there!

I’m 17, and if beauty products are a sin, I’m going to the lowest ranks of hell. Kidding kidding…beauty products are fine. There’s nothing wrong in using them at all. Simply because they’ve been around for a long time, though, doesn’t mean they’re okay. Prostitution has been around a long time too, and that’s not okay. St. Thomas Aquinas supports the use of make-up. The reasoning behind its defence is that you are enhancing what God gave you. You’re trying to make yourself look your best. One of the dangers that these products present though, is the sin of vanity. Vanity is where a person is overly concerned with how they look. A reasonable amount of concern is even good! But everything in moderation.

Great question, and God bless! I hope everything works out for you and your boyfriend!