Makeup and vanity?

[lobster]

Hi everyone,

I’m curious if the Catholic Church teaches anything on women wearing makeup? Lately I’ve been struggling with wearing makeup…I wake up every morning and feel like I NEED to wear mascara for the day or else I will look completely ugly and no one will pay any attention to me, or respect any of my ideas. Granted, I do not wear a lot of makeup - usually natural looking mascara, subtle brown eyeliner, and a touch of blush. Yet, I’ve worn this everyday since I was 13 years old (I’m 23 now) and lately have felt like I am not satisfied with the face the Lord has given me unless I have this little bit of makeup on!

So is this vain? Is the Lord displeased that I wear makeup and to desire to look pretty everyday? If there is no particular Catholic teaching, what do you all think?

Thanks!

Although the Church does not specifically make a statement about wearing makeup, it does address the issue by virtue of its teachings on modesty and purity. Makeup appeals to a woman’s ingrained natural desire to draw undue attention to herself, specifically, the primordial yearning to be desired by men. This is the curse of Eve in which all women share. The Church calls women to keep their human nature subject to their will, rather than their will subject to their human nature.

 

[whatevergirl]

*Lobster–not all women want ‘undue attention from men.’ It is not an innate ‘desire’ in women to wear makeup to lure men over. I wear makeup…I am not interested in luring men over to me. I’m happily married, and I find your post offensive. *

 

[LilyM]

*Lobster–not all women want ‘undue attention from men.’ It is not an innate ‘desire’ in women to wear makeup to lure men over. I wear makeup…I am not interested in luring men over to me. I’m happily married, and I find your post offensive. *

Or attention from men at all, particularly. When I wear makeup, it’s for the same reasons that I wear flattering clothes (not tight or skimpy but not potato sacks either) or have my hair clean and well-styled or wear a little bit of jewellery (nothing flashy).

When I feel that I am well-groomed it affects my interactions with everyone I meet, male and female alike, and not in any erotic or sexual sense either.

 

[RedSoxWife]

I definitely don’t think that wearing makeup goes hand in hand with trying to look sexy. It can, but that’s like saying that by wearing a dress you’re trying to look sexy. It depends on the dress and it depends on the application of the makeup. I don’t usually wear makeup on a day to day basis, but I usually put some on if we’re going out to dinner or to Mass. It’s very minimal and it makes me feel more pulled together. I think this goes hand in hand with dressing nicely to go to Mass to show respect. Makeup certainly isn’t necessary, but it can make you feel a bit more dressed up, and I don’t think there’s anything wrong with that.

I also think it’s funny when people try to say that women shouldn’t wear makeup because it’s an “equality” issue. Men and women are different. Not inferior or unequal, but certainly different. It drives me crazy when feminists try to say that we should be the same. We aren’t supposed to be the same. God created us differently. That’s why my daughter is already more interest in dolls, shoes and her little chapel veil, while one of my best friends little boy loves finding worms and bugs outside. There are inherent differences. Wearing makeup isn’t an issue of equality.

 

[gabriel22a]

*Lobster–not all women want ‘undue attention from men.’ It is not an innate ‘desire’ in women to wear makeup to lure men over. I wear makeup…I am not interested in luring men over to me. I’m happily married, and I find your post offensive. *

Amen! My husband loves me with or without makeup. I wear makeup for me–it makes me feel well-groomed. And I don’t know where it came from that part of the curse of Eve was the desire to lure men. This kind of stuff is what makes people stay FAR AWAY from the Church. I have a hard time judging them.

Women who choose not to wear makeup–good for you–that’s you’re choice. I don’t judge you or make up religious reasons why you should. Although I could probably take a clue from some of the crazy reasoning on some of these posts for why women shouldn’t and develop a whole theology on the reasons women should

The Church doesn’t take a stand on wearing makeup, but Jesus was awfully hard on the religious leaders who made harsh judgements and “held them (the people) in chains” with all their rules.

 

[Lorrie]

When I wear makeup, it’s for the same reasons that I wear flattering clothes (not tight or skimpy but not potato sacks either) or have my hair clean and well-styled or wear a little bit of jewellery (nothing flashy).

When I feel that I am well-groomed it affects my interactions with everyone I meet, male and female alike, and not in any erotic or sexual sense either.

Exactly.

 

[budgie2]

Exactly.

I’m sorry but I have to disagree with you. Make up for me is the opposite of beauty treatment. I can enhance my beauty by wearing flattering clothes, a bit of jewellery or nice hairstyle. But make up changes my identity. I watched a programme about the human brain and we see human faces in 100 times more detail than any other part of the human body. The human face is the way we identify ourselves to the rest of the world.

Maybe you have an object of natural beauty that you associate with your face. My face is white tinged with pink a bit like an alstromeria flower. I can’t just colour my face in. My face is subtle. It has variations in hues and texture which I cannot imitate. Make up makes me look gaudy and takes away some of my face’s natural beauty. When I wear it, parts of my face are not enriched by sunlight or air. Make up takes away my natural colour and makes my face feel greasy or dry.

jamesdebbage.co.uk/catalog/images/Alstromeria-Little-Miss-Nat.jpg

 

[baltobetsy]

I’m sorry but I have to disagree with you. Make up for me is the opposite of beauty treatment. I can enhance my beauty by wearing flattering clothes, a bit of jewellery or nice hairstyle. But make up changes my identity. I watched a programme about the human brain and we see human faces in 100 times more detail than any other part of the human body. The human face is the way we identify ourselves to the rest of the world.

Maybe you have an object of natural beauty that you associate with your face. My face is white tinged with pink a bit like an alstromeria flower. I can’t just colour my face in. My face is subtle. It has variations in hues and texture which I cannot imitate. Make up makes me look gaudy and takes away some of my face’s natural beauty. When I wear it, parts of my face are not enriched by sunlight or air. Make up takes away my natural colour and makes my face feel greasy or dry.

jamesdebbage.co.uk/catalog/images/Alstromeria-Little-Miss-Nat.jpg

Well, good for you. But please don’t assume everyone else is as naturally beautiful as you are or that everyone else is physically uncomfortable in makeup. And especially please don’t make up some bogus theology to justify your feelings and apply them to everyone.

Betsy

 

[LilyM]

I’m sorry but I have to disagree with you. Make up for me is the opposite of beauty treatment. I can enhance my beauty by wearing flattering clothes, a bit of jewellery or nice hairstyle. But make up changes my identity. I watched a programme about the human brain and we see human faces in 100 times more detail than any other part of the human body. The human face is the way we identify ourselves to the rest of the world.

Maybe you have an object of natural beauty that you associate with your face. My face is white tinged with pink a bit like an alstromeria flower. I can’t just colour my face in. My face is subtle. It has variations in hues and texture which I cannot imitate. Make up makes me look gaudy and takes away some of my face’s natural beauty. When I wear it, parts of my face are not enriched by sunlight or air. Make up takes away my natural colour and makes my face feel greasy or dry.

jamesdebbage.co.uk/catalog/images/Alstromeria-Little-Miss-Nat.jpg

Clothes and hairstyles don’t change your identity? Do you know WHY judges and lawyers here in Australia wear wigs and robes? It’s because it makes them much less recognisable outside the courtroom. So your clothing and hairstyle definitely has an impact on how people see you, and if you change them radically enough people WON’T recognise you. I know - I’ve experienced it after going from long dark hair to very short and light coloured.

My face feels neither greasy nor dry when I wear makeup, the colours I use are colours that are totally natural - my lips are coloured as they naturally are, only a slightly deeper shade (which happens naturally if I exercise a bit anyway). If I wore blush (my cheeks happily are rosy enough without) it would be the same deal.

My foundation matches my skin colour very well, and takes away only the spots (when I have them), blotches and dark circles, none of which are beautiful nohow. Mascara, if I used it (which I don’t at present) was only make my eyelashes an even colour (their natural colour) from root to tip rather than having the tips colourless (hence looking shorter than they really are).

True, you need to try a few different products to find ones that are the right formulation for your skin and that match your natural colouring. And to practice applying them in a way that blends with your natural colouring.

But there’s really no earthly reason why makeup ever needs to look or feel like a mask or take anything away from your natural beauty. If it does so you’re using the wrong products.

 

[Sabda]

Interesting discussion.

To the op, makeup is morally neutral. Being morally neutral it is neither good nor bad, however, it can be used in a sinful manner. It doesn’t sound like your using it in a sinful manner. It does sound like maybe it’s beginning to control you though. You should not feel like you HAVE to wear it. The fact is you don’t have to wear it. Makeup, like nail polish is an extra. It’s not a necessary part of good grooming. As little as you say you wear I could pretty much bet that if you went without makeup no one would every know.

 

[lizaanne]

*haha This thread is something else!

I never thought such a topic could get so many different reactions!

I’m guessing some of the folks here won’t be too interested in our never ending ongoing make up discussion then eh?

Well, good for you. But please don’t assume everyone else is as naturally beautiful as you are or that everyone else is physically uncomfortable in makeup. And especially please don’t make up some bogus theology to justify your feelings and apply them to everyone.

Betsy

So very perfectly said.

~Liza

 

[gabriel22a]

Well, good for you. But please don’t assume everyone else is as naturally beautiful as you are or that everyone else is physically uncomfortable in makeup. And especially please don’t make up some bogus theology to justify your feelings and apply them to everyone.

Betsy

Just right! Why can’t we trust the Holy Spirit in matters of conviction? If it’s sin for you–don’t do it. But don’t put your personal convictions into the realm of judgement of others, or as you say Betsy, transform your feelings into bogus theology. (Great term.) Especially, and I’m sorry to repeat myself, in matters of moral neutrality.

I did offer, awhile back, to use the aforementioned bogus theology blueprint to create a theology that requires women to wear makeup. But that’s an exercise in creative writing I’ll save for my book. The inspiration here is priceless.

 

[Bluegoat]

Wearing make-up is just like other types of conventional grooming and clothing practices. Shaving, getting hair cut or styled or just brushed, wearing neat clothes, and so on.

If our motives are sinful in using it, then it is sinful for that person. So if you wesr it to look provcative or to shock people, that is a sin.

A person might feel that society was too focused on appearence in general, and so feel that it would be best to not add to that.

Your reason for wearing make-up then could be a problem. But to me it seems like you are suffering a bit from body-image issues, which are not necessarily a sin. But they should be addressed, maybe with a counselor who works in that area.

 

[budgie2]

Make up might be conventional but it is actually a traditional pagan practice. I don’t know if you’ve ever seen tribes such as the long-necks where women put rings around their necks to make them longer, or tribes of women which cut their lips and put plates into them. These are all forms of oppression. Make up is used in pagan mating rituals and to attract a non-Christian or materialistic partner. It may also be used to attract a large number of mates or purely to flirt at work, with friends etc.

I believe that make up is a subtle adult form of a children’s face paint. It could be compared to animal face paints that are used in children’s parties. Face paints that are used for girls include butterflies, bunnies and cats which are all pagan feminine fertility symbols. It could be said that a woman who wears make up is painting a subtle butterfly on her face. There are also techniques used in make up such as cat eyes, but all eye make up could be compared to false eyes in the animal kingdom such as those on butterfly wings. Yes, you all are Madame Butterflies.

fancyface.co.uk/fancy-face-galleries/animal-faces/
makeup.lovetoknow.com/Cat_Eye_Makeup

 

[Bluegoat]

Make up might be conventional but it is actually a traditional pagan practice. I don’t know if you’ve ever seen tribes such as the long-necks where women put rings around their necks to make them longer, or tribes of women which cut their lips and put plates into them. These are all forms of oppression. Make up is used in pagan mating rituals and to attract a non-Christian or materialistic partner. It may also be used to attract a large number of mates or purely to flirt at work, with friends etc.

I believe that make up is a subtle adult form of a children’s face paint. It could be compared to animal face paints that are used in children’s parties. Face paints that are used for girls include butterflies, bunnies and cats which are all pagan feminine fertility symbols. It could be said that a woman who wears make up is painting a subtle butterfly on her face. There are also techniques used in make up such as cat eyes, but all eye make up could be compared to false eyes in the animal kingdom such as those on butterfly wings. Yes, you all are Madame Butterflies.

fancyface.co.uk/fancy-face-galleries/animal-faces/
makeup.lovetoknow.com/Cat_Eye_Makeup

You mean the Kayan women. Many of them are Roman Catholics.

 

[Della]

Hi everyone,

I’m curious if the Catholic Church teaches anything on women wearing makeup? Lately I’ve been struggling with wearing makeup…I wake up every morning and feel like I NEED to wear mascara for the day or else I will look completely ugly and no one will pay any attention to me, or respect any of my ideas. Granted, I do not wear a lot of makeup - usually natural looking mascara, subtle brown eyeliner, and a touch of blush. Yet, I’ve worn this everyday since I was 13 years old (I’m 23 now) and lately have felt like I am not satisfied with the face the Lord has given me unless I have this little bit of makeup on!

So is this vain? Is the Lord displeased that I wear makeup and to desire to look pretty everyday? If there is no particular Catholic teaching, what do you all think?

Thanks!

There’s nothing in Church teaching against wearing make up. Vanity is something only you and your confessor can sort out, but I don’t see any signs of it in you.

If you haven’t changed your make up look since you were 13 you are wearing a look that no longer suits you and so you don’t feel like it’s really you in the mirror. Am I right?

You should go to a make up artist to have him/her help you find the right make up for you at your age. At age 23 your skin has changed and you need a new approach to bring out your best. I’m 60 but the way I do my make up I am often told I look much younger, and I don’t have a perfect face by any means. But, I have learned how to minimize my flaws, emphasize my good features, and how to apply make up for a woman my age with my type of skin, etc., and it only takes me 5 to 10 minutes (depending on the occasion).

I use make up outside my home so that others won’t think I’m tired or worse, ill (and so avoid me or feel unnecessary pity for me). I want them to see the best me I can be. Make up isn’t about putting on a false face, it’s about people seeing you instead of circles under your eyes or puffiness around the mouth or wrinkles.

Any woman who doesn’t mind showing her natural face certainly may–there are women who are natural beauties or who exude an inner beauty so strongly physicality is forgotten. But presenting a face that doesn’t draw attention for the wrong reasons, tasteful dress and confidence goes a long way when dealing with others, especially in the business world. And there is nothing wrong with that.

 

[WordFuzion]

Heh…I’m one of those women who won’t leave the house without makeup. Heck, I wear it most days even if I never leave the house! It’s just part of what I do as a woman. I like to look good and I won’t apologize for that. And for me, makeup is a practical thing too because I have light acne scarring on my temples. So God might have given me a beautiful face, but my teenage hormones have made makeup a necessity.

I have gone for a more natural look in the past year or two. Not for moral reasons, but because I think all women are beautiful. And we are! We’re beautiful, intelligent, creative, pretty darn awesome creatures that deserved to be loved and admired for more then just physical beauty. (Which is why I dress on the modest side). But sometimes just for the fun of it I get a little crazy with the eye shadow. I’d like to think God is worried about more important aspects of my life then when I feel like shaking things up a bit.

<3 Mare

 

[budgie2]

I think your confessors are wrong. A woman wears make up because she believes her humanity is ugly, a woman’s face is widely tied up with her humanity and sense of self. But by changing my face, I make myself less human and therefore more animal. Make up is a venial sin.

Women wear make up to attract mates on the basis of colour. This is divine revelation. It imitates mating practices in the animal kingdom such as mating of birds of paradise and peacocks. As human beings we can attract mates on the basis of talking to each other and finding out if we have shared interests and beliefs aswell as natural beauty.

I’m not spiritually well if I’m wearing make up. I could go down to clear gloss on my lips, a little bit of eye shadow and clear nail varnish and then try to give it up completely.

Some bird mating dances from youtube:
youtube.com/watch?v=E9tdloS_A-4&feature=related
youtube.com/watch?v=XgnOQqLhrlw

 

[gabriel22a]

I think your confessors are wrong. A woman wears make up because she believes her humanity is ugly, a woman’s face is widely tied up with her humanity and sense of self. But by changing my face, I make myself less human and therefore more animal. Make up is a venial sin.

Women wear make up to attract mates on the basis of colour. This is divine revelation. It imitates mating practices in the animal kingdom such as mating of birds of paradise and peacocks. As human beings we can attract mates on the basis of talking to each other and finding out if we have shared interests and beliefs aswell as natural beauty.

I’m not spiritually well if I’m wearing make up. I could go down to clear gloss on my lips, a little bit of eye shadow and clear nail varnish and then try to give it up completely.

Some bird mating dances from youtube:
youtube.com/watch?v=E9tdloS_A-4&feature=related
youtube.com/watch?v=XgnOQqLhrlw

You are making up quite an interesting theology about make-up. You would be welcome in some protestant holiness churches in the South, or we have a cult in our area that believes this, too. Please make a good reference from the Church that specifically calls wearing make-up a venial sin.

If this continues, I’m going to have to formulate my own theology that, based on animal videos, painting classes and divine revelations of my own, not wearing make-up is a venial sin.

 

[LilyM]

I think your confessors are wrong. A woman wears make up because she believes her humanity is ugly, a woman’s face is widely tied up with her humanity and sense of self. But by changing my face, I make myself less human and therefore more animal. Make up is a venial sin.

Women wear make up to attract mates on the basis of colour. This is divine revelation. It imitates mating practices in the animal kingdom such as mating of birds of paradise and peacocks. As human beings we can attract mates on the basis of talking to each other and finding out if we have shared interests and beliefs aswell as natural beauty.

I’m not spiritually well if I’m wearing make up. I could go down to clear gloss on my lips, a little bit of eye shadow and clear nail varnish and then try to give it up completely.

Some bird mating dances from youtube:
youtube.com/watch?v=E9tdloS_A-4&feature=related
youtube.com/watch?v=XgnOQqLhrlw

I repeat, I DO NOT, and NEVER HAVE, worn makeup in order to attract attention from the opposite sex. For one, I’ve been around long enough to know that male attention can certainly come to me whether I am barefaced or not.

And I DO NOT, and NEVER HAVE, worn makeup because I think I am ugly without it, any more than I wear jewellery because I think I am ugly without that, or high heels because I think I am ugly without them. If I genuinely thought I was ugly without makeup I would permanently change whatever was distressing me via cosmetic surgery, I wouldn’t merely dab on a little bit of lipstick.

I am sick and tired of you pontificating to me or to anyone else about why we wear makeup, as if we are lacking in reason or in the capability for self-awareness and self-analysis. I am more than capable of both, thank you very much, every bit as much so as you are, and I certainly resent the implication that for some reason I don’t know why I wear makeup - I know perfectly well why I do it.

And how DARE you pass judgement on our confessors in such a fashion - who died and made you Pope that from the heights of your infallibility you can lord it over them?