Vanity a sin? Makeup = Vanity?

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nickybr38

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This isn’t actually a question about sin.

Instead it’s a question about vanity. We’re not supposed to be vain. We’re supposed to seek to be modest.

Now, some people take this farther then others. I applaud those who can take this to the extremes. That might sound strange but if you’re going to believe something you may as well throw yourself into it heart, soul and body!

That said, how do you feel about makeup? I’m not asking about Church teaching or any of that. I’m asking Catholics what they think about the practice of painting your face to hide physical flaws.

Isn’t this a form of vanity? Painting around the eyes to make the eyes more striking, putting on powder to disguise ‘imperfections’ of the skin, lip stain to make the lips more alluring… isn’t this, really, just an attempt to get more attention and more approval from our peers?

I’m not sure if this topic has been brought up before (I did a quick search but saw nothing) but I find myself increasingly compelled to wear less makeup (in fact, I’ve only been using foundation lately but even that feels somewhat … off) and it got me wondering how Catholics (male and female) feel about makeup. 🙂
 
There was a rather heated discussion of make up a while ago. One person in particular thought make up should be banned. I think if you practice moderation in make up application, there’s no reason not to wear it. I personally don’t like make up and stoppe wearing it exept for the most special of occassions. Neither of my sisters walk out the door without it. You do what seems right to you. If you don’t want to wear it, stop. If you like it, go ahead. I don’t think it’s any more vain than fixing your hair, wearing nice clothes, wearing earrings or a necklace. We all want to look our best, but have different ideas of what that means. I’m perfectly content with not wearing make up and having wash and wear hair.
 
Pretty soon some people will declare bathing a sin of vanity. :rolleyes:
 
i do want to say something on what vanity is, but first i’ll answer your question :3

i personally do not wear makeup, and i never have simply because i just don’t like it, and really not for any particular reason, it just makes me feel weird…so that’s about it,
i’ve just never felt the need to “enhance” my beauty, i figure, if someone likes me, i’d rather they like me for who i am, and besides that, i know from experience, when you love someone, no matter what they look like, they just become beautiful to you.

ok well, just a little explanation on vanity,
vanity is better defined as “vainglory” which is an inordinate desire to make others see your “excellence”,
it’s not the same as pride, although(obviously) it stems from it, but the difference between the two are, pride is an inordinate esteem for yourself, and vainglory is an inordinate desire to be esteemed,
the word “vainglory” comes from the word “worthless glory” which kind of spells it out, that vanity is really just describing something absolutely pointless and fruitless and which is shallow, short lived, or empty, and which you really have no right to glory in,
vanity is also referring to when we do something in vain, such as taking Gods name “in vain”, it is saying it without purpose or reason,
and likewise, when we are vain in our looks, talents, clothes, or whatever else, it is just pointless, nothing comes from it for our good, only more pride,

it is no sin and certainly not always vanity when woman wear makeup, but it can be, it just depends on the person,
vanity is venially sinful, because it is a form of pride, but wearing makeup in and of itself is no sin, and not everyone who wears makeup is wearing it out of wanting to be seen and adored,

ok well that’s all i wanted to say :3 so i hope that helps, take care.
 
It’s certainly not my intent to start a heated discussion! I’m just interested in everyone’s differing viewpoints not for judgment. I have met very few women in my life who do not wear makeup, it’s definitely the norm. I, personally, don’t find it attractive. That doesn’t mean it’s inherently wrong. 🙂

Sailor Kenshin - As I stated, this isn’t so much a thread about sin. I don’t think wearing makeup is sinful. I just wonder if it’s a practice in vanity and Emerald Wings had a lovely post describing vanity which I very much appreciate. There was no need to mock.

Daeve - I’m really glad I missed that heated discussion. 🙂 I find searching the forums a bit difficult. :\ I did try to see if there were other threads about this topic but honestly could not find anything.
 
You’re asking great questions.

I am not sure. Thinking aloud.

One aspect of vanity is that of placing our security in others, what they think of us…as opposed to being oriented to pleasing God.

I think intent is key here. Let me walk through a mental exercise.

If a person dresses/makes up to puff themselves up…that’s tending to sin.

If a person dresses/makes up to be more attractive/pleasing in order to catch more souls in conversations that’s another thing.

I mean people seem naturally attracted to things that are ordered and pleasing and proportional and unblemished.

So let’s imagine a woman who puts her best foot forward. She attracts not just men but also other women. She also works on being pleasant, she smiles, she listens well, doesn’t offend. Would it be surprising that over the long haul she would have more interactions and opportunities to show her soul to others? And who is in that soul but Christ.

So, within limits of modesty (and modesty doesn’t mean drabness, plain jane), being attractive can lead to more opportunities for spiritual/substantial interactions, no?

Same could go the other way with men. Joe works out. He dresses smartly. He’s “together”…he’s seen as perhaps an authority on fitness at the gym…he talks to other guys at the gym…more opportunities to engage these gents (hey, Joe, do you want to join us for a beer tonight…sure…Joe joins them…after 2 beers, conversations turn to women…Joe doesn’t reinforce lewd discussion (but, maybe also doesn’t pietistically “recoil” either, just holds his ground) from this discussion…but makes it clear that he doesn’t talk dirty. Joe says he’s got to get to another event…what other event…“we’re packing lunch boxes for the homeless at St Luke’s tonight…thanks for the invite…see you guys at the gym”. And thus begins some very natural more long running opportunities to share the gospel with deeds. All because Joe takes care of the body that God gave him (for the love of God and others).

Just a mental experiment. Does this make sense?
 
Edward_H said:
You’re asking great questions.

I am not sure. Thinking aloud.
Just a mental experiment. Does this make sense?
Click to expand...
Thank you for this! That’s another thing I was wondering about (weight training, etc) and you managed to answer that wondering before I asked. 😉

It does make sense. Absolutely.

My next thought is this;

I know this isn’t exactly what you were saying BUT is it appropriate to make ourselves look good to then lure people to us? In essence playing on their weakness to open discourse? I suppose any means that opens discourse and an opportunity for sharing is good but doesn’t that seem a slightly dishonest approach?
 
I don’t think wearing makeup is any more vain than dressing up for church…and you should see some of the heated discussions on THAT topic! :rolleyes:

Miz
 
I didn’t touch the stuff until I was 34. It wasn’t vanity or otherwise. It was youth and I didn’t need it.
I’m now 63 and work in retail, definetely need it and yes, I wear it. I enjoy applying it and experimenting with different “looks”.
I hate to mess w/ my hair, so it’s short and straight. I don’t like having to think about what I wear so every item of clothing and pair of shoes I own is shades of black and white.
But my face I love to fiddle with at my dressing table so if that’s vanity, so be it.
 
catsrus said:
I didn’t touch the stuff until I was 34. It wasn’t vanity or otherwise. It was youth and I didn’t need it.
I’m now 63 and work in retail, definetely need it and yes, I wear it. I enjoy applying it and experimenting with different “looks”.
I hate to mess w/ my hair, so it’s short and straight. I don’t like having to think about what I wear so every item of clothing and pair of shoes I own is shades of black and white.
But my face I love to fiddle with at my dressing table so if that’s vanity, so be it.
Click to expand...
Heh. 🙂 I’m the opposite. I love fussing with my hair (and BOY have I fussed in my day) and detest fussing with my face. Thank you for sharing your viewpoint.
 
Well, something about the deliberate/trapping aspect you point out makes the mental experiment go wobbly. :>

I guess it boils down to more naturalness and refinement…we take care of our body because it’s God’s gift to us. He gave us a body for a reason. Taking good care of it within limits of modesty and stopping short of vanity will naturally lead to the sort of attractiveness and interactions that the experiment was suggesting.

But for me, I’d stop short of the planning/scheming piece of it. I guess we might just adopt a “I’m ready, when you are God” sort of approach. Vs…let’s go soul hunting. If He gives us souls to talk to in the sandwich shop line…we’re ready with a smile and a pleasant/attractive way.

I’ll have to think more about it.
 
I like looking nice for my husband and for those around me. This is not to draw attention or “allure” - quite the opposite. I think that when a woman looks totally unkempt and not pulled together she actually draws more attention than if she takes care of herself, puts on some make up (notice I said some and not gobs), and makes an attempt at doing something to her hair. To me it is just a matter basic grooming for most women. Now there are those who go to the extreme and use it for the express purpose OF drawing attention and alluring, but those women have an issue to deal with beyond wearing make up, but WHY they are doing it.

And yes - that past discussion wasn’t just heated it was ugly. They don’t often delete entire discussions around here, but that one may have been, and I would not blame them. I know for sure it was locked.

So let’s all play nice so it doesn’t happen again. 😉

~Liza
 
crystal_waters said:
daeve;6752244:
There was a rather heated discussion of make up a while ago. One person in particular thought make up should be banned. I think if you practice moderation in make up application, there’s no reason not to wear it.QUOTE]

👍 i agree
Click to expand...
…and I recall Mother Angelica, when asked about women wearing make-up, replied with her usual wit and wisdom that for some women, wearing make-up was an act of charity to others!!!😃
Click to expand...
 
nickybr38 said:
This isn’t actually a question about sin.

Instead it’s a question about vanity. We’re not supposed to be vain. We’re supposed to seek to be modest.

Now, some people take this farther then others. I applaud those who can take this to the extremes. That might sound strange but if you’re going to believe something you may as well throw yourself into it heart, soul and body!

That said, how do you feel about makeup? I’m not asking about Church teaching or any of that. I’m asking Catholics what they think about the practice of painting your face to hide physical flaws.

Isn’t this a form of vanity? Painting around the eyes to make the eyes more striking, putting on powder to disguise ‘imperfections’ of the skin, lip stain to make the lips more alluring… isn’t this, really, just an attempt to get more attention and more approval from our peers?

I’m not sure if this topic has been brought up before (I did a quick search but saw nothing) but I find myself increasingly compelled to wear less makeup (in fact, I’ve only been using foundation lately but even that feels somewhat … off) and it got me wondering how Catholics (male and female) feel about makeup. 🙂
Click to expand...
…and I recall Mother Angelica, when asked about women wearing make-up, replied with her usual wit and wisdom that for some women, wearing make-up was an act of charity to others!!!
 
Oh yes! Let’s refrain from the judging here! I’d hate for things to become so heated that we can’t learn from each other.

And Doula Mama - HEE. Thanks for sharing that. 😃

Redratfish - And to that I’d respectfully ask - how can we enhance on what God has already made beautiful? 🙂
 
nickybr38 said:
It’s certainly not my intent to start a heated discussion! I’m just interested in everyone’s differing viewpoints not for judgment. I have met very few women in my life who do not wear makeup, it’s definitely the norm. I, personally, don’t find it attractive. That doesn’t mean it’s inherently wrong. 🙂

Sailor Kenshin - As I stated, this isn’t so much a thread about sin. I don’t think wearing makeup is sinful. I just wonder if it’s a practice in vanity and Emerald Wings had a lovely post describing vanity which I very much appreciate. There was no need to mock.

Daeve - I’m really glad I missed that heated discussion. 🙂 I find searching the forums a bit difficult. :\ I did try to see if there were other threads about this topic but honestly could not find anything.
Click to expand...
I’m not very good at searching either, and all the little acronyms confuse me. I just don’t wear it. I usually wear make up for Christmas Eve and during Easter week. I’m a cantor and frequently have a solo, so I put forth a little more effort. I only buy the cheap stuff, because by the time I want it again, it’s too old. If I wear it more than 3 or 4 days in a row, I break out. I’m almost 60 years old and break out from make up. Why would I WANT to wear it? Do what makes sense for you.
 
I think its just like anything else that can turn “ugly” if taken too far, pun intended. Anything can lead a person to be vain or full of pride, be it clothes, their looks, their talents, etc. But makeup can also help a person in their self esteem, or self confidence if they feel it helps them put their best “face” forward to meet and greet people throughout their day. And some people feel they can best do that by NOT wearing any makeup. Neither is wrong, its just how people relate to themselves and there is nothing wrong with knowing what can or can not make you be the best person God intended you to be.
 
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