Why do some people take us less seriously just because we wear makeup?

I was recently in a video call with some of my friends. We were catching up and sharing what kept us busy aside from work. When it was my turn to speak, a friend of mine preempted me saying, “I’m sure it’s makeup again.”

Well, in his defense, he wasn’t wrong. Makeup really did keep me busy and continues to keep me busy, but what bothered me was his tone and facial expression.

Ever since I started wearing makeup many years ago, friends and family would question why I waste my time, effort, and money on makeup. Some would even go beyond that and say that people won’t take me seriously if I wear makeup.

While I’ve learned to not care about what people say about my love for makeup, I just feel like I have to revisit this issue and speak up about it. 

In order for me to understand where they are coming from, I tried to put myself in their shoes and ponder why they have this perception about people who wear makeup. 

They think makeup is only for women. Living with my conservative extended family, I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve been told that makeup is only for women. Oh, don’t even get me started in the gay dating world. I wonder what they’ll say when they find out that men have been wearing makeup since 4000 BC.   

They think we hide behind makeup. “You look better without makeup.” “You should look natural.” “You wear makeup because you are insecure.” The statements go on and on. Whatever reason we have for wearing makeup is valid and is not anyone’s business.

They mock it because they don’t get it. It’s easy and convenient to make fun of something you don’t understand. Some people just don’t get makeup at all and instead of letting people do what makes them happy, they feel the need to rain on their parade.

They think we take makeup seriously. Well, of course we take makeup seriously in a sense that we spend time, effort, and money on them. However, we know that makeup is temporary, something that comes off at the end of the day. Now, if someone is bothered that you wear makeup, then that someone is taking makeup way more seriously than you.   

They think wearing makeup makes us shallow and vain. What’s wrong with self-love? What’s wrong with wanting to enhance our natural features? What’s wrong with paying attention to outer beauty? You know, this harkens back to misogyny discourses, especially in the workplace, where women are expected to look a certain way to be taken seriously. How ironic, right?

Now that I’ve tried putting myself in their shoes, I can say that their shoes are definitely uncomfortable. Can you imagine having so many issues about something you don’t even participate in? Why not just let people enjoy things?  

If you don’t wear makeup, then good for you! But keep this in mind, when you do decide to start wearing makeup, know that we will be welcoming you with open arms and with a list of recommendations. That’s just how the beauty community is. We take each other seriously.