The wonders of make up

Over the years, makeup has become increasingly popular all around the world. In today’s society, its impact is becoming more noticeable than ever. No class of people is exempted from  using these cosmetics for various reasons like beauty, art, career, sports and so on. Whether good or bad, makeup has made its way into everyday life and have come to stay. 

According to findings, Makeup has been used since ancient times, and it dates back to the ancient Egyptians. In Egypt, women often used things such as berries and burnt matches to enhance their lips and eyes. They also used a substance called kohl, which was an early form of eyeshadow, so that they could imitate their gods.

 Grecian and Roman women also adopted the use of this early cosmetic, but they used it more for beauty purposes. 

Eyeshadow was later spread to other countries where it was deemed as a symbol of status because of its great expense.

In this part of the world, our mothers used beauty ointments such as " laali" , " "tiro","osun " to beautify themselves to mention a few, but with modernisation, all has been upgraded to powders, eyeshadows and lquid foundation. 

Overall, makeup has affected modern society in a number of significant ways. Each year, a lot of money  is spent on cosmetics, and makeup today is viewed as a form of art. Despite some of the negative and stereotype beliefs that surrounded makeup and those that wear it had faced, it is much more accepted and appreciated among both old and young, even those that work in careers involving beauty are being taken it much more seriously. Even those that started making blogs and YouTube videos that relate to makeup have now turned it into a successful career. This success has also provided these people with the opportunity to collaborate with others in the industry which, in return, has led to the creation of various popular cosmetic products and even new makeup lines.

In her contribution, a student of Bowen University, Ifeoluwa Ayomide said she loves makeup but she  can do without it.

"As a young lady I love to wear makeup because it makes me look good and gorgeous, I feel very comfortable with it, especially during the cool weather because I don't like wearing makeup during the hot weather and I spend little amount of money on it, for instance, N20,000 to N25,000 depending on the products I purchase because their prices varies. For example, Mac Powder is 15,000 and Classic Powder is 3,500. I think many more people are wearing it than before, but people still have different opinions about it.”

However, benefits of wearing makeup cannot be over emphasised.  First of all, makeup can build one’s confidence. Wearing makeup can make a person feel much more in control and studies show that those who wear makeup feel very comfortable in social situations, they stand out among others and have a sense of belonging. 

Makeup can also make a person look more presentable and give off the impression of self-care. Since makeup contributes to these, it can help people obtain certain jobs, and it can make those who wear it appear to have the happiness and positivity that draws others towards them. 

The use of cosmetics also opens the door for creativity and originality. With the common message in society to “be yourself,” people can use the different colors, shades, and styles of makeup to create a look that is unique to them that can make the strong statement that they  want to convey.

For any woman venturing into the world of makeup, it’s normal to feel overwhelmed by the abundance of products in the makeup aisle. However,  the basic makeup essentials you need to have in your bag include: moisturiser, primer, foundation, concealer, blush, eyeshadow pallette, eyeliner, mascara, powder, lipstick, lipgloss and makeup brushes.

 In her opinion, an Abeokuta based makeup artist, Toyin Ojekunle who owns the popular Teewhy Studio, Safari Junction at Onikolobo said her passion for beauty and her love for make up made her venture into the business over seven years ago.

" I love to wear makeup a lot and people inquire about the person who does it for me, they get surprised when I tell them that I do makeup myself, the next thing is that they would sit down and ask me to do theirs too, that was the beginning of my journey in the make up industry, since I started, I have worked for all categories of ladies as long as they can afford my services. Such services include: Makeover for all occasions, Gele tying, Semi-permanent brows that is, Microshading & microblading and Lash-Extensions.

Though, to a great extent this business is lucrative but prices of  products is the only challenging thing we face, because you have to keep updating and upgrading  products and skill and that's the only way you can remain in business"

" The business has exposed me to a lot of influential ladies both here in Abeokuta and beyond, I don't compromise standards, I use beautiful and quality products, the products I use also depend on the client skin type" she stated.

For Mrs. Faderera Adeniji ,  “I love makeup, I like to wear makeup because of the confidence it gives! Secondly as  ladies or  young women,  we go through a  lot of stress daily, wearing makeup makes a stressful face more beautiful thereby making us feel younger! It doesn’t really cost much to me because it gives me value for my money! "She stated.

By and large, there are also many negative effects of wearing makeup. First of all, makeup can be very costly. With all the increasing prices on popular makeup brands, people are having to spend much more than in the past, and it can take a great deal of one’s funds to keep up with this hobby.

Secondly, makeup can be difficult to remove, and for those that wear makeup almost every day, it can seem like an exhausting task to eliminate every bit of it from the face. Another issue with makeup is that when people become accustomed to wearing makeup, they feel as though they do not look right without it, which can lead to a decrease in self-esteem and a desire to never go out without wearing any. 

Another major negative effect of makeup is skin damage. It has been well established that makeup can contribute to an increase in acne if not used or removed properly, but it can also lead to more serious things such as sickness, infections, or cold sores from either sharing makeup with others or spreading bacteria from their own faces and hands.

Therefore, it is important to use caution with the amount of makeup one uses, and take into account the cleanliness of the makeup itself, the brushes used, and the hands and faces of all who put it on. Along with this, it is also important to consider what type of makeup is best suited for one’s skin to reduce this acne, skin damage, and much worse.

“When girls become used to wearing makeup, they can feel like they are not pretty enough to go out without wearing it. Girls can lose a sense of their actual beauty and rely on makeup to look a certain way. In addition, there can be some health side effects from wearing makeup which could include headaches, skin discoloration, acne, and eye infections,” says a skin expert.

In her opinion, a Lagos State business woman, Biodun Omiteru said, she does not like young girls putting on makeup " I  discourage  usage of makeup among students and teenagers. I feel that too much or heavy makeups take away their innocent looks and days, which caused much defilement and creates a lot of confusion in their thoughts, making our girls grow up fast disallowing formable years of enjoying their youthful days" she remarked.

In conclusion, beyond physical health, cosmetics can help to improve our mood, enhance our appearance and boost our self-esteem. They can also help to exhibit personal style and, as such, are  important means of social expression, but more importantly, let moderacy be your watchword!