On Makeup and Sunscreen – And Why I’m Not Dying My Hair

Makeup has played various roles in my life, from years of dedicated usage to periods of purposeful avoidance. It was modeled for me growing up, as my mother wore it and refused to leave the house without it. I believe the exact wording she often used was that she needed to “get presentable” as if her face in its natural form was unacceptable.

I started regularly wearing makeup in middle school despite my mother’s admonishment that I didn’t need it. Even if I didn’t need it, I assumed my appearance would be better with makeup. My mother’s reliance on cosmetics suggested that when my youthful beauty faded, I would be eventually compelled to cover or enhance my face to receive society’s acceptance. Why not get in the habit? Makeup was part of my life, most days, from then on. I was never afraid to leave my home without makeup, but I wore it more often than not. 

In my early married years, watching makeup reviews on YouTube was one of my favorite hobbies – the soothing voice of Tati Westbrook was one of my favorite background noises. My makeup collection grew epically: I purchased a large drawer unit to organize it. I had a lot of fun wearing makeup but began to worry about the chemicals within my beauty products; I may have been onto something. A study entitled “Potential Carcinogens in Makeup Cosmetics” analyzed 50 random cosmetic products produced in Europe and found at least one potentially carcinogenic ingredient in every product tested (1). Another study, “The Beast of Beauty: Environmental and Health Concerns of Toxic Components in Cosmetics” asserts that some of the chemicals found within cosmetics “exert a major risk to humans and the health of ecosystems” (2). In “Metals in cosmetics: implications for human health,” the authors assert that “[l]iterature data show that in commercially available cosmetics toxic metals may be present in amounts creating a danger to human health” (3). Unfortunately, I could continue to cite scientific studies that look critically at the dangers in cosmetics. 

I started to look more critically at the brands I chose to buy. Importantly, I stopped buying everything that was well-reviewed to find the perfect product.

Then the pandemic hit. 

Like many others, I completely stopped wearing makeup. Once the worst days of the pandemic passed and we started going out again, wearing makeup under a mask felt uncomfortable. My favorite product at the time, lipstick, seemed unnecessary.

I tried other makeup products once in-person work resumed – mascara and eye shadow were mask-friendly. But after so long of not wearing makeup, I found the makeup – the mascara in particular –  incredibly uncomfortable. I caught myself rubbing my eyes and rather unattractively smearing mascara and eyeliner across my face.

At some point before or shortly after the pandemic, I discovered a woman in the curly hair community whose message ultimately pivoted to something other than hair care.  She advocated against makeup and the cultural messaging that the female face is only attractive when painted. She also rebelled against the cultural norm that the adult woman should be hairless. Her messages deeply resonated with me. 

I started giving everything a critical examination. I had cultivated a complicated skincare routine (again, thanks to influencers on YouTube). My aim in my skincare was to prevent and reverse signs of aging. But why? Because the female body is most desirable when it is young. My mom had modeled the strong desire to prevent and reverse signs of aging.

I even stopped wearing my daily facial sunscreen. For a while, I wasn’t leaving the house post-pandemic and post-giving birth but I also had recognized that I was only wearing sunscreen to prevent aging. 

Occasionally, we recognize the person we aspire to be and feel compelled to embody that ideal. I strive to be the truest me and often to “be the change I want to see in the world” and Motherhood has underscored that. What kind of woman do I want to model for my daughter, and what kind of world do I want her to grow up in? 

I don’t want her to believe that her face needs to be covered in makeup to be attractive.

I don’t want her to think her primary purpose as a woman is to be beautiful.

I don’t want her to worry about whether or not her face is painted before she video calls a family member. 

I acknowledge that it’s easy for me to adhere to my makeup-free convictions. I don’t suffer from acne and rarely get zits. I don’t have a significant amount of redness. I know that my face in its natural state isn’t particularly offensive by society’s definition of an offensive female face that desperately needs makeup. It is easier for me to eschew makeup than many others. 

Over the past years, I have put a lot of thought into what I wear on my face and why, which brings me back to sunscreen. I originally wore it to prevent skin damage that would lead to signs of aging but the other, more important factor, is that skin damage can lead to skin cancer. As I begin to remake my life again – being my ideal self – I know that wearing sunscreen daily is a habit I should once again build. Now, I scrutinize sunscreen options, seeking something wearable and comfortable without altering my appearance drastically. I want a sunscreen product that doesn’t turn my face ghostly white but not a makeup product with a little embedded sunscreen that makes my face a single shade of beige. I want her to know I am wearing sunscreen, not makeup. 

Will I wear makeup occasionally? Probably. I kind of like sparkly eye shadow. 

But I hate mascara. 

And you better bet I’m not dying my hair. To the 20-plus silver hairs that have taken up residence on my head: don’t worry, you all are welcome.

Citations

1. Balwierz, R., Biernat, P., Jasińska-Balwierz, A., Siodłak, D., Kusakiewicz-Dawid, A., Kurek-Górecka, A., Olczyk, P., & Ochędzan-Siodłak, W. (2023). Potential Carcinogens in Makeup Cosmetics. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 20. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20064780.
2. Bilal, M., Mehmood, S., & Iqbal, H. (2020). The Beast of Beauty: Environmental and Health Concerns of Toxic Components in Cosmetics. Cosmetics. https://doi.org/10.3390/cosmetics7010013.
3. Borowska, S., & Brzóska, M. (2015). Metals in cosmetics: implications for human health. Journal of Applied Toxicology, 35, 551 – 572. https://doi.org/10.1002/jat.3129.