Cultural expectations, dressing up and wearing makeup

They said there is beauty in simplicity. Definitely, however, is it a general rule in life that you can only find true beauty in simplicity? I was raised in a community with traditional values and as women are gradually discovering that it is acceptable for us to choose whatever feels right in terms of beauty and fashion preferences, several reactions are stirring up and more often than not, we are shamed for expressing our selves because of our choices, considering that we have all the freedom to choose what we think is good for us.

Deciding to use something vibrant, glittery and bright isn’t and shouldn’t be equated to showing off. If somebody uses something neutral or basic then we should just consider vibrancy, sparkles and bright colors as preference as well. There is too much judgment in this world that we forget to respect each other’s differences.

Women who don’t like makeup often post memes about women who wear makeup are depicted to be insecure of their true beauty or hiding under their powders and liquid foundations. We all have imperfections and we are aware that, some women are wearing makeup to enhance their assets and features, some are just happy using their face as a canvass because they are talented in terms of blending colors and are really creative and using makeup as a medium. We don’t have to judge each other’s real beauty according to the volume of makeup we put in our faces and body. It’s as if using makeup makes us less beautiful or worse, thinking that it makes us less human.

Shimmer Ordonio - Professional Makeup Artist
"I want my clients to believe in themselves, to bring out the confidence in them, making them the best version of themselves."

It is just sad that in this community that we are living in, several individuals feel like they are imprisoned in the kind of culture where people should only wear jeans, midi skirts, t-shirts and whatever is acceptable in the society. Some LGBTQ+, plus size or even regular size people love to express themselves through dressing up but they can’t since they will be the subject of laughing matter in public places. Why can’t we wear short skirts? Androgynous outfits? Skin baring clothes? Okay we all have dress codes at work and in church but aside from that,  there will be ordinary days where we can wear anything, then why do we still feel like we don’t have the freedom to do so or people will make us feel like we violated anyone? Is it wrong to be yourself?

Axel Villacillo - Fashion Enthusiast
"I've always believed that fashion is a sound art of intuition, I dress up the way I do because I think fashion should always be fluid and non-gender bias, fashion is a form of art, an intricate way of showing once personality, creativity and what I believe in."

We all have the privilege to choose what kind of car to buy, a religion we think is deserving of our beliefs, a favorite TV or radio station, specific plants and flowers to put in our garden but we don’t have any freedom to be ourselves in a community that tells us to conform. This is a sad reality. Self-expression is not a sin and we should not pay for choosing to show the world who we really are. Let people dress the way they want to, allow everyone to express their creativity, let them wear red, black green, metallic lipsticks, let’s make this world an avenue where people can share their stories without feeling bad about it. We are still far from this goal but we can do it step by step, instead of teaching children to ONLY embrace their natural black hair, why not tell them to accept every hair or skin color, any body shape, etc., We should learn to accept that we have differences and that is normal. Whether we choose to be simple or fancy, that is fine. Just take it as a preference. If you are this person who doesn’t wear makeup, or dress up and brags about being real and free from insecurities, girl you might like to do a self-check again because as a representative of makeup and fashion enthusiasts, I strongly stand firm that our personal choices matter more than anyone’s judgment.

Geselle Rivera - Artist
" Experimenting on different hair colors and makeup look is a way of life for me and I simply do it for myself." 

This post is not about vanity. We all have to be educated that fashion or simply caring for yourself does not imply that we seek attention, show off social status or intend to stand out all the time. Some just like to dress for themselves, to work on their self-esteem, to feel good about themselves. With or without makeup, short or long skirts, high or low neckline is just fine. As they say, “my rules, my life”. Is dressing well a criterion for having a bad attitude? Is it an acceptable reason for people to hate you or for parents to school their kids should keep away from dressing up flamboyantly? It is a must to let the younger gen know that dressing up or wearing makeup is okay otherwise It will only give the impression that fashion and makeup enthusiasts are materialistic and vain and it is not a crime to use makeup or dress well. NO! It doesn't mean that we are shallow. Let us start to change our perception of self-expression. Teach children to never judge a person through stereotypes/physical aspects and it will help transform our community into a better and peaceful one.

I am proud that I am unique and no one can make me feel bad about it ever again.

Shaming other people for their preferences should stop. If you don’t agree with their preferences then RESPECT is the most practical solution. It’s a very basic core value that we learned at home and in school.