They hand you a rose that looks as if it had been dipped in dark red paint.

Captivated by its beauty, you smile and reach for the flower.

Then, you feel the thorns pricking your fingers.

You try to hold onto it, but the thorns seem to be hurting you more every second.

What would you do: leave the rose behind or keep it with you?

       ...

“Beauty has never looked more alike. From Hollywood glamour to Instagram’s poreless perfection, beauty’s evolution has traded aspiration for imitation” (Lobad). With the rise of social media, people seem to trap themselves in categories like “trendy with good makeup” and “not trendy with bad makeup.” Styles like “clean-girl makeup,” “latte makeup,” and “no-makeup makeup” are constantly being presented online as ideal looks; in other words, they are considered the beauty standards by online users. As a result, beauty trends limit personal expression by encouraging people to copy what is considered acceptable instead of exploring what feels authentic to them.

In the world of social media, when an influencer creates content about makeup, “[it] is seen as part of social activities, and users participate in the sharing of the ideal appearance through social media, thus influencing cultural norms and beauty standards,” which suggests that when an “ideal” appearance is created, people often share this notion through the media, therefore making that appearance seem like the most beautiful makeup style for a while (Ma 408).

The problem is not, however, that trends exist. They introduce us to current makeup styles, which are fun, inspiring, and even helpful for people learning how to apply makeup. The real problem begins when we treat trends as rules. If we end up asking, “Will people like this makeup on me?” that is when we start losing the ability to express ourselves to the world.

In seventh grade, when I wanted to step away from my childlike appearance, I started buying makeup products. Still new to the makeup world, my hands searched through random products, picked one, and applied the lucky blush to my cheeks to test it out. The next day, when I arrived at school, my friends gave me different reactions:

“Wait, your makeup ate. Oh, maybe a little less blush? I think people on TikTok put on more blush, though.”

“I love your makeup! You should put on more blush; that color suits you, and this content creator that I really like doesn’t even apply any blush! She is so gorgeous.”

Even though both were meant as friendly suggestions, I couldn’t stop feeling insecure about how much blush I put on afterward. I was unsure whether my makeup was “too much” or “too little,” even though it seemed perfect to me.

Looking back on this moment, I realized that makeup was a way I found to improve myself internally, not a way to fit myself into the world of makeup. Makeup can shift from something personal to something that is judged too quickly.

According to a group of researchers in the Department of Dermatology at the State University of New York, beauty correlates with “higher self-esteem and improved well-being,” suggesting that beauty is more about how people see and feel about themselves rather than being defined by outside standards. When someone wears makeup in a way that feels true to them, it can become a source of comfort; however, when that personal style is judged, people might begin to question whether their own personal expression is “good enough.” For this reason, makeup should not be treated as a set of trends dictated by social media, because it can be a form of self-expression.

Also, every culture has its own definition of beauty. In Western culture, beauty is characterized by a thin and toned woman who has a symmetrical face, a thin nose, full lips, and high cheekbones, while in other cultures, such as those of some African, Azawagh Arab, and Asian communities, beauty is characterized by large breasts, a small waist, and large hips (Buvar). Beauty, rooted in deep cultural traditions, is something much greater than makeup trends. Makeup trends can be part of the evolution of beauty in some cultures, but they should not define what beauty is.

Today, the standards of “good” makeup promoted on social media are affecting people’s freedom of expression and creativity. Looking at different makeup styles should be like walking in an art museum: although some pieces are considered more “successful,” each piece is unique and not meant to please every viewer. If one person says an artwork is better than others, they may be considered highly judgmental because we all know a unique kind of beauty exists in each artwork. The same goes for makeup styles. Instead of holding on to the rose, let go of it and find beauty within yourself.

This Article was edited by Head Editor Yusuf Eltom