journal day: beauty is an opinion, not a fact

Journal Day Prompt from Dani of Sometimes Sweet

How would you say your upbringing or background has shaped your idea of beauty? Were you taught to apply makeup or do you hair by your mother or friends? If not, where did you observe what is now your norm as far as beauty practices? And although most of us have been inundated by different cultural beauty "norms" via the media, would you say that television and magazines have had a strong impact on shaping what you think of as beautiful? This week, write about your idea of beauty- how your background has shaped it and what that means for you today.

Growing up, I would say that I was definitely more of a Tomboy than anything. I played sports, didn't wear makeup and I even wore boy Dickies shorts (I know, I know. Gross). I didn't even start to think about "girly" things until I was in high school. That is when I started to wear makeup for the first time. I didn't really ask for help when it came to makeup, I just did what my mom did. My makeup routine consisted of: Covergirl rose blush on my cheeks, a little bit on my eyelids, Vaseline on my eyelashes - then curl them, and to top it off, Vaseline on my lips with a little bit of blush over it. Even as I'm typing this all out, I'm chuckling to myself. My mom pulled this look off, but me? No way. I looked so funny! I stuck with it anyway, because it was all I knew. 

Come Sophomore year of high school, I decided to throw some black eyeliner into the mix of my makeup routine. I was what you would call a scene kid. Basically, I was really into punk, hardcore and screamo music. Hence, the black eyeliner. I'd go to shows and see all the other girls (and, even some guys) wearing it, so I figured I'd try it out. I would cake that eyeliner on, too. Sigh. I'm sure we could get all psychological and look far more into the reasons behind this (hiding from the world, rebelling, insecurities, etc.), but really, I just liked that look.

Thankfully, just a few years later, I moved in with my best friend, Becky. Most of you know Becky is a hair stylist. As far as I've known her, she has always had an inkling for makeup and hair. In her earlier years of going to Cosmetology school, I became her "guinea pig". I definitely got the better end of that stick. She's a natural when it comes to these types of things. Becky took me under her wing, and showed me the ropes. I will say, I didn't always catch on though. I can remember having SO much trouble when it came to applying eyeshadow. And even now, if you know me at all, you will maybe see me wear eyeshadow once a year (and Becky was probably the one to apply it for me). We both went through this phase, circa 2007, where we'd wear BRIGHT eyeshadow. I'm talking orange and yellow. Becky pulled it off. I, on the other hand, just looked like a David Bowie fanatic. I just couldn't get it. Since then, I've just decided to stick to a very normal and basic routine. I'm totally okay with that. I'm so grateful to have someone like Becky in my life to show me the ropes. She still is that person for me. She still does my hair, and she still gives me tips on makeup. Every girl should have a Becky in their life.

 

orange & yellow
// 2007

keeping it basic & simple
// 2012

Physical beauty truly is about perspective. Each person is so different from the next. I can see my Pinterest feed and think, "how on earth does that person like that?!", and I know others might feel the same when they look at what I pin. But, that is what I think is so great about this world. Beauty is not a fact, it's an opinion. 

As much as I can sit hear a poke fun of my past, I really do appreciate it. I didn't really grow up caring all that much about what other people thought of the way I looked, or didn't look. I was raised to be true to myself, and if that meant being a Tomboy, or wearing David Bowie makeup, then that's what it meant. We all go through different seasons of life, and our appearance tends to reflect those seasons. Who knows, maybe one day I'll start wearing eyeshadow, and I can only wonder what that season of life will bring...

XO

Brenda