The Power of Makeup

Bare.

 

Naked.

 

Exposed.

 

Do any of those words describe you after you’ve scrubbed your face clean, removed all traces of liner and mascara, and dared to bare your shining skin to everyone in your vicinity? Maybe your words are more like these:

 

Fresh.

 

Natural.

 

Real.

 

I wish those were my words, but they aren’t. Nothing makes me feel more insecure than seeing my naked face in the mirror. Every little blemish, non-symmetrical feature screams for product the way thirsty flowers ache for a drink of rain.

 

I am insecurity defined.

 

In fact, I was riding shotgun one day when my husband decided to play a song that reminded him of me. Excited to have a tune dedicated to me, I waited eagerly for the One Direction lyrics…

 

You’re insecure.

 

Don’t know what for.

 

My mouth dropped and a tiny puff of air left my lungs as I deflated. “I hate you,” I said as I lightly smacked his arm. Yeah…yeah…two things you should never do: say “hate” and smack the driver. 

 

The rest of the song was sweet, and we laughed that the first two lines were as true as can be, even though my sweet husband hadn’t considered them when he wanted to play it for me.

 

This is terrible, but few people have witnessed my naked face. The “privileged” include — Justin, my parents, siblings, children, and probably a good friend or two. I wear mascara to the pool, foundation to the beach, and carry a small bag with cosmetic essentials everywhere I go.

 

Everywhere.

 

So it is with great resolve that I do what I’m about to do.

 

I am insecurity defined

 

It hurts to look. Cover your eyes! Protect small children! haha!

 

So what does insecurity have to do with the power of makeup? Makeup has the incredible ability to cover the source of the insecurity. Once I’ve two…or three…coats of mascara and some mineral powder foundation evening out my skin tone, I feel better. I know I look better. And I stop thinking about what I look like.

 

Insecurity keeps the focus on yourself and stops you from helping others.

 

Insecurity is a trap.

 

It’s a mask, perhaps figuratively and literally, but I see in creation that God likes to decorate His landscape as well. He didn’t leave the ground green and brown — He added flowers, shrubs, and even beautiful weeds (say, dandelions). God could have left the sky blue, but instead, he paints it every morning and evening with shades pinks, orange, and purples.

 

Sunrises and sunsets are the earth’s eyeshadow!

 

I love makeup. I love enhancing the features God’s given to me, and the whole process doesn’t have to take long.

 

Five months after winning the Florida Christian Writers Conference 2012 Writer of the Year award, Bethany Jett signed contracts with the MacGregor Literary Agency and Regal Publishing. Her debut book, The Cinderella Rule, hit bookstores in April of 2013.