When Youtube Beauty Vlogger Nikkie Tutorials posted the viral video The Power of Makeup in response to makeup-shaming, the internet lit up. Those in the beauty community have always known of its existence, but Nikkie was the first to really put the idea of makeup-shaming on the map. While ridiculing women for wearing makeup is certainly universal, the negativity and the backlash against black women who wear makeup seems to address three major areas of concern:
The ever-trending #takeherswimming hashtag often speaks to these concerns.
The popular Gossip site, Bossip, even has what they’ve labeled a makeup sorcery guide which include images like this:
When black women who suffer from hyperpigmentation use makeup to even their skin tone, they are often accused of both trying to appear light-skinned, and also fooling their would-be suitors:
Black women are also often made to feel restricted with what’s appropriate for their complexion. When Essence posted a photo of black women wearing red lipstick on their facebook page a few years ago, the comments were overwhelmingly in reference to the darker-skinned woman featured in the collage:
“Take that red lipstick off all black people can’t wear this for real”
“Everybody can’t wear RED lipstick, baby u should have tried Wine,”
“Please stop wearing red lipstick when your complexion is very dark. Uh!”
The question then is, why are black women not afforded the same freedom with wearing makeup as our white counterparts? Why is our use of makeup tied to us wanting to appear more white, or trying to land a man? Futhermore, why does there exist a stigma against dark-skinned women wearing brightly colored lipsticks?
Here’s what some of makeup-loving BGLH Editors had to say:
Portia
Wearing makeup makes me feel glamorous. In fact, that’s what’s always attracted me to it. As a little girl, I used to watch the women in my family powder their face, apply lipstick, and head out for the evening. I attended a lot of social events as a child and seeing the women look so glam and fab from head to toe, made me fall in love with makeup. I fell in love with the entire package. I’ll always associate makeup with glamour – gives me that Golden Era, Old Hollywood feel.
Lisa
I’ve always been into makeup, but becoming a beauty and fashion blogger and youtube content creator has taken my obsession and turned it into a business venture. To be honest, I don’t wear makeup that often, but when I do it’s a full face, just the way I like it. When I put on a set of full glam eyelashes and a super bright pink lipstick, I am in my glory. As a dark-skinned woman of color, I grew up hearing about how I could only wear certain shades or how I shouldn’t wear too much, so wearing it now is kind of my comeback. I even post weekly swatch videos on my channel showcasing pretty much every color of the rainbow against my skin. Makeup is fun, and for some it’s art. I think the naysayers make way too much it. It washes off with soap and water at the end of the day, and we go on with our lives. Our boyfriends and husbands aren’t being fooled, and we’re good with ourselves. I share more of my thoughts in this video:
https://youtu.be/s_bEUEuOWBg
Rinny
I remember when I was a kid and couldn’t wait to wear make-up so I could be like the girls on Clueless (This was before I knew Stacey Dash was lost in the world). Lipstick was cool, mascara and eyeliner was oh so rad. I had to settle for Bonne Bell lip balm and those infamous clear flavored rollerball lip glosses. The only time I could wear make-up was for dance competitions. As I got older, I really started to explore. I remember stealing my Mom’s Black Opal shadows (some of which I have til this day). At one point in my life, I was even pursuing a career as an MUA. The reason being is because of the way make-up feels. It’s a sense of creative expression. It’s figuring out how many purple and gold smokey eyes one can come up with to go to their college football game. It’s beating your face so you can bolster your confidence if you so choose. You can’t keep me away from a good highlight and bold lip! I’m all for it. Make-up is for the wearer.
What are your thoughts? Do you think Makeup-shaming exists in the black community?
89 Responses
Oh, I know who is responsible for these memes and the overt criticism of Black women and their makeup. The BBNC (Bitter B—- Ni— Committee). Across all social media platforms, it has been BLACK MEN who denigrate the Black woman the most. SMH
I personally have no issue with what another woman, especially another Black woman does to her face/hair/body. All this makeup sorcery shit is just waay too much drama on social media. And it’s petty, and the creators and provocateurs REEK of desperation and insecurity.
I’ve had grown ass men and women critique me for wearing red lipstick because they are jealous of my full lips. They say “red is a whore color,” yet these same bozos will wear red Jordans or put on a red church hat, lol.
Has to be jealousy and old-fashioned views because I don’t see them criticizing WHITE WOMEN for wearing red or black lipstick. It’s so hypocritical that most of this hate comes from my own people. I’ve gotten the hate about red lipstick since high school. I’m 33 now and while I am on the “light” end of the spectrum (I hate colorism, especially how pervasive it is in the south)…I’ll wear whatever-THE-FCK I please and I must say it looks good.
Out of thousands of friends only 3 people had something bad to say. And one was a plain jane who can’t dress or put on foundation properly. Lol maybe she caught her husband eyeing my lips. Maybe that’s the reason she feels uneasy when I wear red lipstick, lol. *Sips Tea*
Oh, and this is NEWS to me chyle that Black women “wear makeup to land a man!” Cuz some of the women I see Black men with of the other persuasions need some real help. I showed my man my bare face and natural hair before we even got to talking seriously so this “makeup trapping” *shrugs* IDK where they do that at.
As usual, this makeup shade is going on over Black women. Where are these memes featuring white and “other” women who often do more bleaching, tanning, and altering of their skin tone that we do???
ALL women are make-up shamed. All women are accused of “lying” using make-up, all women are accused of only wearing make-up to get male attention, and all women are criticized for their color choices. This is not just a problem within the black community. There have been tons of “porn stars without make-up” articles, and every woman featured is white, and everyone always remarks on how these ratty, ugly, acne-riddled little white girls doll up to be every man’s fantasy woman. (“Good thing I only need to look at her for three minutes,” etc. etc.)
The only thing in this I see being exclusive to the black community is the skin tone shaming. No one shames white women for getting spray tans or using bronzer (unless it’s a bad spray tan or too much bronzer, in which case people just poke fun at the orange hue, not the issue of skin tone itself.) And that seems to come largely from within the community itself. I suppose I can see where they may be coming from (“are you ashamed to be black/trying to be white?”) but concealment is always done with a lighter shade (even on white women, it just doesn’t seem as obvious) and it’s a shame that leads to such harassment.
Nevermind these professional victims. If they’ve experienced something they don’t like it’s because they’re Black women. Yet, you don’t hear them attribute their positive experiences in life to their Blackness. However, if you were to tell them they have a victim’s mentality and self-image they would make all sorts of accusations against you. It’s really embarrassing at this point.
MegaHind
For the dark skinned girl with the red lipstick, I think the main issue is that loud tomato shade just clashes with her (perfectly lovely) skin tone. I would have her in a cooler berry-tone red. But of course yeah, everyone is free to do their makeup however they want and there’s no need for mean/catty commentary. Ain’t my face!
Yes, it exists!-Damn if she does or doesn’t waer make-up! She has to feel.comfortable and beauty no matter her decision…key words: HER CHOICE!
Red lipstick looks good on every skin tone (just use a brown liner for darker skin & no orange undertones). I’m older so I can remember back in the 90’s when neon colors were out and some girl let me know that I was too black to have on loud pink. Well, it wasn’t that it looked bad on me, it’s just that you noticed my skin…which people seemed to have a problem with..even more. My skin was beautiful. I didn’t know that then. It’s the same concept with the red lipstick.
The real issue here is that women can’t win no matter what they do. If they don’t wear makeup, they’re ugly and don’t take care of themselves and will never “get a man.” If they do wear makeup, they’re shallow and fooling people and trying to “trap a man.”
Meanwhile, there are entire industries that tell women their beauty is directly linked to their worth as human beings, and an entire history of anti-Blackness that tells Black women they’re worth less than white women regardless of how beautiful they are.
“Makeup shaming” isn’t a thing. Hatred of women (especially Black women) is.
Vaginas?
You hit the nail on the head!
No such thing as makeup shaming The issue is just wearing too much makeup regardless of race.
“What are your thoughts? Do you think Makeup-shaming exists in the black community?”
I think a sick, pathetic need to control every damn thing Black women do, think and feel exists in the Black community. SMH
This topic is such a sensitive subject for many women of color. I’ve watched the videos where these ladies have applied mass amounts of concealer and foundation to even out and blend their skin tones to create their canvas for their make-up artistry. As a Professional Beauty Consultant, one of the things I encounter more then anything in the Black community are young women who will spend a high dollar amount on a mass amount of products to cover up their imperfections. I actually took the time to add up the costs of products used in one of these before and after videos and the young woman’s make-up totaled to over $450. Not once did she mention her skin care preparation before she applied all of her glamour. A lot of these girls CLAIM that they are scared to use skin care, or take the time to find one that works for them, because they are going to “Break Out”. Not realizing that this mass amount of concealer and foundation are trapping in dirt, creating one of the main reasons for their skin imperfections. One of the things I specialize in is teaching ladies about proper skin care and taking care of themselves from within. A simple change in their diet coupled with a good skin care regimen will eliminate the mass amount of blemishes and discolorations these ladies fill they need to cover up. Make up should be used to accentuate your natural, beautiful, unique features God has Blessed You with. It should NOT be used to Hide You.
I don’t get your answer to the question at hand.
Came across this piece shared on FB, and I love the focus on both asking insightful questions, and offering positive, empowering personal narratives.
The idea that makeup (and fashion for that matter) is fair game for anyone’s vicious criticisms baffles and enrages me. Wear what you want, do your makeup how you want, look great, feel great, stop tearing other women down. Amen.
I wanted to chime in on this point though: “Black women are also often made to feel restricted with what’s appropriate for their complexion.” For what it’s worth, this is very much not limited to women of color. There is very much an “acceptable range” of tones for every skin complexion, and every self-anointed makeup opinionator will tell you what yours is.
I, for example, have pale white skin with a yellow undertone. I have been forbidden by every makeup pro/”pro” on earth from wearing purples, yellows, pinks, any reds with blue undertones, browns, deep reds, and salmony oranges. I can wear very tame “neutrals” that vary only slightly from my natural lip color, one pale orangey pink, one very specific red, and one insanely fun vivid orange that I adore but am nervous to wear because I’ve gotten mixed feedback on it.
I am so used to being told clearly and unequivocally that I “can’t wear that color” that I always sit in awe of the wide array of colors that darker complexions “can” wear.
So I assure you, this isn’t a thing targeted at dark tones. It’s flung at all of us. Sit still long enough, and someone who thinks s/he is hot shit will find a way to “improve” upon your look, often with lots of pity that you somehow didn’t know this obvious thing.
In the end, here’s a good barometer for whether or not you can wear a specific lip color with your complexion: When you put it on and you look in the mirror, are you happy? Then bam, congratulations, you can totally wear it! Knock ’em dead.
Let people wear what they want. It’s their right.
You made it sound like society has a problem with black women wearing makeup when truth is, it’s black people doing the most criticizing. Just like it was black people criticizing Gabby’s hair. I think it’s time we start being honest about how horrible we treat each other!
Exactly. The self-hate in the Black community is real smh. People would be so quick to call out White people for racism yet mercilessly go in on someone who is dark-skinned. Black women can’t win for losing these days. I bet it was an ignorant Black man that made this. I’m am so over them projecting their insecurities onto us.
And you said everything that needed to be said about this. We treat each other like crap, and we have to stop.
Yes, I agree with Lizzie about the Gabby thing. Nobody hates black people more than black people — and this hatred is targeted towards dark complexioned black women the most.
Of all of the wonderful, spectacular, talented, phenomenal things Gabby does, black folks were so ignorant and self-hating all they could concentrate on was her hair. The little girl’s hair looked like the white girl’s hair: pulled back in a pony tail so that she could do her thing without interference or distraction. I bet not one of those opinionated negroes could do anything Gabby could do! And how many of them have ever been in the Olympics! Crabs in a barrel.
It is sad that, even in 2016, a black woman’s beauty is judged by how closely she looks like she has someone white sitting next to her in her family tree. If you’re not mixed or light, then you’re just not right. And we wonder why we as a people are disproportionately represented in everything negative: poverty, jails, the school to prison pipeline, unemployment, police brutality and violence. Until our men start loving their own women, and become the Kings they once were, this Stockholm’s Syndrome that our race is afflicted with will ensure that we continue to be the bottom on which others repeatedly wipe their feet.
Hyperpigmentation in everyday lingo is a pretty specific term actually. Refers to Post-Inflammatory hyperpigmented spots, ergo dark spots. What you’re referring to is melasma. Sure technically that falls under the same term, same way technically Indians and Middle Easterners, not just Chinese & Japanese are Asian, but people don’t get that pedantic. In day-to-day speak, hyperpigmentation and pIH are one and the same, that’s probably why your comment sounded so asinine. But yes, if you’re talking about Melasma (which, none of the girls pictured are suffering from actually) then you have a point.
Truth, every word!
Yes shaming exist and needs to STOP. With or without make-up – up true beauty is from within.
Why do you care? Are you wearing it?
having a discussion that includes respecting people expressing their opinion on the topic is beyond you, apparently. oh well.
Same to you as I just expressed my opinion.
Make-up shaming is just self-hate. Why should you care what someone wears on their skin? We all wear make-up to have fun, enhance our features, and to try something new and different from the every day look. I mean so what? Just leave people alone. Give us room to breathe, be ourselves, and enjoy being ourselves. We are sometimes our own worst enemies with the things we say about each other…yes, black women, I am talking about us! Why are we always bashing each other? Society is hard enough. Leave us alone! Let’s stop the shaming, the hating…just STOP!
…some have not learnt self-love. I had to change my thinking about a lot since returning to nature…it’s a mindset.
Actually wearing fake straight hair and makeup that lightens your brown God-given skin is the real self-hate.
I don’t know what people are talking about sometimes. Bright colors look amazing on darker skin. Nothing against my fair sisters, but shades of darker skin lend themselves so well to rich jeweled tones.
Agreed! I’m about as pale as a polar bear in a snowstorm, and bright colours unfortunately do not work for me. I used to try wearing eye makeup when I was a teenager, but I eventually realized I looked like a ghost clown, so I stopped.
To all makeup-wearing dark-skinned people: if you want to wear a bright colour, do it. I may not be able to wear those colours myself without looking absurd, but I sure as hell appreciate how good you look with those colours on your beautiful melanated skin #melanenvy 🙂
No!!!! Not a “ghost clown”!! XD
But yeah, whenever I see makeup recommendations, one thing seems to ring true: darker skintones can handle more pigment in makeup. The contrast is striking and flattering, but some people apparently don’t like it, smh
This is just another way for people to try and keep Black Women “in their place”. Black Women need to understand that ‘our place” is wherever we decide we want it to be and that, “that place” is interchangeable. Kind of like makeup, which is why I wear it and love it. I personally love seeing dark skin women with bright lipstick colors. I’m not a fan of weird colors on anyone mind you, like the blue color they have out or the yellow, but that’s regardless of race or complexion and its just my thing. What we as black women decide to do with aesthetic is OUR INDIVIDUAL BUSINESS and why IS OUR INDIVIDUAL BUSINESS!!! Have several seats naysayers, what we do is our business and our right!!!
Most folks that shame black women for wearing makeup are only saying “I cant imagine how to begin to do that on my own face so since I feel intimidated I’m going to knock her down by saying something rude.” And as far as men, they are idiots when it comes to makeup and what they think is natural. Nobody is transforming like that on you in real life and if they are be grateful they took the time to get cute for you because you probably don’t look like much to her, but she recognizes that men dont usually wear makeup to hide their craters and blotches acne, and scars. Sit down. Everyone on the count of 3…SIT DOWN. 1.2.3.
Hello there ladies! I am a history major and I would like to address your question in the article: Why is our use of makeup tied to us wanting to appear more white, or trying to land a man? Futhermore, why does there exist a stigma against dark-skinned women…..
First, the Europeans created race and created the feuding and stigmas we have against one another. The dark-skinned vs light-skinned and field workers vs house workers battle is real. You see there were several blacks who were born in now America during the colonial periods and even before. Interracial marriage was real. White men took on black women as there wives and when you are born you take on the status of your father. They were free. Well many whites didn’t like this because we started to outnumber whites while also having control over land and owning as much as they did. They actually created a law against interracial marriage to prevent this. Along with this came the white person telling some domestic educated blacks, “you aren’t as good as me or superior to me, but your better then the blacks in the fields.” They put us against each other and this was also a tactic to prevent an uprising by Blacks. Everything stems from those times. Now while we have so many who would love to put slavery behind them and act as if it never existed and that racism currently doesn’t exist”Stacy Dash and Raven Simone” the truth is it happened, it matters, and it is still happening. We don’t need to blame anyone, but if you want to read Deuteronomy chapter 28 and blame our ancestors. We have to stop it. Learn to love each other and stick together. None of this will matter to most of you and most of you will think I am crazy. But it doesn’t change the fact that it is true and this will all continue until we are fed and as a people and do something about it. This new makeup trend of contouring is just another way to make women of all colors less than what we are. makeup is cool and I love it but there is a limit to everything remember that.
I think most of the people on this blog are well-aware of the history of slavery. That doesn’t address why Black women are singled out for being dark-skinned instead of Black men, or why women are shamed for wearing makeup.
I think people are super hateful and it shocks me. If a girl wears no make up and doesn’t look “the part”, she has no self confidence, but if she wears make up proudly and has fun with herself, she is a liar… seriously people! I think all of those women are beautiful for WHO they are and I’m glad they are enjoying themselves. Make up is art. It’s fun. It makes us more confident just like fixing your hair or putting on nice clothes. I think the swimming hash tag is degrading and insulting. Let’s not forget that NONE of us are without flaws that we cover and if a man is going to start the relationship off from such a degrading mindset, he is not in the position for a healthy relationship where he can value a person for who she is. For the record, those of you that claim these women are “changing their skin tone”, remember that almost all pale skin people where bronzer and highlighter and it’s not considered wrong. In fact how many women tan in a salon?? As a pale faced woman, I have to do a lot of redness correcting to have an even skin tone and it’s nothing different than what these women are doing. I don’t know a single white friend that doesn’t have a bronzer to make them look tan… and that’s acceptable… so I do agree with this article that this controversy is being a little unfair to women of color
Thank you so much for your comment I forget women wit a lighter hue use bronzer
Well, as far as the question of “The question then is, why are black women not afforded the same freedom with wearing makeup as our white counterparts” goes, one is always going to receive that uneven treatment from white society and we already know why, which is partially fueled by the fact that we not only age better but look stunningly better both with and without makeup than our white counterparts have, do and ever will. If people need a hashtag, they can use #facts for that.
But when it comes to our own community, some of the more juvenile responses to the issue makeup and Black women (such as the takeherswimming hashtag) just seem to stem from society becoming more infantile in mentality as a whole.
And to answer those questions, from my own personal perspective with my own reasons and experience, leading to my own criticisms for makeup on myself and others:
1. I don’t afford myself and others the unequal freedoms, save for my maybe saying we don’t need makeup and others usually do (just like they often need to shave more than we do, if we even have to shave at all, that is) – we look stunning without it already, and that being the case, think it’d behoove us to stick to things that look natural when we do use make up.
2. Our use of makeup is often tied to us wanting to appear more white when there’s obvious lightening being done. As for getting a man, I’d be surprised if that’s not applied to all women, regardless of race, considering what white celebs look like without it.
3. There should be a stigma against brightly colored lipsticks for everyone, be they as pale as Lady Gaga or any and every shade of Black possible. Period. It’s honestly not flattering on anyone.
Maybe the calling out of terrible style choices in general is what’s needed, though, since casket-ready makeup jobs look overdone and casket-ready regardless of the person – Lady Gaga, Miley Cyrus and Iggy Azalea look like literal clowns all the time, powdered donut faces, red/bright lips and everything, and just as much as people like Nicki Minaj and Rihanna have. Past that makeup already matching one’s skin tone/skin highlights and maybe a darker shade for eye shadow (and plum…sparingly), colored makeup just tends to be disagreeable on everyone. Less has always seemed to be more.
But to consider saying such to be makeup “shaming” is a curious thing. I don’t understand the whole “shaming” idea in general as to me, it’s a term that only seems to pop up when people are being nudged toward a happy medium instead of an extreme end of whatever spectrum the topic is covering. lol
But at the end of the day, what does it matter what colors a person wear on her skin? It’s not your skin so why should it matter to you? Seriously. Happy medium or extreme is still a matter of personal choice.
As you’re doing exactly what you’re criticizing me for, I can only reply in kind = my comment was neither posted by/about, nor directed to you, so why should the fact that I care or hold an opinion on the issue, matter to you?
To answer your questions – it matters to me because I love my people and like helping them when asked to. But don’t mistake my answering the questions put forth in the article for, say, my actively sharing my opinions with others about their makeup choices without their asking. Two different things, hence my comment about shaming. I shared my perspective on the issue because the article asked. For normal irl interactions, my perspective on people’s makeup or appearance isn’t volunteered or pushed upon people and doesn’t usually go past compliments that I desire expressing, anyway.
But you’re free to disagree with my opinion. It’s never mattered to me whether or not anyone agreed or listened to it.
Take care.
there’s wearing makeup and then there’s wearing a mask… some don’t recognize the difference.
I love makeup but when you look completely different on your after.. yea your potential partner might think its some kind of trickery…
I love makep. It gives me a sense of power. The ability to flaunt pwowerful colors such as orange and teals on my lids and to slay in rich red, pranges, and purple lipsticks truly gives me life. I have been wearing makeup since age 13. My mom always told me that makeup makes a woman more polished.
I think this is the same as the fatshaming and slutshaming conversations; people need to worry about themselves instead of the weight, makeup, faces, and vaginas of other people. In other words, mind your fucking business about what someone else is doing with THEIR bodies.
I love my makeup and I do very good job of making it look very natural. Black women can wear red lipstick. There are several different shades of red to compliment every skin tone.
Let’s not overlook the fact that that girls makeup doesn’t match her skin tone whatsoever. Technique is cool, but color mastery is equally important. Also, her makeup makes her look like a different person, but if that’s the look she’s going for….mission accomplished. Like why aren’t we talking about how this is bad makeup as opposed to good makeup? That’s the real discussion.
Can we also talk about how hard it can be for black women to find the right color? I’ve resorted to mixing 2 to sometimes even 3 different foundation colors to find sort of a close match to my natural skintone. Please take that into account. I’ve even seen many black celeb women with foundation that’s off. The struggle is real.
Yes! I also mix colors. And the problem is that I don’t have a formula so I cannot really reproduce the look consistently. Not to mention that I tan easily and my shade changes significantly. I end up not wearing makeup often for this reason.
Have you seen most actors without their makeup? You would not recognize them.
I get that this is a blog focused on solely black issues, but this is not an issue relegated exclusively to black women. This is a problem for ALL women. Really, nor everything is that personal.
Why won’t those with hyperpigmentation blend they’re tones to their darker, more prevalent shade? Clearly this speaks to an even bigger issue we still hold with darker skin.
Why can’t we tell a woman that a color choice is unflattering? Granted, we black women aren’t known for our tones of kindness and positive support. But honesty isn’t a crime against blackness. I mean, if I stepped out of my room looking a mess, I certainly wouldn’t consider those that were flattering me as friends. Nor would i consider the overly critical as friends either. A true girlfriend would take me back into the room and help me get it right.
Lastly, it’s called “putting on a face/mask” for a reason. It is the fine art of illusion, and no one should be shocked or offended when the obviousness of the illusion is alluded to. “Stars/models without makeup” is still a very popular trend. If you can paint it on a canvas you can paint it on a face, so a face can look like anything and anyone! Thus the allure of the bare face.
from what I’ve seen, people get foundation to correct hyperpigmentation that closely resembles the color of their neck and chest. if the face is naturally darker than the neck (or for white women who suffer from rosacea[sp] and get opal tones) then it makes sense to match the face to the rest of the body. I don’t think it’s a matter of not getting the darker color. it’s getting your face to match the skin color of the rest of your body
Because they don’t make foundation dark enough or don’t carry the brands that make foundation dark enough.
#allivesmatter /s
Reply again when you feel like being relevant to the topic. I’ll gladly court your thoughts then.
“I get that this is a blog focused on solely black issues…”
Just keep reading that part over and and over again until it hits you.
But if you want to go there — Why don’t women blend to their darker, hyperpigmented shade? One, because it’s hard enough to find makeup darker than tan and, even if you do, these companies seem to think that the cool/warm/neutral undertone thing stops once you’re darker than a paper bag. I can’t tell you how many cocoa, ebony, toasted almond, cappuccino, espresso, mink and fawn foundations I’ve had that had “warm” in front of them that turned out to be anything but.
Two, hyperpigmentation is rarely the “prevalent” color. It’s often the result of acne scarring, hair removal or sun exposure. It is not that woman’s original color and it makes no sense to blend towards that color when, over time and/or with the help of some products, it can fade. Would you tell a white woman with red acne scarring to just wear redder foundation?
LulaBelle as to your first statement, I don’t see how you could miss the point. Maybe I didn’t covey it clearly enough for your comprehension?
Would I tell a white woman with acne scarring to wear redder foundation? That’s the the most narrow minded question anyone can possibly pose on the issue of hyperpigmentation. Clearly you are not aware of ALL the manifestations of such a generic term. I would tell a white woman with blotches or patches of darker shades due the uneven tones of color deposits she was naturally born with to go with the darker shade rather than whitewashing get complexion.
The bright red lipstick on that woman looks just as off as dark brown lipstick would look on pale skin. Back in the 60s, Diana Ross wore awful pale pink lipstick and it was “in fashion” at the time. Colors look better if they match your skin tone so I really don’t think this was darkskinned shaming at all.
i used to be anti-make up, outside of lipstick. i have clear skin (i eat healthy, exercise and take good care of myself). it used to bother me when i saw women of any group with make-up. but then i saw a youtube blogger take off her make-up. her skin was so bad, i actually had sympathy for her. i suspect she needed that make-up to feel confident in herself.
since then, i don’t judge women for wearing make up so much. BUT, i have noticed that there’s this presumption that you’re not polished if you don’t have a face full of make up and filled in brow.
for me, i just like a nice lipstick or tinted gloss and pretty, clear skin.
I’m a fan of women wearing what they want, what makes them feel good. If anyone else doesn’t like it, they can take a flying leap off a short pier.
There will always be makeup criticism for any woman, of any shade, so might as well focus on pleasing yourself.
Why do you stop playing the victim and do what you want? *eye roll*
oy vey
The way the insults were worded was definitely offensive and another choice of wording probably would have better gotten the message across. There are, however, certain TONES of colors that don’t work for everyone’s complexion and it’s a bit ridiculous to feel like you can wear every color without something looking bad. There are tones of red lipstick that work beautifully with dark skin and there are tones of red lipstick that don’t work on white or lighter skin. The same goes for all other colors. And the makeup shaming happens to all women, not just black women. I’ve seen as many memes using other races of women saying the same thing as ones with black women. Overall, men don’t care who does it, they don’t like a fake face. If you’re so proud to walk around with your face caked up and you do it for you, then why take so much offense when men complain about it? Imagine men started walking around with makeup and hair pieces as often as women do, completely tricking you into thinking they look like something else, and when the makeup is taken off, the person is no longer attractive. Looks DO matter in most situations with dating and if you aren’t attracted to the person initially but they have a great personality, there’s a term for that: friends. It’s not about makeup shaming, it’s about the fact that you use makeup to COMPLETELY CHANGE your face, which is deceitful. You can’t be mad if somebody finds your NATURAL face unattractive because they know the made up face is fake and what’s really underneath. Can we stop with all the unnecessary complaining, it desensitizes everyone to when something that’s actually complaint-worthy happens to black people.
With makeup I end up lighter not necessarily because I want to but because it was the darkest option offered and I purchased hoping for the best or the lady at the counter did my makeup and told me that shade works best for me and I didn’t realize I definately wasn’t dark enough until after I already bought it (I notice the color difference more when applying makeup myself than when someone does it for me and I can just see the final look). And tbh a 1 shade difference should not be a deal breaker or else you’re the crazy one.
. . .interesting I thought this happens in only in my country. Black women are ridiculed and judged when they use make-up. Mostly by other black men and women.
Mvumikazi ~ Urban Mnguni ~
One thing with red lipstick (and other make-up) whether you are black, white , yellow or green is that it has to match your underlying skin tone. Some people are more yellow then red (and vice versa), so even if your skin is the same darkness or lightness as someone else it doesn’t mean the same make-up colours suit you both.
Unfortunately when people insult others over their make up colours they are too thick to use the correct words. So red lipstick used by the darker skinned woman doesn”t suit her underlying skin tones.The other women have all chosen colours that suit their skin tones.
In regards to make up shaming black women – I’ve been shamed by my family as I use to not bother wearing make up until I was in my mid-20s. My mother rarely wore it as the colours around when she was younger were for white women. I was actually taught to apply it by the white women I knew when I was 18-21 who were artistic. Interestingly their own mothers didn’t wear make up which was why they weren’t pig-headed when they taught others.
This is where I learnt (and so did the others involved) about that underlying skin tone was important as I could wear the same eye shadow colours as a blonde white girl and look normal, but not as a brown haired white girl. The brown haired white girl looked weird if she wore the colours of the blonde haired white girl.
line your lips in dark dark brown and you can wear ANY color. Trust me But the lining is critical otherwise you look like that Dave Chappell crackhead
LMBO!! Omg I’m dying. On one hand, I do believe black women/dark skinned females are shamed sometimes and made to feel like certain kinds of makeup are not for them, or men say they’re falsely advertising (sorry that I tried you into thinking I have green eye lids or burnt orange lips? Bye.), however on the other hand, regardless of skin tone, certain colours will work for you while others won’t. It is what it is. However, it’s your face, you are entitled to do whatever you want with it.
Women should have the freedom to choose to wear make up or not to wear make up. They should have the option to choose bright lipstick or any other cosmetic choice they desire. People, including myself, will have their opinions of whether something is becoming or not. And, you know what they say about opinions. So, do you boo!
This is the aftermath of black twitter. While it can galvanize behind social causes and bring light to prominent issues, most of the time, it is a bunch of meme-obsessed and self-hating losers ready to “go in” and “clown” their fellow black people. This is why I do not use social media smh
Thank you for the post! It’s about damn time someone spoke about the negative attention black women have been receiving from black men especially who assume that these women are trying to bewitch, trick or trap them by concealing imperfections. As usual we are being judged as though we have nothing else to contribute except for our looks. Firstly, it’s assumed men are the ultimate judges of beauty which is really flawed. Secondly, I find it quite arrogant that men assume that all this is for them. There have been improvements in makeup technology, popularised trends such as contouring, concealing, etc. In other words, there have been changes that have been occurring, mostly to the benefit of capitalism and consumerism, which have less to do with men than they do with creating new markets. yes, in most instances, this is to benefit men but women have found ways to use this to their own advantage. There’s so much more I want to say about this but can’t seem to find the words right now. There’s nothing wrong with going makeup free or using minimal makeup, I just think that we should also try to fight for the right for all women to choose what it is they want to do with their bodies and that includes wearing as much makeup as you wish. And importantly, we should not always judge a woman’s actions as though the soul benefit is to please men. I believe that this very limiting.
Maybe because I don’t wear makeup regularly or watch tutorials much, I have not noticed any extra criticism towards dark or black women in general unless they wear A LOT of it. Which I hear the same criticism of lighter complexion and non black women who wear A LOT of makeup. I think whatever complexion you are there can be shades that don’t compliment you. Same with clothes. I just have an orange lipstick to a white coworker that looks great on her but sucks on me. I have seen many pics on this site of makeup I thought was overdone almost clownish that is presented as “isn’t this beautiful.” So I guess if you don’t like makeup that looks like it has more layers than a wedding cake then you are shaming. But then I don’t typically comment on those pics because I really don’t care. Not my face. I would rather wear makeup than the makeup wear me. IJS
Yes, make up shaming does exist. Where I’m based, in Uganda, East Africa, some men have the crazy idea that we walk, talk, breathe to please them and get offended…even abusive when you make it clear that your love for makeup or skin care has naught to do with their massive egos.
When are the hair icons coming back? I see potential women all over instagram. @4chairchicks @myhaircrush come on now.4b 4c gal here
I’m not sure why adults can’t /won’t leave other adults alone. People shld do whatever the hell makes them happy.
There’s always gonna be that one beyotch. It’s really sad, cause when you do it to them, they’re the first ones to call you out
Personally I wish women didn’t exist in a misogynistic patriarchy, where they are compelled to apply cake on their face to look like someone else. All of this in the hope of attracting an idiot male and being a viable sex object for him. It is tragic.
I don’t agree at all with that narrow focus. Not everything a woman does is to attract male attention. Gosh, that would be exhausting! As stated by some of these women, make up is for the wearer. If it has the added effect of attracting male attention, that’s great (if a woman so wishes). But that can’t always be our default response when women do something that makes them feel good about themselves. Why does every single thing we do have to be interpreted to mean or assumed to benefit someone else? I just can’t
Yes, yes, yes and I say again YES!!! I’ve just started playing around with make-up and it’s fun. I like adding color and shades to my looks much like we do with jewelry or hair color. It’s fun, artistic and creative, it;s girly, fun and for “US GIRLS to ENJOY & PLAY WITH”. It’s a fun form of artistic expression and fun. That’s all !! The question to ask is…. Why is that so threatening???
I highly doubt this, but keep lying to yourself. I like how you casually put that it is an added bonus to attract men with makeup. You’re not slick. Coincidentally men never feel compelled to put cake on their face. Clearly the act of putting on makeup is engendered, and that is something you want to ignore. It is the woman who is taught to be ashamed of her bare face, not the man. That is indeed a shame. I never ever wear makeup. That crap breaks out my skin and refuses to allow my natural, clear skin to breathe. No chemically created color will enhance my natural red hues and yellow tints that embellish my brown complexion. I refuse to agree that makeup is
a) not engendered, and
b) not for the male gaze
Yes, I’m sure all the lesbians I know who wear makeup are trying to attract men too. Lol
I agree with you. Women have all kinds of motivations. Some use makeup to attract men, others couldn’t care less and wear makeup for themselves. Some of the most skilled and adamant makeup wearers I know are lesbians and I promise you they give no f***s what a man thinks. LOL
I wear makeup when I feel like it, and I can do a full-spackle beat face that will people ask if I’m a professional MUA. On most days though, it’s some grapeseed oil and lip balm then out the door. Any man I would be trying to get with would have to be ok with both modes because both are me.
I agree mostly with what you are saying cause i myself don’t wear make up even though my skin tone now is more uneven than it was when i was younger. I grew up with a lot of fresh faced black women who ate well so make up to me was strange. If men are honest they prefer women without all the cake. I’ve always preferred to go without because I want people to see me as I am and I want my skin to breath. I’ve come across women and young girls who have hang ups about the way their face looks without any make up and feel it’s necessary to do their face before they can face the world. I find the whole thing sad.
For ladies in my generation we didn’t wear make for several reasons, one being our mothers didn’t. My mom & grandma wore lipstick only. White woman wear make and it’s almost a right of passage for them to teach their daughters to wear make up and buy it for them, starting very young. The biggest reason blacks didn’t wear makeup was there wasn’t any drug store brands for us or what was available was limited.
Now days with the internet, you tube and make brands geared to us more us now wear make up. But, because we are finally wearing makeup also brings out the negativity and shaming.
In the 70s my mother wore Flori Roberts and Fashion Fair on a daily basis. In fact I was turned off of makeup because it seemed she couldn’t leave the house without it. Then as a teenager a boy I had a crush on was surprised and pleased to learn I didn’t wear makeup. To this day the most I’ll wear is lipstick. Occasionally I’ll play up my eyes, and I actually am eager to learn technique via YouTube, but I don’t ever want to be that person who’s dependent on makeup.
I admit I’m fortunate to have very clear skin; that’s something my mother did (skin care) that I actually kept for myself. Some of my female makeup-wearing relatives who wrote me off as hopeless 20 years ago wish they had my skin today…
As for makeup-shaming: How is this any different from all the other ways black women are shamed for having any kind of agency?
Flori Roberts and Fashion Fair are not DRUG STORE cosmetics which I mentioned and I’m talking the 80’s & 90’s.
You said “The biggest reason blacks didn’t wear makeup was there wasn’t any drug store brands for us or what was available was limited.”
As I stated, there were black women who wore makeup back in the day. Both of the brands I mentioned were readily available in cities with decent-sized black populations. Some folks were able to use some Avon colors as well, if I remember correctly. They may have cost more but not to the point where they were out of reach of any woman making a decent living (my mother was a teacher). Otherwise they wouldn’t have lasted in the market.
Yes, there weren’t nearly as many options as there are now…but there were SOME.
Yes, the most my mum and grandmother wore were lipstick. As for the white girls yes, yes,yes. I was the only black girl in an all white girls school and they always approached me about how I was lucky I didn’t have to put anything on my face because of my colour.
I have been hearing these ridiculous rules (really not rules, people not knowing what they are talking about) about dark skin and red lipstick. I was on Facebook and there was a picture of a beautiful dark skin girl wearing red lipstick. I remember being blown away by one ignorant comment like the comment on the Essence photo. It was some stupid man making such an ignorant comment! Then I read about a rapper by the name of A$AP Rocky (What’s with the rappers and dollar sign for names?! I mean, their net worth ain’t as big as Diddy’s or Dr. Dre’s !) making such an ignorant arrogant comment as well. Here is a link to a Buzzfeed video on Red Lipstick and Black women. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PrgLVNjd_dk
I don’t know how all of this escalated. There are those that prefer makeup and that is fine and others that don’t wear too much or any makeup and that is fine. I am guessing that all of the makeup shaming memes are coming from guys who are bitter and have nothing else to do, smh…