You Don’t Need It

“You don’t need it.”

This is something women say to each other as a compliment.
“You’re so lucky, you don’t even need makeup!”

The implication here is that some women DO need makeup, that some women must alter or enhance their appearance in order to be...what? Think about this for a second. Sexually attractive? Taken seriously? Treated like a professional? Socially acceptable?

Don’t get me wrong. Wearing makeup is totally fine (yep, I wear it sometimes). Makeup can be fun. Makeup can be creative and artistic and playful and all kinds of great things.

But no woman needs makeup, just like no man needs makeup.
Every time we say this to each other—“you don’t need it!”—every female in earshot immediately asks herself, “Am I one of the ones who needs it?” If teens or little girls are in the room, this is a recipe for a spike in insecurity and appearance-based anxiety.

Perhaps, instead, we compliment each other on our naturally endearing features. Perhaps we empower each other by celebrating our quirks and our wit. Perhaps we encourage our natural strengths and hard-won skills.

Your beauty isn’t the result of the products you purchase or put on—your beauty is innate. And your beauty is only one aspect of your miraculous whole.