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SBU | Style > Beauty

I Don’t Wear Makeup Because I Need To — And That’s The Point

Mackenzie Ingalsbe Student Contributor, St. Bonaventure University
This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at SBU chapter and does not reflect the views of Her Campus.

I get told all the time that I don’t need to wear makeup every day or that “I can’t leave the house without putting my face on”. But in reality, I know I don’t need to wear makeup — I just like wearing it. 

And I’m honestly so tired of having to explain that. 

 I’m not trying to sound conceited or like I think I’m better than anyone else. That’s not what it is at all. Its literally just something I enjoy doing. It’s part of my routine. It’s something that makes me feel put together, and that’s it. some days it takes longer, some days it takes five minutes, but either way, it’s mine. It’s something I choose for myself without overthinking it. 

But whenever I say I wear makeup because I want to, people act like I’m lying or like I secretly “need” it and just don’t want to admit it. and that what frustrates me. The automatic assumption is always that women can’t just like makeup for what it is. 

There’s this stereotype that women wear makeup because they feel like they have to fic something about themselves. And sure, that might be true for some people — but it’s not true for everyone. In fact, for a lot of people, it’s just a hobby. Its creative. It’s fun. It’s part of getting ready in the same way picking an outfit or doing your hair is. it’s just another form of expression, not a cover-up for something that needs analyzing. 

Not everything has to be tied to insecurity.  

Some days I wear a full face. Some days I barely do anything. Some days I don’t wear it at all. It changes, because it’s not about “needing” it, it’s about what I feel like doing that day. It depends on my mood, my plans, or honestly just if I feel like sitting down and doing it. 

What gets annoying is how people feel the need to comment on it at all. As if I didn’t already know I don’t need makeup. As if that’s the point. It’s not. 

And it also doesn’t mean I think I look bad without it, because I don’t. I just like how I look with makeup. Both things can be true at the same time, even if that’s hard for people to understand. 

So no, I don’t wear makeup because I need to.

I wear it because I want to. 

And I wish people would let that be the end of the conversation. 

Mackenzie Ingalsbe is a second semester HerCampus writer for the St. Bonaventure chapter. She publishes articles weekly spanning many topics those of which including popculture and lifestyle. She hopes to further her writing skills and share with everyone what she has to say in the form of her weekly writings.

Mackenzie is currently a junior at St. Bonaventure University, studying public health with a focus in Occupational Therapy with a health education specalist minor and a health science minor. She is currently on the 4+2 pathway to continue her graduate school at St.Bonaventure.

Along with school, Mackenzie has interests in being surrounded by friends and family, hiking, going to the beach, and reading. She has a driven interest in being with her family, spending time with her younger cousins and being a part of their adventures. Along with this, she takes lots of trips, and will most likely decide a day or two before they would leave to go.