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woman leaning on white wall wearing a white tee with text \"resilient\"
woman leaning on white wall wearing a white tee with text \"resilient\"
Drop the Label Movement

An Open Letter to Girls Who “Have to” Wear Makeup

Juliette Sebock Student Contributor, Gettysburg College
This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at Gettysburg chapter and does not reflect the views of Her Campus.

Just before Spring Break, I overheard a group of girls discussing their much-anticipated beach getaway.  

“I really hope I get a tan on the first day we’re there.  Then I won’t have to wear makeup, you know?”

My mind nearly exploded and I made myself check the date on my phone.  This is still 2016, right?  Who is telling this girl she HAS to wear makeup??

Society.  Societal norms are telling this girl that she’d better wear makeup until the sun-kissed remnants of her day laying out in the sand provided a *natural* contrast to provide the same beauty.  

Girl in the dining hall,  

You’re gorgeous, with or without layers of mascara and eyeliner and foundation.  Wear makeup if you want to.  Don’t let anyone tell you you “have to” in order to fit their ideal of beauty.  Fit your image of what’s beautiful, whether that’s a fully-contoured face or your bare skin— either way, you’ll still look great.  

Be confident in what you bring to the world.  You’re so much more than a “pretty face” (which you are, regardless).  You’re smart.  You’re influential.  You’re funny.  You’re unique.  

In short, you’re great.  Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.  Whether that has to do with makeup or with anything else.  

Love, 

The Girl Who Sees Beyond Your Lipstick

Juliette Sebock

Gettysburg '18

Juliette Sebock, Founder: Jules founded the Gettysburg College chapter of Her Campus in Fall 2015 and served as Campus Correspondent until graduating in Spring 2018.

Juliette graduated from Gettysburg College in 2018 with an English major and History/Civil War Era Studies/Public History triple minors. In addition to HC, she was a member of the Spring 2017 class of Advanced Studies in England and of various organizations including Eta Sigma Phi, Dance Ensemble, and Poetry Circle.

She has published a poetry chapbook titled Mistakes Were Made, available on Amazon and Goodreads, and she has poems forthcoming in several literary magazines. She is also the editor-in-chief of Nightingale & Sparrow Magazine and runs the lifestyle blog, For the Sake of Good Taste. For more information, visit https://juliettesebock.com.