Reflection

One of my initial inspirations for this project was the Public Service Announcement published by China Railway Station claiming that makeup is unsanitary and disturbing others' actions. This leads me to draw a larger connection to the many social comments that people make about wearing makeup. And even though such private and personal things as wearing makeup are subject to many social critics. Since growing up, I too struggled with beauty anxiety that I’m not pretty enough, I’m not skinny enough, and my skin is not pale enough. These insecurities only got worse once I grew older and entered larger social circles. Yet slowly, I learned to pretend and to perform. And makeup did become a powerful tool that allowed me to transform into a better version of myself. Yet sometimes, I also think about how I spent too much time and effort on makeup. There were periods of time when I would not go out without makeup, simply because I worried how others would see me differently without my “shield of confidence”. Even though I had gotten better with this insecurity, these feelings are very common among young women like me. Again, I want to leave this video on the positive side of things: it’s more important to wear makeup for yourself instead of catering to the gaze of others.