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Emily Garza

Professor Judith R. McCann

ENGL 1302-203

31 January 2023

Makeup Influences

Introduction

The evolution of makeup: It started as a questionable idea for some and is now being

used by millions of people. After the makeup scope broaden and became a societal expectation

for women, makeup then went on to be used by everyone to build confidence and help little

imperfections. While some believe that makeup does nothing for an individual others like

authors, Ann Marie Britton from “The Beauty Industry's Influence on Women in Society,” and

Alison Tran, et al from “Paint a Better Mood? Effects of Makeup Use on YouTube Beauty

Influencers’ Self-Esteem” believe otherwise. The beliefs of these cosmetic products are

impactful for those who use them as the effects of makeup include reassurance, self-confidence,

and better moods for these individuals.

Method

For the experiment, a participant volunteered to be the research subject. The participant is

described as a 17-year-old girl in her junior year of high school. She was asked to write down the

emotional impacts, mental impacts, and interactions due to the experiment in a journal. The

willing participant used a week to record the results for the topic. The study required the

participant to change her usual makeup routine. She was used to using full-face products for a

natural full-face look and began wearing makeup at the young age of 12. Before the experiment

began she was surveyed on her experience using makeup and how she believes makeup impacts
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her day. She expressed that when she does wear these cosmetics, she views her day to go

smoothly and has great self-confidence. Once the experiment began the participant used minimal

to no makeup for the week to identify how it would affect her self-confidence and mood for that

week.

On the first day, the subject used little makeup only consisting of mascara, eyebrow gel,

and chapstick. It was a drastic change from the full application of skin tint, concealer, blush,

bronzer, eyebrow makeup, mascara, eyeliner, and lipstick. The day started off uncanny for the

participant as they experienced self-doubt and little to almost no confidence. She stated, “ I felt

like people would comment on my appearance.” The participant from the beginning of the

project encountered the desire for makeup and the effects it had on her. On the second day, the

participant repeated the process and felt the same feeling of disgust. The subject felt the need for

makeup as it made her feel more confident to walk around. She believed makeup gave her the

confidence to walk around with their head held high and without the care about others’ opinions.

The lack of makeup made her judge herself and become insecure. On the third day of the

experiment, the participant changed her chapstick to a tinted lipgloss “to add more” as she stated.

She wrote down in her journal that she wanted it because she felt like she needed a little bit more

to feel beautiful.

When the day began she wrote in her journal how she was feeling about the makeup look.

Additionally, she would then write again at school, and when she got home to summarize her

day. From this, there was a tiny difference from the writing piece. For the fourth day, the

participant switched to chapstick and continued writing about her feelings and mood throughout

the day. By the end of the experiment, the participant wanted the research to conclude so she can

continue with her regular makeup routine.

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Results

After the experiment was conducted the participant went back to wearing makeup how

she usually did. From the gathered results, it can be concluded that makeup can play a role in

self-confidence and mood. When the subject used very little makeup she was struggling with her

own mental health and attempting to keep her head up as she walked the halls. As stated by

Alison Tran, “Poor self-esteem due to peer disapproval was influenced by external messages of

beauty” (Tran, et al.); this expresses why the participant was struggling throughout the

experiment. She avoided talking to people for a period of time while she was participating in the

research. From day one a shift in mood occurred. Taken from the journal, the participant wrote “I

had a pitiful and disgusted feeling within myself as I left my house to go to school.” However,

with this came refreshment because since the participant was not doing makeup anymore she was

receiving forty more minutes of sleep. Each day the participant felt dread when going to school

but felt ready for the day as the week progressed. A positive mood was not expected but

appeared throughout the experiment. This is a change in the mood of the school itself. As stated

makeup can synthesize an impact on a person. This is because of a change in appearance and a

lack of familiarity and comfort.

Analysis

After reading “The Beauty Industry's Influence on Women in Society”, the idea of

women who use makeup have tendencies to feel confident about themselves when they wear

makeup rather than when they do not. To back this up from Britton’s writing she states, "The

women themselves felt that they were more physically attractive with makeup, and often
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overestimated their attractiveness with the makeup while underestimating their attractiveness

without makeup”(Britton.). This intertwines into the experiment as it backs up the claims of the

impact on self-esteem. The participant felt the need for makeup as it made her seem inferior to

others when going to school. The makeup she usually wears gives her confidence and she

believes she appears more attractive to the eye with makeup on than she did throughout the

experiment.

Conclusion

All in all, with the work of the experiment and the wise words from the articles by Ann

Marie Britton and Alison Tran, et al, makeup can be shown as very impactful for those that use

it. When a person gets comfortable with the use of makeup and familiarity, the lack of these

cosmetics can cause serious changes in that person’s mood, the way they present themselves, and

the mental health of the individual. Acknowledging this information can be principled to know

because it can stimulate change in the expectation of makeup on women and societal impacts.
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Works Cited

Britton, Ann Marie “The Beauty Industries Influence on Women in Society.” The University of

New Hampshire

Tran, Alison, et al. “Paint a Better Mood? Effects of Makeup Use on YouTube Beauty

Influencers’ Self-Esteem.” SAGE Open, vol. 10, no. 2, 2020, p. 215824402093359.,

https://doi.org/10.1177/2158244020933591.