
The makeup marketplace has changed a lot in the last few years. Now in every drugstore, you can find more brands and merchandising space for cosmetics than I can ever recall growing up. When it comes to makeup application, there are also more steps than ever before; contour, highlight, lip toppers, eyeshadow toppers, the list goes on. When I decided I wanted to improve my makeup skills at the end of 2016 I was left aghast at how much more I supposedly had to do, and I was someone who didn't consider themselves to be all that bad at makeup!
Makeup has become really cool too through the rise of social media platforms like Instagram. Like in the way it's cool for every 20 something guy to be an 'entrepreneur', so many young women are labelling themselves on social media as MUA's. Not that there's anything wrong with that, some people are making very sucessful careers out of makeup. But I often wonder, is this all just a trend?
Back in the 90's, my icons were fresh faced rocking the 'no makeup makeup'; in the 2000's it just had to be a glossy lip teamed with a smokey eye on nights out. Now, it's a whole new world. Not that I'm critizing - hey, I started my YouTube journey because of falling in love with makeup so I will forever be grateful for that as I simply LOVE blogging. But that's the thing about trends, they don't stay around forever. Often we see trends come around again, just like how 70s boho has been revived in fashion again and again. Could we see a return to the barely there face in a revolt against the highlight you can see in space looks? Crazier things have happened.
One thing that has interested me about my makeup no buy has been how much I wanted to buy something when I was having a bad day, especially if it was a day I wasn't feeling so great about my looks, and in some ways this makes a lot of sense. You see, I wanted to improve my makeup skills after feeling insecure about my looks whilst moving ino my thirties and seeing all these beautiful girls on instagram. Having done some small time modelling in my younger years I knew a lot of what I was seeing was a decent camera, great lighting and great makeup. But buying more makeup is merely a sticking plaster, perhaps I wonder, should I be spending a little more time on self love and acceptance, rather than spending money on yet another foundation?
Don't get me wrong - as a blogger, and especially as a blogger who loves beauty & makeup amongst other things, I am far from saying makeup is a bad thing. In fact I LOVE it, the way it makes you feel good, like you, but just that bit more put together. How certain makeup looks can make you feel strong and empowered, feminine or summery - it really is that good. I just feel like we have all gone a bit mad when it comes to makeup, we really don't need it all, we just need the makeup that makes us feel truly special. And although my cynical side may sometimes disagree, I'm sure this is what the makeup brands want too.