John Berger, in Ways of Seeing, makes a haunting distinction:“To be nude is to be seen naked by others and yet not recognized for oneself.”Nakedness is …
Makeup
What Are You Trying to Prove When You Say, “I’m Not Wearing Any Makeup”?
It’s a phrase that gets tossed around casually, like a badge of honor or a whispered confession: “I’m not wearing any makeup.” But under that …
The Supporting Actresses of Beauty
Beauty rarely stands alone. It takes a cast. We’re conditioned to believe that beauty is something singular and starring. The flawless face. The perfect lip. …
The Curious Case of the Tan
Tanning isn’t quite makeup, but it’s not enhancement-free skin either. It’s that golden glow we chase, a shortcut to feeling confident, even when it’s from …
The Spotlight Effect: Who Are We Really Getting Ready For?
The spotlight effect is a psychological habit where we overestimate how much others notice us. We think everyone sees the blemish, the bold lipstick, the …
The Mirror You Become: When Being a Chameleon Helps and When It Hurts
Some people walk into a room and take up space. Others adjust, monitoring their tone, shifting their style, and adapting to fit the mood. These …
Why Weird Facial Expressions Optimize Makeup Application
Ever watched a singer try to hit a high note without closing their eyes or lifting a hand? It’s awkward. Restrained. Technically correct but emotionally …
When One Sense Dims, Beauty Finds Another Way In
We usually approach makeup visually by looking in the mirror, matching colors, and judging outcomes by sight. But beauty is sensory, living beyond the eyes. …
The Slow Fade: How Sloth Shows Up in Beauty
Sloth rarely arrives with a grand announcement. It seeps in over time through the drawers you stop opening, the routines you skip without noticing, the …
More, Please: Greed and the Illusion of Never Enough
Gluttony wants more because it craves comfort.Greed wants more because it craves control. In the beauty realm, greed often wears elegance. It spills over, stacks, …