I am sold on the idea of making this day 2 of the Makeup series.

The Good

I once did an engagement photoshoot and part of the fun of it was going to the makeup counter before the official shoot with the woman and take photos of her getting her makeup done. I love taking photos of women putting on makeup so it was a real treat.  She enjoyed the pampering process and looked like a million bucks afterwards.  It didn’t transform her into someone else, it enhanced who she was into another realm for the day.

Here’s a photo from that shoot:

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The Bad

Yesterday I got a comment from an old friend on my FB page in response to my Makeup #1 drawing.  It illustrates a different response to the makeup counter.

“When I was in my 20’s I went to Bloomingdales for a free makeover  Sounds like fun, right? I enjoyed being pampered, but when all was said and done and they handed me the mirror, I freaked! Felt I looked like a clown and not myself. I literally ran home hoping I wouldn’t see a soul I knew.

She probably felt she looked like this:

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The Ugly

As much as I love makeup on women, there is one type I don’t like at all. That’s zombie makeup.  Why? Because rotting flesh is gross, that’s why. I don’t like looking at it.  I don’t watch any zombie movies or TV shows for that reason.

Who wants to look at this, anyway?

Nevermind, i don’t want to post it, it’s gross.

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The Hopeful

So, what is the makeup counter all about? The quote is right, it’s about hope.  It’s a physical hope that one will be deemed attractive. Maybe by men, maybe by fans, maybe by yourself.  It’s the emotional hope that you are worthy. Worthy of love, of affection, of lust, of passion, of attention.  It’s the psychological hope that you look older, or younger, or wealthier, or sexier, or more intelligent, or more employable.

And finally, it’s a spiritual hope.  Say what? Makeup has a spiritual component? Really?  I say yes. It goes way back through history, the fables that prove time and time again that beauty equals goodness. Is it true in real life? I don’t think it is. But it sure is prevalent and subconsciously persistent in almost every culture , even among those who consciously don’t buy into the myth.

After all, you want to look like Cinderella,

Cinderella by Carlos via Flickr

and not her ugly step-sisters, right?

Why is that? Because they are ugly? No, because they are bad.  And bad and ugly are intertwined.  Be beautiful and you are not just beautiful, you are good as well. Isn’t that how the story goes?

Of course that’s a lie. But lie or not, it still remains a powerful force when looking in the mirror at the cosmetics counter.

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Drawing, photos (unless otherwise marked) and commentary by Marty Coleman

Quote by Charles Revson, 1906-1975, American businessman – founder of Revlon Cosmetics

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