to a certain extent, 

make-up should be illegal. 

it has the potential to create such a fallacy…

such a distortion of perception

for both the viewee 

and the viewer

that again

has the GREAT potential 

to be detrimental 

to both the conceptualization of the individual

by both

the individual, themselves

and their witnesses. 

in a way it can become an addiction…

to, again, all parties involved…

creating a form of dependency…

on the lie that make up can create…

the lie of the idealized, “perfected” beauty…

that is held

on the pedestal 

by both men

and women. 

i’m sick of seeing girls especially

young girls

so dependent upon the manipulation created by make up…

so dependent on the idea 

of it determining their beauty

…

their worth. 

it’s sad. 

we are creating a culture, as a society, 

of girls and women who feel like they have to wear masks

to be recognized

valued

and

wanted. 

i’m not immune. 

i fall into the pitfall of distortion too.

our society is so triggering…

compliments…

not always bad,

but many

wrapped in a shroud

of benevolent sexism…

that say

to stay on the merry-go-round

of the make up ritual, 

among others…

compliments that feed the cycle…

that say 

you just aren’t good enough as

you are. 

it’s like placing an

crack addicted person

in a room full of meth

and expecting them

to not snort

or shoot up…

compliments…

they’ve been taught

to many girls

to be

our definitions…

how we are valued…

that we are worth more

for being made-up…

make believe…

distortions of our innate selves…

so much energy wasted

on creating

an image…

an image

that in the long-run

is non-sustainable. 

physical beauty fades…

albeit more slowly 

due to more manipulation…

but it still fades.

we should spend more time 

speaking to girls

about cultivating their minds

than grooming their faces

toward 

an ideal

that is impossible.

perfection is not real.

but these girls

you

and

me, 

we are real.