By: Jazmine Basa
At first glance, most people assume make-up is simply for hiding our flaws or for beauty purposes alone. Perhaps others would assume make-up stops at the topic of the toxic cancel culture or drama.
From red to pink to purple to blue, makeup comes packed in a variety of colors to choose from. People of all identities come and gather in make-up stores like Sephora or Ulta Beauty. The aroma of the stores is compact with the smell of flowers, and if not, the lingering scent of make-up.
Here is where an assortment of brushes, lipstick—or lip gloss, if it’s your preference—eyeliner, eyeshadow, and more, endlessly stack up for a person’s choosing.
To some, the beauty community is contained within the span of a make-up store, while to others, it extends to twitter drama and Youtube fights of various YouTubers.
However, for people like 16-year-old Yadira Briseno, make-up is more than glitter, gossip, and glam—it’s a hobby, stress reliever, and a part of her.
Since 7th grade in 2017, she has spent her time before and after school practicing make-up.
The hobby has actually helped her change as a person: “It taught me to not give up. Even if the eyeshadow doesn’t come out right, if it’s uneven if it’s just not what you like, try again,” she explains.
Influenced by the works of famous beauty Youtubers, Jeffree Star, Daisy Marquez, James Charles, and more, she feels motivated to practice over and over again: “When they messed up, it helped me build confidence because they weren’t perfect. They are human, just like me.”
Despite the shelf full of drama found within various beauty YouTubers, Yadira finds comfort within the bounds of make-up. Cancel culture, where famous YouTubers are explicitly deemed irrelevant due to controversy and drama, commonly takes place as of the 21st century.
A popular example of this being the sparked controversy between two Youtubers James Charles and Tati Westbrook.
In deeper detail Vox News explains, “Westbrook uploaded an emotional 43-minute video on May 10 that outlined times when her 'close friend' Charles betrayed her trust, the fallout was immediate. It wasn’t just about the interpersonal drama, however — Westbrook stoked even bigger flames by digging into what she claimed was Charles’s predatory behavior toward other men.”
Such a dispute caused a rippling effect on the internet. Gossip began to flare up, along with people starting to unfollow and “cancel” James Charles.
While there is online wars on whether or not the infamous Youtuber should receive affection or backlash was determined by the fans. As the beauty community splits between choosing sides--most quick to take Westbrook's side--some choose to not let the drama in.
Yadira isn’t fazed by the idea of Cancel culture: “I’ve watched these people for years. They’ve made me happy, and I stick with them. I just sort of go with my gut feeling and forget what other people think. At the end of the day, their perspective doesn't affect mine.”
Although drama shreds the fanbase of said Youtubers, people like Yadira see not reason to feed into the drama. She personally adores make-up, as well as looks up to these people. Despite how ignorant it might seem to ignore the possibility of a content creator being corrupt, she personally feels the instant need to dive into drama is just as unnecessary.
Yet, this isn't a story on drama; it's about the love of make-up. Yadira also explains that although make-up seems like it's only for show, it has helped her get over her insecurities sparked by American beauty standards.
Yadira feels considers the general public’s opinion on make-up rather complex and unforgiving. The overall public opinion can be a rollercoaster of assumptions and insults. Whether you have make-up or not, “you always lose. If you have too much you’re a ‘cake-face.’ Without it you’re ugly. I’ve gotten over such insecurities nowadays--I don’t really care anymore.”
“Women with a positive body image are more likely to have good mental health. But many women in the United States have negative body images, which can put them at higher risk of depression, eating disorders, or other mental and physical health problems,” states womenshealth.gov.
Make-up can commonly be depicted as “catfishing” amongst those who don’t wear it. As Yadira states, others are labeled as “cake faces.” In some cases overall, make-up can be depicted as “fake.”
Yadira has taken such criticism to heart from middle school to her freshman year of high school, but learned to realize she doesn’t have to fight in a losing battle. At the end of the day, it’s a battle she doesn’t have to participate in--she doesn’t have to listen to their hatred.
“Make-up has helped me love how I look with and without make-up. It helped me love me,” Yadira says.
According to studio10beauty.com, “Research suggests that women experience huge emotional and psychological benefits when wearing makeup. In fact, of the 48% of women that prefer to wear makeup, the clear majority do so because it makes them feel positive and strong.”
Nowadays, Yadira thrives as a person bettered with the help of a simple hobby. She shares the passion with her younger, 13-year-old, sister at home.
“I teach my little sister how to do [make-up]. It’s always so funny because she whines about how I’m better than her at it. Then she redoes it because she isn’t satisfied with her look,” Yadira says, a smile plastered on her face.
Yadira has stated that make-up has helped her grow closer with her sister because they have a shared interest. She sees her younger self, struggling with make-up for the first time, every time she helps her sister out.
Yadira still uses make-up currently, and sees no reason to stop--and there’s no need to. After all, make-up is something she loves, why make it about what another person hates?
At first glance, most people assume make-up is simply for hiding our flaws or for beauty purposes alone. Perhaps others would assume make-up stops at the topic of the toxic cancel culture or drama.
From red to pink to purple to blue, makeup comes packed in a variety of colors to choose from. People of all identities come and gather in make-up stores like Sephora or Ulta Beauty. The aroma of the stores is compact with the smell of flowers, and if not, the lingering scent of make-up.
Here is where an assortment of brushes, lipstick—or lip gloss, if it’s your preference—eyeliner, eyeshadow, and more, endlessly stack up for a person’s choosing.
To some, the beauty community is contained within the span of a make-up store, while to others, it extends to twitter drama and Youtube fights of various YouTubers.
However, for people like 16-year-old Yadira Briseno, make-up is more than glitter, gossip, and glam—it’s a hobby, stress reliever, and a part of her.
Since 7th grade in 2017, she has spent her time before and after school practicing make-up.
The hobby has actually helped her change as a person: “It taught me to not give up. Even if the eyeshadow doesn’t come out right, if it’s uneven if it’s just not what you like, try again,” she explains.
Influenced by the works of famous beauty Youtubers, Jeffree Star, Daisy Marquez, James Charles, and more, she feels motivated to practice over and over again: “When they messed up, it helped me build confidence because they weren’t perfect. They are human, just like me.”
Despite the shelf full of drama found within various beauty YouTubers, Yadira finds comfort within the bounds of make-up. Cancel culture, where famous YouTubers are explicitly deemed irrelevant due to controversy and drama, commonly takes place as of the 21st century.
A popular example of this being the sparked controversy between two Youtubers James Charles and Tati Westbrook.
In deeper detail Vox News explains, “Westbrook uploaded an emotional 43-minute video on May 10 that outlined times when her 'close friend' Charles betrayed her trust, the fallout was immediate. It wasn’t just about the interpersonal drama, however — Westbrook stoked even bigger flames by digging into what she claimed was Charles’s predatory behavior toward other men.”
Such a dispute caused a rippling effect on the internet. Gossip began to flare up, along with people starting to unfollow and “cancel” James Charles.
While there is online wars on whether or not the infamous Youtuber should receive affection or backlash was determined by the fans. As the beauty community splits between choosing sides--most quick to take Westbrook's side--some choose to not let the drama in.
Yadira isn’t fazed by the idea of Cancel culture: “I’ve watched these people for years. They’ve made me happy, and I stick with them. I just sort of go with my gut feeling and forget what other people think. At the end of the day, their perspective doesn't affect mine.”
Although drama shreds the fanbase of said Youtubers, people like Yadira see not reason to feed into the drama. She personally adores make-up, as well as looks up to these people. Despite how ignorant it might seem to ignore the possibility of a content creator being corrupt, she personally feels the instant need to dive into drama is just as unnecessary.
Yet, this isn't a story on drama; it's about the love of make-up. Yadira also explains that although make-up seems like it's only for show, it has helped her get over her insecurities sparked by American beauty standards.
Yadira feels considers the general public’s opinion on make-up rather complex and unforgiving. The overall public opinion can be a rollercoaster of assumptions and insults. Whether you have make-up or not, “you always lose. If you have too much you’re a ‘cake-face.’ Without it you’re ugly. I’ve gotten over such insecurities nowadays--I don’t really care anymore.”
“Women with a positive body image are more likely to have good mental health. But many women in the United States have negative body images, which can put them at higher risk of depression, eating disorders, or other mental and physical health problems,” states womenshealth.gov.
Make-up can commonly be depicted as “catfishing” amongst those who don’t wear it. As Yadira states, others are labeled as “cake faces.” In some cases overall, make-up can be depicted as “fake.”
Yadira has taken such criticism to heart from middle school to her freshman year of high school, but learned to realize she doesn’t have to fight in a losing battle. At the end of the day, it’s a battle she doesn’t have to participate in--she doesn’t have to listen to their hatred.
“Make-up has helped me love how I look with and without make-up. It helped me love me,” Yadira says.
According to studio10beauty.com, “Research suggests that women experience huge emotional and psychological benefits when wearing makeup. In fact, of the 48% of women that prefer to wear makeup, the clear majority do so because it makes them feel positive and strong.”
Nowadays, Yadira thrives as a person bettered with the help of a simple hobby. She shares the passion with her younger, 13-year-old, sister at home.
“I teach my little sister how to do [make-up]. It’s always so funny because she whines about how I’m better than her at it. Then she redoes it because she isn’t satisfied with her look,” Yadira says, a smile plastered on her face.
Yadira has stated that make-up has helped her grow closer with her sister because they have a shared interest. She sees her younger self, struggling with make-up for the first time, every time she helps her sister out.
Yadira still uses make-up currently, and sees no reason to stop--and there’s no need to. After all, make-up is something she loves, why make it about what another person hates?