A Month without Makeup
When Constance Rhodes viewed America the Beautiful, a documentary about America's obsession with beauty, she felt convicted to test her personal dependence on cosmetics by pledging to go without makeup for one month. The recovering bulimic and co-founder of The True Campaign documented her experience on her blog at www.truecampaign.org. Intrigued by her "bold-faced" move, TCW asked Constance to tell us what she learned through this experiment.
You gave up wearing makeup. That's huge in our culture!
I know! Last year I watched America the Beautiful, which asked the question: Do we have an unhealthy obsession with beauty? This was right where I've lived much of my life since I struggled for years with an eating disorder. When I first became involved in The True Campaign, which has the mission to "challenge cultural views of beauty and identity," I knew God was going to use my role to strip away some of my own false beliefs in these areas. While not a Christian film, America the Beautiful reinforces God's truth that our value doesn't rest in looking a particular way, as dictated by our culture.
What did you hope to accomplish?
I wanted to challenge my human desire to be noticed for my appearance. Looking "perfect" has been a god to me. But I was also interested in propelling a Christ-centered message about beauty to others by removing my "mask."
Was it just a ban of makeup, or did you include perfume and hair products as well?
I only did makeup. Honestly, though, I'm as obsessed about my hair as I am about makeup, so there's probably another experiment coming. But I can only take one step at a time!
What was the most challenging part?
The first day. Daily I posted a photo on my Facebook page of me without makeup. It felt incredibly vulnerable. I was terrified that people who knew me—especially men—would reject me.
And how did people respond?
Really positively. They affirmed me and told me how beautiful I was. At first I was like, "Yeah, whatever." But when you hear often enough that you don't look freakishly ugly, you reach a point where you've got to choose to believe the truth or continue holding onto the lies.
Why do you think women develop such a dependency on makeup?
We're products of our culture. Only after going without makeup for a month did I realize how silly it can be to think we've got to have all these colors and dark lashes and perfect lips. Going deeper, I'm learning that we focus on beauty (or whatever else becomes our god) to avoid contending with disappointment. If I can make my appearance the reason people do or don't like me, then I have an easy way of avoiding the fact that some people simply aren't going to respond to me the way I wish they would.
Is that what you learned about yourself?
Yes. I learned that the world won't end if I don't look a particular way, and I'm not as ugly as I thought I was. I also learned that underneath it all, on some deep, seemingly untouchable level, I still believe parts of me are too "ugly" to be loved. So during that month I read and reread Proverbs 29:25, which in The message reads, "The fear of human opinion disables; trusting in GOD protects you from that."
Related Topics:
Acceptance, Beauty
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Lisa
I had to give up eye makeup when even the "hypoallergenic" stuff didn't fix my allergic reactions to it. It IS tough to face the world without makeup -- people were not as open and friendly. What I have realized, though, is that not only was I judging myself based on how I looked, but I was judging others (women) based on whether or not they were "fixed up." I still wear foundation to work (have to, thanks to my rosacea), but I've gotten over the rest, and I no longer use makeup as a litmus test for a woman's professionalism. I can't believe I harbored those opinions in the first place! I never would have admitted in consciously, but it was there. A woman's ability doesn't depend on whether or not she puts on eyeliner in the morning -- or any other form of makeup! I thank God for my freedom from those misconceptions! And as far as other people go -- I just smile and go about my day, no matter how they react.
TK
Thanks for the article. What struck me most was the last sentence... God does not care if i wear make up or not... he cares that I am not in bondage to it. Many people are in bondage to different things... your message has hit home in so many different ways.. May the Lord help us all to be able to turn away from the things that keep us enslaved to sin and free us to focus on Him alone.
Katie
It occurs to me as I read this article that its easy when I feel ugly on the inside, instead of taking it to God, to just slather on the makeup to compensate. Without makeup, I am more councious of the need to have my inside portray the Holy Spirit. I guess makeup can some times be a tool to be lazy in my walk with God.
Debbie
I have been going without makeup for many years and have never felt inferior, have never experienced low self-esteem compared to women that do wear make-up and have enjoyed the extra time gained from not obsessing over my looks, as well as the savings gained from not spending tons of money on overpriced product.
Lauren Childs
I'm glad to see someone stepping out of the "normal" to get a glimpse of what freedom from cultural norms looks like. But any time you take these steps, you're sure to feel abnormal and almost freakish, like you said. It takes a lot of chutzpah to stand against the current tide of opinion about what constitutes beauty. I commend you for your bold experiment. Not wearing makeup can become a lifestyle without being legalism or obsession with self. I've been without makeup now for over 25 years because of several passages in the New Testament i.e. I Peter 3:1-3 and I Timothy 2:9-10. It was hard at first. I wondered what people thought as they looked at my unplastered appearance. Over time I could see God's wisdom in setting me free from having to wear a "mask". This article is much needed today in our sex-saturated, beauty-obsessed culture. Thanks for taking off your "mask" and telling us about it.
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