Looking for a new holiday to celebrate? How about No Makeup Day? Yup, it's real. Even better, it was dreamed up by a bunch of teenage girls and celebrated at their high school last week.
You couldn't get me to go back to high school if you paid me a large sum of money and threw a few chocolate bars in to sweeten the pot. But something tells me I would have been pretty comfortable at New London High School. At least for a day.
The girls who created No Makeup Day and convinced their administrators to go through with it say it was a response to the pressure put on teenagers -- especially teen girls -- to be "perfect." They were hoping a day with no makeup would help remind their classmates that beauty is skin deep.
I'd like to wrap each of those girls in a big, fat hug.
I look at some of the teen girls walking around the mall, and I shudder. They look like they're preparing for a Vogue magazine shoot instead of shopping for a new pair of Uggs. The question is why they feel that much makeup and those kind of clothes are necessary. Is it society's pressure or their parents' failure to fight said pressure?
My daughter is only 7 and far too young for real makeup. But already I'm struggling with how to explain the concept of beauty to her without making her feel pressured to reach some impossible goal.
I look at her, and I see a beautiful girl (doesn't every mother?). But I know I will one day have to face her desire to use makeup, to dress fashionably (forget one day, we're already there!). The challenge isn't in whether or not to allow her to do so but in explaining that clothes and makeup are there to enhance beauty that already exists, not to "make" one beautiful.
I'm not saying No Makeup Day should be every day, although I'd like to see an event like this in every school in America at least once a year. Makeup and beautiful clothes aren't inherently bad, but our girls need to know how to use them appropriately in their lives.
Do you struggle with this with your daughter? Would you be up for a No Makeup Day?
Image by Jeanne Sager
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Comments 21
Although I have no girls, only 2 boys, I believe this idea will not only help the females, it will also help the boys at the school to see what REAL beauty is. This is a great idea for children of both sexes. I would love to see the girls at schools in my area (Michigan) challenge media stereotypes, and I would love for my boys to watch them do it!
must send this too my kids school
I never worn much make up. In Highschol it was great because when it was prom season, there I was totally enahnced and the differerence was visible, as i do believe make up should be used to enhance, not to beautify. I now have a 5 minute make up routine that makes me look fresh all day.
It's a lovely idea, In Theory, but if you would have seen my acne when I was In High school, you wouldn't be in favor of no makeup day :). Maybe for other girls who cake it on for the heck of it, but for those with already low self esteem due to the acne, it's almost cruel.
"I look at some of the teen girls walking around the mall, and I shudder. They look like they're preparing for a Vogue magazine shoot instead of shopping for a new pair of Uggs. The question is why they feel that much makeup and those kind of clothes are necessary. Is it society's pressure or their parents' failure to fight said pressure?"
They feel that was because of their fantastic role models on TV...television programming LITERALLY programs your mind.