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This week at SLA, I held my first Make-Up Conversation with about 9 people. We began with getting to know each other. Going in a circle stating our names and one thing about ourselves. Then a short interactive game of Whisper Down the Lane. To get some historical information threaded into the conversation, I asked the girls if they know who invented lipgloss–No replies. Then I asked if anyone knew who was the inventor of less cakey foundation–Again, nothing. So I introduced Max Factor, a man from Poland who immigrated to the U.S. in the early 1900s starting his first job making wigs on-call. Then pursuing his career into Hollywood, later following a goal to make a product that would decrease the cakiness in actress’ face makeup so that every woman could apply it and feel like a beautiful actress.
After we moved past our warm-up, I raised the question “How many of you wear makeup now or have some sort of consistent skin care routine?” Only two people didn’t or don’t wear makeup at all and it was dependent on their skin care, which will be addressed towards the end. However, for those who related to the question many were quick to back-up their response with how frequently they wear it. Taking note of the supporting comments, I was intrigued on how wearing makeup appeared to be a dependent factor. While the independent was how often it's exhibited on the face. Like the reasons or how frequently you are doing your makeup justifies the point of applying it.
So to continue the conversation in an appropriate manner that connects to the Essential Question, I then asked, “So what do you’ll wear makeup for, such as yourselves, others, just because you like the effects a face (full, only brows, 1-tone skin with foundation) provides?” The question sparked large reactions from each person in the room. Some comments included one from a girl name Tobi, “Because it just makes me feel fierce, so I wear it for myself.” She then snapped her finger in the air with sass. As another girl, Amayah said, “More like a baddie.” While others chimed in how it makes them feel comfortable in their skin or it makes them feel like a super individual, one that stands out whenever entering a room. The joy was present in the room, you could feel it with all the smiles and laughs. Then we got a bit more serious leading into the EQ, “How has makeup become a “norm” into your daily lifestyle? If so why? How did you see this progress? What drove/inspired/motivated you?” I began to give the girls an idea of what progress can appear as:
“When I first started makeup I was trash of course but that’s because it is a skill that builds over time. For some, it comes normally. However, It’s become a norm to me from doing nothing every day to a coat a mascara, then learning about eyebrows and walking around like a caterpillar, to attempting a full face every day. When I learned that the time I wake up every day and the rush to get to school on time don’t work out so well, it turned into being able to accomplish whatever I can in 45 minutes. I gained an interest in the art of makeup, using different colors and techniques to achieve different outcomes. What inspired me I guess was the fact that it looked forced; I wanted to look ‘normal’ or natural rather.”
After that many girls shared their stories, some ranging from just not having the skill to do their own makeup and being uncomfortable walking out in whatever their finished product looked like. While others just did a simple eyebrow fill-in and a clear coat of lipgloss stating “It’s a look.” The conversation became less of my voice as the group began to raise their own questions once someone stated they weren’t comfortable with showing this “mask” that looks different than what they really do. Kennedy asks the group, “How does catfish play a role in our society? Like do we always have to use a face to feel pretty and step outside? Or rather a filter?” The inquiries they raised on their own were much more hard-hitting than I expected honestly. Yet, they were raw and real with one another. Daeja addressed the social media norm head-on asking, “Do you ever see someone on Instagram without a filter, or if they don’t have one the caption blatantly points out that they don’t ‘#NoFilter, #BareFace, #NoMakeup’.” Another young lady, Siarra then jokingly pulled out her phone and snapped a quick picture on Snapchat and as others were laughing she was questioned if she would post it. She said she would but I never got to ask her if she did and for how long she left it up.
Then we all got around to the same question, “Does having a beat face every day make you more or less beautiful?” Hesitation was oddly quick to rise as answers flowed out more aggressively with time. One response that stood out came from Amani, “Well what happens when you take it off? You’re still yourself and you’re beautiful regardless. You can wear makeup every day and still be yourself. If you believe you’re beautiful then you are. Even if you don’t, you are.” Someone then chimed in, “Your beauty doesn’t change because of a picture, or a filter.” Following with a positive note that you are “Just a better version of yourself.”
We talked a little about insecurities but I won’t get too in-depth because it is much more personal to each individual and we want to respect that. Yet, a brief summary is that some of us hide behind it as others try to use makeup as the beauty enhancer it is to work through those issues and struggles. On our last leading question, “Is makeup seen in more of negative connotation today or is it way more accepting than it used to be (based on your knowledge)?” Each girl said it is like a 50/50. For some more positive as others more negative because it all lies behind the idea of really figuring out what do you look like without it. Once again going back to another factor that has to justify wearing makeup.
Lastly, we went from what we look like without it to questioning if skin care could be a subcategory of makeup or even larger than it. Unanimously we thought it was very important to take care of our skin because it is a canvas. We touch it every day, others sometimes too, plus certain foods, scents or liquids can affect it. Wrapping up the conversation beautifully, Anastasia stated, “It is important to take care your skin because you can enhance it and minimize acne. It can be your form of makeup if the actual cosmetics aren’t an option or one you’d rather not pursue. What’s underneath matters as much as what you add onto it.”
Overall the conversation was a success. The input didn’t come from just one voice or even from me, the facilitator, instead it was distributed evenly. When one girl wanted to talk and she saw that another girl who may not have spoken yet wanted to add in, she took a step back. The group went into some layers that I really didn’t expect to reach yet which was awesome. I think because we set some grounds rules in the beginning and exemplified that it is a completely open space, they felt comfortable. They provided the opportunity to place themselves conversation in an area that they all could share their own experiences or feelings without feeling very hesitant. Staying away from making generalizations and being very clear on when they were speaking about themselves and what they have or have not been exposed to. Some growing points that I look forward to in the following discussions are maybe making sure to address that historical connection. However, with the next three or so lessons the context will be easier to intertwine because this week was just to get a kick-off and a sense of how we use and take makeup as a normal routine in our lives.