If I am going to the gym or making a quick dash to the shops, you won’t find me whipping out my favorite eyeliner and lipstick. However, if I am headed somewhere I would like to make an impression, believe me, the war paint is coming out.

As a makeup lover, I have had my fair share of accusing fingers pointed at me. “Why do you like wearing makeup?”.. “Aren’t you proud of your natural face?”…“Wearing makeup will make you age quickly” and so on. I used to get offended and would often come up with a snide retort but I have come to realize that most people have varying opinions on the concept of makeup. It goes without saying that this article expresses my own opinion on said topic.

Long before I was even born, the controversial topic of women and makeup has been hot in many a gathering.  Ladies who chose to wear makeup have been dismissed as fake and insecure. It’s even more prevalent in this social media era. Almost every week, I see a photo collage of “before and after” shots with a barrage of negative comments, accusing the woman of being a phony. It is assumed that she is being deceitful by portraying herself to be more attractive than she really is with the use of makeup.

I’ll ask a simple question, how many of you get out of bed in the morning and walk out of your house in your “natural” state? As long as you have considered your fellow earth inhabitants and decided to look a little less like Mowgli from the Jungle Book then I guess we can all be accused of being “phonies”. I’m assuming you brush your teeth, take a shower, apply some lotion, put on some decent clothes, spray a few puffs of your favorite scent and maybe comb your hair to get you pumped for the new day.

I look at makeup in the same light, I wear it not to hide my natural features but to enhance them as I deem fit.  Don’t get me wrong, if I am going to the gym or making a quick dash to the shops, you won’t find me whipping out my favorite eyeliner and lipstick. However, if I am headed somewhere I would like to make an impression, believe me, the war paint is coming out. I usually take the occasion into consideration though. I’ll be wearing a much different look on a romantic date than to the office for example.

That being said, I do not fault the ladies that decide to wear smoky eyes in the daytime or a bright lipstick to work. As long as you wear colors that complement your skin tone, have applied it properly and look fabulous, I say go for it girl! To counter the ageing effect claims, always remember the rule of thumb “Never go to bed with makeup on” and follow a strict skincare routine that works for you.

So when next you find yourself castigating a lady for wearing makeup, remember that we live in a free world and all have the right to do as we please. Makeup is as much of an enhancer as clothes, shoes, perfume, jewelry, hair extensions and the like. If you ask me not to wear makeup, then I will ask you to return with me to the time of Adam and Eve! Deal?

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Yewande Sobamowo is a recent graduate of Warwick Business School in the UK. She is passionate about all things beauty related and shares avant-garde tips and tricks amongst other things on www.shelovesthefinerthings.com. Sobamowo tweets from @Yewizzy.

Op-ed pieces and contributions are the opinions of the writers only and do not represent the opinions of Y!/YNaija