How Makeup Can Boost Your Mental Well-being In The Time Of Pandemic

More than just skin-deep, applying makeup and skincare routines can boost one’s mental well-being as a creative outlet and a form of self-discovery through art.

“It provides a sense of control to women in terms of how they would want to project their looks and enhance their facial assets. This feeling of control is a great factor in boosting one’s mental health,” Sherryl Muli-Abellanosa, a psychology professor at the University of San Carlos in Cebu City, said in a recent interview.

“Most often, one of the contributing factors of mental distress is the lack of power and control which results in lower self-worth and self-efficacy. Wearing makeup enhances one’s beauty and so it makes one feel good…And this ‘feeling good’ is not only limited to one’s appearance but it can improve confidence which can be translated to one’s dealings,” she added.

“Confidence” exudes positivity,” Abellanosa noted, and “attracts good interpersonal relationships” that leads to  “happy and satisfying life.”

In a statement released recently, Bobbie Cosmetics also highlighted the use of cosmetics and makeup techniques as a way to take care of one’s mental health.

It “allows people to discover another version of themselves through a fun and creative outlet.”

During this period of health crisis brought about by the coronavirus pandemic and where people stayed at home most of the time, the cosmetics company said some took the opportunity to learn new habits and skills through makeup sessions.

“This includes picking up one new makeup trick or two, as they do their meditative makeup sessions. By experimenting on different looks, blending and mixing, they can immerse themselves on a personal creative journey which can help them cope better in overwhelming situations,” Bobbie Cosmetics said.

According to Bobbie Cosmetics, applying makeup can bring a “sense of normalcy in the midst of newfound routines.”

“Even if people don’t go out as much as they did before –  or even if they do, they still wear their face masks – makeup in itself is an art form in which casual cosmetic enthusiasts and junkies alike can immerse themselves into and gain a level of confidence in the process,” it said.

The company also pointed out that skincare routines can help improve people’s well-being because “what happens to your skin is a good indicator of your health.”

“When your skin is healthy, you feel good. And when you feel good, it brings you to a good state of mental well-being,” Bobbie Cosmetics said.

For Abellanosa, her skincare routine kept her going during quarantine. This personal self-care technique gave her “a sense of pattern and structure” every day as well as a “responsibility” that she needs to fulfill for herself.

“Being at home during quarantine gives us a lot of time to let a minute pass before applying toner after cleansing our face, another minute for the eye cream, and yet another minute for the essentials and for the serums and what have yous,” she said.

Abellanosa also explained the advantage of having skincare routine in this time of pandemic.

“Skincare routine is a practice of kindness to oneself and making oneself feel worthy of pampering and care despite the crazy things that are happening in this time of pandemic. In as much as we care for others, skincare routine is a message of love to oneself that can override the stress we bear due to life’s uncertainties,” Abellanosa said.

Meanwhile, Bobbie Cosmetics listed several reasons why makeup can be good for one’s mental health:

1. People are in control of how they look. When dealing with challenges in life, sometimes people feel like they’ve lost dominance over the factors surrounding them. But when engaging in a creative activity as simple as putting makeup on, they regain this sense of control knowing that their hands and their brains get to decide what they want best for themselves.

2. It is a good expression of self-love. Makeup is a great tool to enhance an individual’s natural beauty. Instead of having it as something to cover one’s flaws, it can be a good friend to boost self-esteem just by adding a pop of color on the cheeks to look more flushed, or swiping a lipstick that tells one’s mood for the day.

3. It’s a good break. Even if people are mostly stuck indoors, it doesn’t mean that they don’t have errands to think about. Some may be working from home, and some may be busy pursuing their studies online, that is why doing meditative makeup sessions can help. By dedicating a “makeup me time,” people can pamper themselves by being artistic and playful with different looks. It can be a good time-out from the usual daily routine and is also a great creative exercise for the brain.

4. It’s a liberating experience. Wearing makeup is more than just a physical experience for many women and other beauty enthusiasts. And, with all the things they need to think about every day, sometimes all a person needs is to face a mirror, do a little beauty ritual, and immediately, gain an internal sense of accomplishment. “We can have a bad day and pull off a great look at night and still, feel a little better about ourselves.”

5. It allows people to thank their skin for what it can do for them. Again, makeup only enhances the beauty that exists in every person. People cannot apply makeup were it not for the skin that allows them to take on this process. Beyond every emotion, makeup, after all, is about feeling comfortable living in one’s own skin.