makeup review essay

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The contrasting effects of body image and self-esteem in the makeup usage

Anthonieta Looman Mafra

Department of Experimental Psychology, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil

Caio S. A. Silva

Marco a. c. varella, jaroslava v. valentova, associated data.

Data used to this paper can be found by accessing the following link: https://osf.io/d2z7e/ (DOI: 10.17605/OSF.IO/D2Z7E ).

Women wearing makeup are perceived by others as more attractive, competent, dominant, and more socially prestigious. Individuals differ in how much and how frequently they use makeup. Some studies show that women with lower self-esteem use more makeup, probably to hide imperfections. However, women with higher self-esteem can also use makeup to attract attention. This study verified whether social and general self-esteem and body image are associated with makeup usage in Brazilian women. We collected data from 1,483 women ( M age = 31.08; SD = 11.15) about body image (appearance orientation and appearance evaluation), social self-esteem, general self-esteem, and makeup usage (frequency of makeup usage, time spent applying makeup per day, and money spent on makeup per month). Appearance orientation positively predicted frequency of makeup usage, time spent applying makeup, and money spent on makeup, whereas appearance evaluation inversely predicted money spent on makeup per month. Social self-esteem and general self-esteem also positively predicted money spent on makeup, but in different directions. The results suggest that the significance given to appearance and social interactions are importantly associated with makeup usage in women.

Introduction

Surveys with American women showed that 78% spent one hour per day on their appearance (e.g., hair treatments, dressing up, and makeup). Taking on average 55 minutes of women’s day, hair and makeup seemed to need more time invested than other appearance related behaviors. [ 1 ] American women did not only spend time on active appearance enhancing behaviors, but between the most watched categories by women on YouTube, the top two are appearance related [ 1 ]. Another study showed that American women spent, on average, 10 minutes on makeup in the morning and 85% tended to apply at least 16 products on their faces before leaving home. The results also concluded that New York women spent around 300,000 US dollars during their lifetime on facial cosmetics [ 2 ]. These examples illustrate the importance American women attribute to physical appearance and self-care [e.g., 3 ].

Women’s attractiveness is an important factor in their lives, affecting how they feel about themselves. Several studies found a positive relationship between attractiveness and self-esteem in women [e.g., 4 , 5 ]. Cash et al. [ 6 ] found that physical appearance is positively correlated with appearance satisfaction, and Grilo et al. [ 7 ] found a positive relation between appearance evaluation and general self-esteem. However, these studies have focused on general self-esteem.

Whereas general self-esteem reflects how a person feels about themselves and their value in comparison to others [ 8 ], social self-esteem is how individuals feel about themselves during social interactions with others, and how those interactions affect their social value [ 9 ]. In this way, social self-esteem is more affected by social interactions than general self-esteem. Social self-esteem is positively linked to use of social network sites [ 10 , 11 ] whereas general self-esteem appears to be inversely proportional to social network sites [ 12 , 13 ], especially in women [ 14 ]. Vogel and colleagues [ 15 ] found that social comparison negatively affected general self-esteem negatively. Thus, the increase in digital media usage increased the pressure to look as good as possible because people were increasingly exposed to images and videos of very good looking individuals [ 16 ]. On the other hand, Steinsbekk and colleagues [ 14 ] found that self-oriented social network sites use was not related to general self-esteem. Therefore, social network sites might increase social self-esteem by promoting more social interactions.

Although appearance can be manipulated for better or for worse [ 17 ], the most common direction of appearance manipulation is appearance enhancement rather than worsening. Appearance enhancement is considered to be a self-promotion strategy in which one may capture more attention from others [ 18 ]. To enhance their attractiveness and to look better than same sex peers, women in Western societies use various tactics, such as high heels [e.g., 19 ], cosmetic surgeries [e.g., 20 ], and/or makeup [e.g., 21 ]. Interestingly, Kelley [ 16 ] interviewed 132 American college women and found that 37% of them reported they started using makeup because they were unsatisfied with their appearance. In sixth grade girls with negative self-esteem, using makeup increases pleasure pursuit [ 22 ]. Gentina et al. [ 23 ] found that makeup can also serve as a ritual of transition to adulthood among adolescents.

A recent experimental study compared women’s self-perception without makeup and with professionally applied makeup and showed that made up women considered themselves more feminine, attractive, more satisfied with appearance, and as having higher self-esteem [ 24 ]. Similarly, women wearing their usual facial cosmetics rated themselves as more attractive than when the cosmetics were removed [ 6 ]. A cross-sectional study further reported that women who rated themselves lower on physical attractiveness used more makeup [ 25 ].

Although individual differences in physical facial attractiveness are larger than intra-individual differences caused by facial cosmetics [ 26 ], makeup is used to improve evaluation by others [ 6 , 27 ] and may enhance prosocial feelings [ 25 ]. However, contrasting results were found regarding self-esteem and their relationship with makeup usage. Robertson and colleagues [ 25 ] found that self-esteem is negatively related to cosmetic usage whereas Al-Samydai et al. [ 28 ] findings pointed to a positive association. Nevertheless, the contrasting results may be due to the characteristics of the samples: the first study was conducted on 30 British undergraduate women and the latter on 606 Jordanian women. Studies investigating the association between self-esteem and makeup usage in different sociocultural settings are needed.

There are several ways to measure appearance, including perception of physical attractiveness (e.g., facial or body attractiveness rated by others), morphological measures (e.g., muscularity, body shape), and body image (e.g., individuals’ attitude toward appearance). Body image is broadly used to measure appearance because it is the reflection of individual satisfaction with their physical appearance and the importance placed on always looking good [ 28 ]. Whereas appearance orientation measures the importance attributed to their own appearance, such as how important they think it is to always look good, appearance evaluation measures how attractive the individual considers themselves, how satisfied they are with their own body [ 28 ]. Thus, body image measures self-perception of their attractiveness and also the pressure they put on themselves to always look good. Researchers relating makeup and body image tend to approach only the appearance evaluation factor, leaving out appearance orientation [e.g. 6 , 29 ], despite several studies showing the impact social pressure exerts on individuals’ self-perception [ 7 ], self-esteem [ 10 ], and even well-being [ 11 ].

Thus, our goal was to test if makeup usage in women (frequency of makeup usage, money spent on makeup, and time spent applying makeup per day) is predicted by general and social self-esteems, and body image (self-perceived attractiveness and importance one gives to tidiness). Despite some contrasting findings, Al-Samydai et al. [ 28 ] pointed out that makeup enhances women’s social interactions and performance and Robertson et al. [ 25 ] found a positive relationship between makeup usage and self-presentation and self-consciousness. Therefore, we expected that makeup usage would be predicted by social-related aspects (appearance orientation and social self-esteem) rather than by appearance evaluation and general self-esteem.

Materials and methods

Participants.

A total of 1,651 Brazilian women took part in the research. For the present study, 1,483 women between 18 and 75 years old ( M age = 31.08; SD = 11.15) entered in the final analyses. All the 168 participants younger than 18 years had their data excluded. This sample was comprised 32.2% of women with graduate degrees, 26.1% undergraduate students, 20.6% women with completed undergraduate degrees, 10.0% women with secondary education, 9.3% graduate students, and 1.7% with no education or unfinished secondary education. Most of the women considered themselves White (73.0%), 17.8% indicated mixed ethnicity ( pardo ), 4.8% identified as Black, 2.8% as Asian, and 1.6% indicated “Other” ethnicity.

About family income, most of the participants (27.4%) declared from approximately US$ 499 to 998 (exchange rate of the day December 28 2021), 19.4% declared from US$ 998 to 1,496, 15.4% declared from US$ 166 to 498, 15% declared more than US$ 2,494, 11.8% declared from US$ 1,497 to 1,995, 8% from US$ 1,996 to 2,493, and 3.1% up to US$ 165. The average Brazilian income per capita was US$ 313 in 2018 (when most of the data was collected) [ 30 ]. Most participants were from Southeast Brazil.

Instruments

Participants completed a Qualtrics online questionnaire (Qualtrics, Provo, UT), containing sociodemographic questions, Cosmetics Use Inventory and additional questions, Social self-esteem questionnaire, General self-esteem questionnaire, and Body image scale.

Sociodemographic questions

This section included questions such as age, sex, gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity, relationship status, current pregnancy, and current socioeconomic status (educational level and family income).

Cosmetics use inventory [ 31 ]

We used a part of an adapted version of the inventory [ 32 ] in which participants rate on a 7-point-scale the frequency they use from “never” to “always”: 1. base, concealer, and/or powder; 2. mascara; 3. eyeliner or eye pencil; 4. shade; and 5. lipstick and/or gloss. Higher averaged scores correspond to higher levels of facial cosmetic use. We used the version translated (and back translated) into Brazilian Portuguese. All the variables were positively associated (i.e., women who use more one type of makeup tend to use the other types of makeup more frequently, too) (See S1 Table in S1 File ).

Further, participants responded about their monthly expenses with makeup using the following options (in our survey in Brazilian Reals): USD 0, up to USD 2.50, USD 2.50–6, USD 6–10, USD 10–15, USD 15–20, USD 20–25, USD 25–50, more than USD 50. Time spent applying makeup per day was responded using the following options: less than 5 minutes, 5–10 minutes, 10–20 minutes, 20–30 minutes, more than 30 minutes.

Social self-esteem questionnaire [ 9 ]

This is a 30-item instrument composed of phrases describing one’s ability to deal with different social situations. The participant answers how accurately each sentence describes what her behavior or feelings would be in each situation on a six-point Likert scale. The higher the score, the greater the participant’s ease in dealing with social situations (e.g., “I make friends easily”). We used the version translated (and back translated) into Brazilian Portuguese (Cronbach α = 0.95).

General self-esteem questionnaire [ 8 ]

This is a 10-item instrument with a four-point Likert response scale. It contains affirmations about individuals’ feelings and beliefs about themselves (e.g., “On the whole, I am satisfied with myself”). We used the version translated and adapted into Portuguese and validated for the Brazilian population (Cronbach α = 0.91) [ 33 ].

Body image scale [ 28 ]

This is an attitudinal body image instrument composed of two subscales measuring appearance evaluation and appearance orientation with a five-point Likert response scale. The subscales are composed of 17 statements, 11 of them related to appearance orientation (e.g. “It is important that I always look good”) and six related to appearance evaluation (e.g. “I like my looks just the way they are”). We used the version translated (and back translated) into Brazilian Portuguese (Cronbach α = 0.82).

After written ethical approval by the local Institutional Review Board of Anhembi Morumbi University (nr. 2.960.684), participants were recruited through social media and institutional e-mails. Thus, it was a sample based on convenience, and does not represent the Brazilian population. Participants completed informed consent and then responded to anonymous online questionnaires. Inclusion criteria were to have access to the Internet and to be a Brazilian woman 18 years old or older. Participants took 30 minutes on average to complete the survey.

Data analyses

First, using IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, version 21 (IBM Corp., Armonk, N.Y., USA), we checked data normality (See S2 Table in S1 File ). Most data were not normally distributed, and we thus conducted exploratory non-parametric correlations among makeup usage, social and general self-esteems, and body image in order to verify correlations among the independent variables and test for multicollinearity. The independent variables were weakly and moderately associated, with low risk of multicollinearity (VIF ranged from 1.002 to 2.002).

Second, to test for a possible effect on makeup usage, social and general self-esteems, and body image entered as independent variables into categorical regressions (CATREG). We chose to use this analysis because it uses an optimal scaling feature that solves the problem of lack of linearity of the scales and it calculates an optimal regression equation and the effect of each independent variable (appearance orientation, appearance evaluation, general self-esteem, and social self-esteem) on the dependent variables (frequency of makeup usage, money spent on makeup, and time spent doing makeup per day). All statistical tests were performed with the significance level indicated at .05.

Makeup usage descriptives

Most participants use makeup half of the time (26.2%) or sometimes (24.9%) and 44.9% spend less than five minutes applying makeup per day. Also, 19.6% spent nothing and 19.6% spent up to USD 2.50 on makeup per month. See S3 to S5 Tables in S1 File for detailed data.

Correlations between makeup usage and social and general self-esteem, and body image attitudes

Kendall correlation indicated that money spent on makeup per month, time spent applying makeup per day, and frequency of makeup usage are moderately and positively correlated (See Table 1 ). Further, these three measures of makeup usage are moderately and positively correlated to appearance orientation. Money spent on makeup per month and frequency of makeup usage are weakly and positively related to social self-esteem. Frequency of makeup usage also presented a positive and weak correlation with general self-esteem. Social self-esteem was moderately and positively correlated with general self-esteem, weakly and positively associated with appearance evaluation and appearance orientation. General self-esteem was moderately and positively associated with appearance evaluation.

** Correlation is significant at the 0.01 level (2 ends).

* The correlation is significant at the 0.05 level (2 ends).

The sociodemographic variables (age, family income, and educational level) were weakly and positively associated with money spent on makeup, frequency of makeup usage, general self-esteem, social self-esteem, and appearance evaluation. There were no associations among the sociodemographic variables and time spent on makeup and appearance orientation.

The effect of general and social self-esteems and body image on makeup usage

To test for a possible effect of social and personal self-esteems, and body image on makeup usage, we conducted three categorical regression models, with money spent on makeup per month, time spent applying makeup per day, and frequency of makeup usage as dependent variables. We also included the sociodemographic variables age, family income, and educational level in the analyses in order to control the variability of our sample ( Table 2 ).

Only appearance orientation and age predicted time spent applying makeup per day and frequency of makeup usage, whereas all variables except educational level predicted money spent on makeup.

The aim of the study was to verify if general and social self-esteems and body image (i.e., appearance orientation and appearance evaluation) were associated with makeup usage among Brazilian women. Altogether, our findings suggested that women who feel comfortable with their appearance and have higher general self-esteem spent less money on makeup whereas women with higher social self-esteem spent more money on makeup; and women who allocated more importance to the way they looked not only spent more money on makeup but spent more time applying makeup and using makeup more frequently.

Appearance orientation was a significant predictor of makeup usage. Thus, women who give more importance to their appearance and are always neat, use makeup more often, spend more time applying makeup, and spend more money on makeup. Similarly, Robertson et al. [ 25 ] found a positive relationship between cosmetic usage and self-presentation. In women, appearance orientation is also linked to neuroticism and narcissism [ 34 ], eating disorders [ 35 ], and drive for muscularity in men [ 36 ]. Women frequently have their bodies objectified, i.e. treated like an object that exists to please others. Through self-objectification, they disconnect their bodies from their persons, and sometimes internalize this perspective and start evaluating and treating themselves as mere bodies [ 37 ], highlighting the visual assessment. Women with higher levels of self-objectification would place more attention to their appearance and grooming instead of other aspects, such as identity development. Therefore, appearance orientation may be used as a measure of self-objectification [ 34 ]. A deeper investigation about appearance orientation and self-objectification should be conducted in order to clarify if they are in fact measuring similar traits.

Further, when adolescents with positive body image were interviewed, they claimed their family and friends used to talk about their appearance, but not about their bodies (i.e., they comment about their clothing, hair style, makeup, etc., but not about their physical traits, such as how fat they are [ 38 ]). Thus, someone’s appearance orientation is more liable in commentaries than someone’s body. It suggests that appearance orientation would be more susceptible to social influences than appearance evaluation, and consequently, would be positively related to appearance modifications, including makeup usage. This would also explain why accepting oneself is negatively related to purchasing makeup.

Corroborating Frisén and Holmqvist’s [ 38 ] results, we found that women with higher appearance evaluation, i.e. women who were more satisfied with their appearance, tended to spend less money on makeup. Our study supported findings of Robertson and colleagues [ 25 ] who reported an inverse association between cosmetic usage and self-rated physical appearance. For these individuals, makeup usage may not be related to satisfaction with their body, so it does not make them feel physically more attractive. Indeed, cosmetics have a smaller impact on individuals higher in attractiveness than on less attractive individuals [ 26 ].

Frederick and Reynolds [ 39 ] presented the cognitive behavioral model in which makeup would be an appearance fixing strategy, being a response to emotions and thoughts related to body image. That is, factors experienced throughout an individual’s life influenced one’s body image by associating their appearance schema. Future experiences can activate this model, influencing how this new information is processed. The thoughts and emotions related to one’s schema will respond by adjusting self-regulatory processes. Makeup usage, thus, would be a way to improve body image through fixing imperfections in people who are not satisfied with their appearance (appearance schema) and are concerned about it.

Additionally, Mafra et al. [ 40 ] conducted a study on Brazilian men and women with low socioeconomic status and found that spending more money on cosmetics did not make women feel better about themselves (e.g., more attractive). According to a review by Tylka and Wood-Barcalow [ 41 ], positive body image is the acceptance of one’s own body, feeling happy and complete even knowing its imperfections and that it is not consistent with idealized images. Nevertheless, others’ perceptions also may influence individuals’ positive body image [ 39 ] as well as the type of watched advertisement may influence women’s self-esteem, body image, and mood [ 42 ].

Social self-esteem is a positive predictor of money spent on makeup per month. Although Robertson et al. [ 25 ] found a negative association between cosmetic usage and social confidence, adolescent girls reported to use makeup because they wanted to feel admired by the public [ 23 ], suggesting that makeup functions improve social impressions. In a recent review, Davis and Arnocky [ 18 ] argued that makeup may be used as a strategy to enhance social status. In fact, besides bringing advantages in attracting mates and competing with rivals [ 21 ], makeup usage was positively associated with social interaction and performance [ 43 ], with women who use makeup being perceived as more competent [ 44 ], more dominant, and higher in social prestige [ 45 ]. As social interactions are important for people with high social self-esteem levels, makeup may be a tool to increase confidence in interpersonal relationships. On the other hand, women who feel good about themselves (i.e., with high general self-esteem) tended to spend less money on makeup usage. This result also corroborated Robertson et al. [ 25 ], in which a negative correlation between makeup usage and general self-esteem was found.

According to a recent study, makeup use also affects other women. After being exposed to pictures of same-sex peers wearing makeup, Australian undergraduate women reported willingness to change their appearance, for example, hair, skin [ 29 ]. Possibly, women who give more importance to physical appearance invest more money also on other beauty products, not just makeup. Future research investigating how other products that can enhance women’s appearance relate to appearance orientation and ideal stereotypes of beauty could make a great contribution to the field.

Overall, our study suggested that women with greater self-esteem associated with social interactions would attribute higher importance to their appearance, resulting in more makeup usage. Makeup usage may enhance women’s confidence to deal with social situations. However, our study was cross-sectional, thus an experimental study could complement our approach by testing if social-related aspects influence the consumption of makeup more than intrinsic-related aspects. Another important point to highlight is that the social influence on makeup usage is rather speculative since we have not directly asked the participants about the possible impact of the media and social networks on their body image. Finally, our sample was composed by a majority of highly educated Caucasian women of medium to high family incomes, which does not fully represent the Brazilian population (mostly composed by Black and mixed ethnicities in low educational levels and low family income earnings). A study trying to reach more women outside the university may better represent the Brazilian population.

Supporting information

Acknowledgments.

We are grateful for English proofreading and helpful suggestions made by Prof. Daniel J. Kruger. We are also grateful to the participants and researchers who donated their time for this to become a reality.

Funding Statement

AM was supported by the FAPESP (Fundação de amparo à pesquisa do estado de são paulo, Grant number: 2018/16370-5), CS was supported by CNPq (Conselho nacional de desenvolvimento científico e tecnológico, Grant number 143811/2019-3), MV was supported by the CAPES (Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior, Grant number 33002010037P0—MEC/CAPES).

Data Availability

• PLoS One. 2022; 17(3): e0265197.

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PONE-D-21-23860The contrasting effects of body image and self-esteem in the makeup usagePLOS ONE

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Reviewer #1: Dear Editor, Dear Authors,

I would like to thank for the opportunity to review this interesting manuscript. It reports on relationships between self-esteem, body image, and makeup usage. The study was conducted on a satisfactory large sample (N = 1483 Brazilian women). The strength of the paper is that it adds to a heated discussion on self-presentation modification, which recently drew wide public attention. For this reason, I believe that the paper would be appealing to many of the PLOS ONE Readers. However, the manuscript has several issues, which I outline below.

Major issues:

1. Participants' paragraph. In my opinion, a few things are missing:

- A description of the exclusion criteria (why 168 participants were excluded from further analyses?).

- Age range (what age was the oldest participants?).

- Details on participants' economic situation. The sample was somewhat not representative of a Brazilian population (it mainly consisted of "highly educated Caucasia women"). Thus, I am concerned that the sample was also rather on the upper end of the socio-economic ladder, and thus, it should be highlighted throughout the ms that the conclusions from the study are limited.

- For the above reasons, it would also be interesting to know how the participants were recruited.

2. "Time spent applying makeup per day was responded using the following options: less than 5 minutes, 5-10 minutes, 10-20 minutes, 20-30 minutes, more than 30 minutes." I am wondering why the Authors chose these categories. In the first sentence of this manuscript, the Authors refer that 78% of American women spend 1 hour a day on their appearance. Wasn't the ceiling reached in the current study?

3. "Most data were not normally distributed" What were the skewness and kurtosis values? The Authors may consider adding this information (e.g., in the supplementary material).

4. "Makeup usage descriptives" I was wondering whether the Authors could add a more detailed table with information on all categories.

5. The statistical analyses. The Authors did not control for the economic status nor age in the analyses. I wonder what the results are if running these extended models.

Minor issues:

1. I would suggest softening a final sentence in the abstract–"The results suggest that the significance given to appearance and social interactions have an important effect on makeup usage in women." Having an effect on something implies that A affects B, while the present survey was observational in nature.

2. The frequency of cosmetics use inventory. I am wondering over the rationale for testing Cronbach's alpha of 5 questions about the frequency of using the given types of cosmetics. I imagine a situation where a given woman wears base, mascara, and eyeliner every day, but not lipstick and shade. She is, thus, frequently using a given set of cosmetics, artificially lowering the reliability coefficient. As a metaphor, someone can wear red socks every day but not blue ones. Therefore, this person frequently wears socks, but if we asked them two questions, whether they wear red socks and blue socks, their Cronbach's alpha would be unsatisfactory.

3. First two sentences from the introduction. I would encourage the Authors to elaborate on these findings. The claims made are influential and require strong scrutiny in presenting them. The provided source for this sentence actually goes back to a study from 2014 on a nationally representative sample of over 2k online American adults.

Furthermore, the second sentence goes "They spent 10 minutes on makeup (…).". However, the Authors cite another study, and thus, I would consider rephrasing (e.g., something like "Another study showed...").

Also, the Authors described two studies on American women and then wrote: "these examples illustrate the importance women in Western societies attribute to physical appearance and self-care". Although American women undoubtedly are an example of Western women, I suggest adding at least one more example of a Western population or rephrasing the beginning.

4. "Social self-esteem is positively linked to use of social network sites [10,11]. Thus, the increase in digital media usage has also increased the pressure to look as good as possible because people are increasingly exposed to images and videos of perfectly looking individuals [12]." This line of thought is worth pursuing. However, the Authors might think of first introducing why social self-esteem is relevant to the use of social network sites.

5. "Interestingly, 37% of the interviewed women reported they started using makeup because they were unsatisfied with their appearance [12]." I would suggest the Authors add a brief description of the given population when referring to a given study (throughout the manuscript).

6. Linguistic remark. The Authors may consider using the tense consistently throughout the ms (i.e., past simple or present, when referring to other studies' results). Now it is sometimes present simple, sometimes past simple.

7. "Although individual differences in physical facial attractiveness are larger than intra individual differences caused by facial cosmetics [22], makeup is used to enhance not only self-esteem and self-perceptions, but also perception by others [6,23] and may enhance prosocial feelings [21]". I would suggest the Authors rephrase this sentence as it reads a bit odd.

8. "However, contrasting results were found regarding self-esteem and their relationship with makeup usage. Robertson and colleagues [21] found that self-esteem is negatively related to cosmetic usage whereas Al-Samydai et al. [24] findings pointed to a 76 positive association." These contrasting results may stem from the fact that Robertson et al. (2008) study was conducted on an extremely small sample – 30 British undergraduates, while Al-Samydai study was conducted on 606 Jordanian women.

9. "There are several ways to measure appearance, including physical attractiveness per se, and body image." The Authors may clarify what exactly they refer to (e.g., (…) to measure the attitudes toward appearance).

10. "Thus, our general goal is to test if makeup usage in women" For brevity reasons, the Authors may consider omitting 'general.'

11. "This sample was composed by 32.2% of (…)" The Authors may rephrase "This sample was composed by 32.2% of women "into "This sample comprised 32.2% of women (…)".

12. "The independent variables are were weakly and moderately associated, with low risk of multicollinearity" Please, correct this sentence. Furthermore, what were the variance inflation factors?

13. ", Also, 19.6% spend nothing and 19.6% spend up to USD 2.50 on makeup per month (…)" I believe there is a comma instead of a dot.

14. Table 1. Could the Authors also add relationships between the variables of interest and age, economic status, and educational status into the Table?

I would also suggest adding asterisks to mark significant relationships while removing the p values (it would make the Table more readable).

15. I suggest the Authors unify the language used to describe self-esteem. Sometimes it is 'personal self-esteem' (Table 2), while in Table 1, it is "general self-esteem.

16. The Authors may also consider discussing the claims that physical appearance (and enhancing it) may serve as a female strategy to increase social status (for a review, see Davis & Arnocky, 2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-020-01745-4

Kind regards

Reviewer #2: This is an interesting study and the authors have collected a unique dataset using cutting edge methodology. The paper is generally well written and structure However, in my opinion this is a good paper

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Author response to Decision Letter 0

17 Feb 2022

Review Comments to the Author

Reviewer #1: Dear Editor, Dear Authors,

Response: We thank the reviewer for recognizing the strengths of our study and for the valuable suggestions. The modifications made were essential for improving the manuscript.

Response: The excluded participants were younger than 18 years. Although the consent term had specified the minimum age to participate in the study, some women under 18 years answered the questionnaire. We added this information to the ms. Now it reads: “All the 168 participants younger than 18 years had their data excluded.”

2. Age range (what age was the oldest participants?).

Response: Thank you for noticing. We had described only the mean age. The oldest participant was 75 years old. We added the information into the description of the sample. Now it reads: “A total of 1,651 Brazilian women took part in the research. For the present study, 1,483 women between18 and 75 years old (Mage = 31.08; SD = 11.15) entered in the final analyses.”

3. Details on participants' economic situation. The sample was somewhat not representative of a Brazilian population (it mainly consisted of "highly educated Caucasia women"). Thus, I am concerned that the sample was also rather on the upper end of the socio-economic ladder, and thus, it should be highlighted throughout the ms that the conclusions from the study are limited.

Response: Agreed with the reviewer. We added the following part in the end of the “Participants” topic: “About family income, most of the participants’ families (27.4%) earned approximately between US$ 499 and 998, 19.4% earned between US$ 998 and 1,496, 15.4% earned between US$ 166 and 498, 15% earned more than US$ 2,494, 11.8% earned from US$ 1,497 and 1,995, 8% earned between US$ 1,996 and 2,493, and 3.1% earned up to US$ 165 (exchange rate of the day December 28 2021). The average Brazilian income per capita was US$ 313 in 2018 (when most of the data was collected)”. As the reviewer had noticed, the paper sample does not represent the average Brazilian population. So we added this as a study limitation into the Discussion, and now it reads as follows: “our sample was composed by a majority of highly educated White women of medium to high family incomes, which does not fully represent the Brazilian population (mostly composed by Black and mixed ethnicities with low educational levels and low family income).”

4. For the above reasons, it would also be interesting to know how the participants were recruited.

Response: We included this information in the “Procedure” section on page 8 “participants were recruited through social media and institutional e-mails. Thus, it was a sample based on convenience, and does not represent the Brazilian population.”

5. "Time spent applying makeup per day was responded using the following options: less than 5 minutes, 5-10 minutes, 10-20 minutes, 20-30 minutes, more than 30 minutes." I am wondering why the Authors chose these categories. In the first sentence of this manuscript, the Authors refer that 78% of American women spend 1 hour a day on their appearance. Wasn't the ceiling reached in the current study?

Response: Thank you for noticing that the text may confuse the reader. We failed to distinguish the terms. The “time spent on appearance” can include a broader range of other behaviors besides makeup application, such as hair care, skin care or dressing up. Based on that, we considered that women should spend less than one hour applying daily makeup, as this behavior would be only a part of the total time spent on appearance. We added information in the introduction. Now it reads as follows: “Surveys with American women showed that 78% spend one hour per day on their appearance (e.g., hair treatments, dressing up, and makeup).”

6. "Most data were not normally distributed" What were the skewness and kurtosis values? The Authors may consider adding this information (e.g., in the supplementary material).

Response: We added the descriptive information, including skewness and kurtosis values, into the Supporting information. Please refer to Table S2.

7. "Makeup usage descriptives" I was wondering whether the Authors could add a more detailed table with information on all categories.

Response: We provided further details in the Supporting information (S3 to S5 Table).

8. The statistical analyses. The Authors did not control for the economic status nor age in the analyses. I wonder what the results are if running these extended models.

Response: We agree that these are important variables to include to control the results. We ran the analyses again, inserting the variables age, family income, and level of education into the final regression model. The results were virtually the same but level of education was not a predictor of the dependent variables and age was a predictor of all dependent variables. We modified the result section. Please check “The effect of general and social self-esteems and body image on makeup usage” in the Results section.

Response: We agree, and we rephrased the sentence, as suggested. Now it reads as follows: “The results suggest that the significance given to appearance and social interactions are importantly associated with makeup usage in women.”

Response: We agree with the reviewer. For this reason, we decided to delete the Cronbach alpha for this scale. Instead, we added a correlation table among the different cosmetic types usage into the Supporting information and also added this information in the Methods. It now reads as follows: “All the variables were positively associated (i.e., women who use more one type of makeup tend to use the other types of makeup more frequently, too) (See Table S1 in the Supporting information).”

3. a) First two sentences from the introduction. I would encourage the Authors to elaborate on these findings. The claims made are influential and require strong scrutiny in presenting them. The provided source for this sentence actually goes back to a study from 2014 on a nationally representative sample of over 2k online American adults.

Response: We agree that there was more data that could have been addressed in the introduction and describe more the importance of appearance for American women. The first paragraph of the introduction reads now as follows: “Surveys with American women showed that 78% spent one hour per day on their appearance (e.g., hair treatments, dressing up, and makeup). Taking on average 55 minutes of women’s day, hair and makeup seems to need more time invested than other appearance related behaviors. [1] American women did not only spend time on active appearance enhancing behaviors, but between the most watched categories by women on YouTube, the top two are appearance related [1]. Another study showed that American women spent, on average, 10 minutes on makeup in the morning and 85% tended to apply at least 16 products on their faces before leaving home. The results also concluded that New York women spent around 300,000 US dollars during their lifetime on facial cosmetics [2]. These examples illustrate the importance American women attribute to physical appearance and self-care [e.g., 3].”

b) Furthermore, the second sentence goes "They spent 10 minutes on makeup (…).". However, the Authors cite another study, and thus, I would consider rephrasing (e.g., something like "Another study showed...").

Response: We agree it is more appropriate and corrected the phrase as suggested, see our reply above.

c) Also, the Authors described two studies on American women and then wrote: "these examples illustrate the importance women in Western societies attribute to physical appearance and self-care". Although American women undoubtedly are an example of Western women, I suggest adding at least one more example of a Western population or rephrasing the beginning.

Response: American women may not represent all Western societies. We agree that it is wiser to change the statement. It reads now as follows: “these examples illustrate the im portance American women attribute to physical appearance and self-care”

Response: We reformulated the explanation to make the distinction between social and general self-esteem clear. Now it reads as follows: “Social self-esteem is positively linked to use of social network sites [10,11] whereas general self-esteem appears to be inversely proportional to social network sites [12, 13], especially in women [14]. Vogel and colleagues [15] found that social comparison negatively affected general self-esteem. Thus, the increase in digital media usage has also increased the pressure to look as good as possible because people were increasingly exposed to images and videos of very good looking individuals [16]. On the other hand, Steinsbekk and colleagues [14] found that self-oriented social network sites use was not related to general self-esteem. Therefore, social network sites might increase social self-esteem by promoting more social interactions”

Response: We agree that it is important to describe the study sample in cases like this. We added the information and now it reads: “Interestingly, Kelley [12] interviewed 132 American college women and found that 37% of them reported they started using makeup because they were unsatisfied with their appearance”.

We also tried to accomplish this suggestion with other studies in the manuscript.

Response: We reviewed the entire manuscript and used past simple. Thank you for noticing.

Response: Agreed, it was confusing. We tried to fix the sentence, and now it reads as follows: “ Although individual differences in physical facial attractiveness are larger than intra-individual differences caused by facial cosmetics [22], makeup is used to improve evaluation by others [6,23] and may enhance prosocial feelings [21].”

Response: Thank you for this notion. We added this possible explanation into the results section. It reads now as follows: “Nevertheless, the contrasting results may be due to the characteristics of the samples: the first study was conducted on 30 British undergraduate women and the latter on 606 Jordanian women. Studies investigating the association between self-esteem and makeup usage in different sociocultural settings are needed.”

Response: We agree with the reviewer. It was not clear in the phrase what exactly we were measuring, so we tried to fix it. It reads now: “There are several ways to measure appearance, including perception of physical attractiveness (e.g., facial or body attractiveness rated by others), morphological measures (e.g., muscularity, body shape), and body image (e.g., individuals’ attitude toward appearance).”

Response: We deleted the word “general” accordingly.

11. "This sample was composed by 32.2% of (…)" The Authors may rephrase "This sample was composed by 32.2% of women" into "This sample comprised 32.2% of women (…)".

Response: We corrected the sentence as suggested.

Response: Thank you for noticing the mistype. We corrected it. The VIF ranged from 1.002 to 2.002. We added this information to the manuscript. Now it reads: “The independent variables were weakly and moderately associated, with low risk of multicollinearity (VIF ranged from 1.002 to 2.002).”

Response: Thank you for spotting this mistake . We fixed it.

Response: We added the suggested variables to the table and made the additional changes. Please refer to Table 1 to see the new table. It is now more readable.

We also added the following paragraph to the manuscript: “The sociodemographic variables (age, family income, and educational level) were weakly and positively associated with money spent on makeup, frequency of makeup usage, general self-esteem, social self-esteem, and appearance evaluation. There were no associations among the sociodemographic variables and time spent on makeup and appearance orientation.”

Response: Thank you for noticing, we corrected it accordingly. It occurred due to the initial SPSS labels.

16. The Authors may also consider disc ussing the claims that physical appearance (and enhancing it) may serve as a female strategy to increase social status (for a review, see Davis & Arnocky, 2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-020-01745-4

Response: It is a great paper that we should have addressed before. Thank you for the suggestion. Now it reads as follows: “ In a recent review, Davis and Arnocky [44] argued that makeup may be used as a strategy to enhance social status. In fact, besides bringing advantages in attracting mates and competing with rivals [21], some studies showed that makeup usage was also positively associated with social interaction and performance [28], with women who use makeup being perceived as more competent [45], more dominant, and higher in social prestige [46]. As social interactions are important for people with high social self-esteem levels, makeup may be a tool to increase confidence in interpersonal relationships. On the other hand, women who feel good about themselves (i.e., with high general self-esteem) tended to spend less money on makeup usage. This result also corroborated Robertson et al. [25], in which a negative correlation between makeup usage and general self-esteem was found.”

Submitted filename: Response to reviewers.docx

Decision Letter 1

28 Feb 2022

PONE-D-21-23860R1

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Acceptance letter

17 Mar 2022

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Essay on Make Up

Students are often asked to write an essay on Make Up in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

Let’s take a look…

100 Words Essay on Make Up

Introduction to makeup.

Makeup is a tool people use to enhance their natural beauty. It includes products like lipstick, mascara, and foundation.

The Purpose of Makeup

Makeup serves multiple purposes. It can boost self-confidence, allow self-expression, and even protect skin from harm.

Types of Makeup

Different types of makeup exist for various parts of the face. Lipstick for lips, mascara for eyelashes, and foundation for skin are just a few examples.

Learning Makeup

Learning to apply makeup can be fun. It requires practice, creativity, and understanding of one’s features.

In conclusion, makeup is a versatile tool for self-expression and confidence.

250 Words Essay on Make Up

The artistry of makeup.

Makeup is an artistic medium, often underrated, that has woven its way into the fabric of human culture and tradition. It serves as an outlet for creativity, a means of self-expression and a tool for enhancing one’s natural features.

Makeup as Self-Expression

Makeup allows individuals to portray their personality and mood in a non-verbal manner. It can be a reflection of one’s inner self, a tool to communicate personal style, or a way to project an image to the world. Furthermore, it can be used to challenge societal norms and expectations, enabling individuals to redefine beauty standards in their own terms.

Makeup and Society

In a societal context, makeup has often been used as a tool for conformity, with societal beauty standards influencing its use. However, in recent years, the narrative has been shifting. With the rise of social media, influencers are breaking away from traditional beauty norms, advocating for makeup to be used as a tool for individuality rather than conformity.

The Therapeutic Aspect of Makeup

Beyond aesthetics, the process of applying makeup can be therapeutic, providing a sense of calm and control. It can serve as a form of self-care, allowing individuals to take time for themselves and focus on their well-being.

In conclusion, makeup is more than just a superficial tool for enhancing physical appearance. It is a form of art, a tool for self-expression, and a means of challenging societal norms. As we continue to redefine beauty standards, the role of makeup in our lives continues to evolve.

500 Words Essay on Make Up

The evolution of makeup.

Makeup has been a part of human culture for millennia, tracing its roots back to ancient civilizations. The Egyptians used kohl to outline their eyes, while the Greeks and Romans used cosmetics to enhance beauty and signify social status. However, the purpose and perception of makeup have significantly evolved over time.

The Sociocultural Impact of Makeup

Makeup is not just a tool for personal enhancement; it’s a sociocultural phenomenon that reflects societal norms and values. It has been used as a form of self-expression, a political statement, and a means to conform or rebel against societal expectations. In the 1920s, for instance, women wearing bold red lipstick symbolized their defiance against traditional gender norms.

Makeup and Gender

Historically, makeup has been associated with femininity. However, in recent years, the beauty industry has witnessed a shift towards inclusivity, breaking down gender stereotypes. More men are embracing makeup, challenging the traditional notions of masculinity. This shift is a testament to how makeup transcends gender boundaries and serves as a platform for individuals to express their unique identities.

The Science of Makeup

From a scientific perspective, makeup is a combination of art and chemistry. The formulation of makeup involves creating a balance between aesthetics and skin health. It requires a deep understanding of skin types, color theory, and the chemical properties of various ingredients. The science behind makeup has led to innovations like long-lasting formulas, SPF-infused products, and makeup that caters to various skin conditions.

Makeup and Mental Health

Makeup also has psychological implications. It can boost self-esteem and confidence, providing a sense of control over one’s appearance. However, it’s essential to recognize the potential negative impact of societal pressure to look a certain way, which can lead to body image issues and mental health problems. The key lies in promoting a balanced view of makeup, emphasizing its role as a tool for self-expression rather than a necessity for acceptance.

The Future of Makeup

The future of makeup lies in sustainability and personalization. As consumers become more environmentally conscious, the demand for eco-friendly, cruelty-free products is on the rise. Moreover, with advancements in technology, personalized makeup products tailored to individual skin types and preferences are becoming a reality.

In conclusion, makeup is a multifaceted concept with historical, sociocultural, scientific, and psychological dimensions. Its evolution reflects changing societal norms and advances in science and technology. As we move forward, it’s crucial to foster a healthy and inclusive view of makeup, recognizing its potential as a tool for self-expression, while being mindful of its potential implications on mental health.

That’s it! I hope the essay helped you.

If you’re looking for more, here are essays on other interesting topics:

• Essay on Make Public Transport Free
• Essay on MakeMyTrip
• Essay on Mahatma Gandhi

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How Does the Makeup Help to Define the Character Essay

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Watching a movie we pay attention to the most important aspects of composition of shot – makeup and costumes the actors wear. These two aspects help us to create overall look on a movie and a special mood. Sometimes makeup can change an actor’s appearance totally – from handsome blond man to fat an ugly dark-haired man.

To achieve this “transformation” visagistes resort to use of different types of makeup, wigs, false teeth or artificial parts of face (to make bigger nose or lips). To show specific features about character on stage (theatre) or on screen (movie industry) professionals use makeup (for example, to show the change of a character from a human to a strange creature or from ugly to pretty).

Nowadays, watching a movie you can notice that characters are portrayed fully and in details. For example, a well-known movie “Dorian Gray” (director Oliver Parker, 2009) tells to the audience the story of the lovely young man –Dorian Gray – who comes to London, as now he is rich; he has got a huge inheritance from his grandfather.

A painter Basil Hallward (Ben Chaplin) offers to paint Dorian for preserving his beauty forever. Becoming obsessed with maintaining his beauty, Gray offers his soul and wishes the portrait to weather the winds of time while he stays forever young. Albeit, after Gray’s wickednesses the painting starts to reveal his inner ugliness to others.

From the very beginning of the movie, Dorian (Ben Barnes) is young, handsome and has a lot of zing. On arriving home, after 25 years, his appearance did not changed as his beauty stayed immutable. He still is fine and lovely dark-haired young man with pretty smile. We can see the natural beauty of the actor (Ben Barnes), as he is shooting almost without any makeup.

However, other characters are getting older and their age can be noticeable. For example, Lady Victoria Wotton (Emilia Fox), an extremely beautiful and cute wife of Lord Henry Wotton. After 25 years Sybil has wrinkles, grey hair and eyes full of wisdom of old woman.

Lord Henry Wotton, a friend of Gray, who was leading Dorian astray, also got old. Now he looks as grandfather with a long grey beard, wrinkled forehead and manners of an old man. Basil Hallward’s beauty also met winds of time. When Gray meets him, Basil looks older, with features of mature man on his face.

Dorian’s appearance is not changing till the final scene of the movie, when Lord Henry reveals the secret of Cray’s eternal beauty – the painting, but now not with young sweet and handsome, but with old, ugly and frightening Dorian – and sets fire to the painting.

When portrait is “dying” Dorian is turning to that awful old man with wrinkles, old skin and sordid wounds on face; and the Dorian’s portrait becomes a painting of that young and good-looking man.

All in all, the importance of makeup in the movie industry is great. It is obvious that 30-year-old actor or actress cannot have appearance of a 70-year-old person, that is why visagistes use cosmetics, wigs and other methods to create specific features of characters, which will help the audience to define the character. Here comes the reason and significance of using makeup in movies.

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IvyPanda. (2019, June 3). How Does the Makeup Help to Define the Character. https://ivypanda.com/essays/how-does-the-makeup-help-to-define-the-character/

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IvyPanda . 2019. "How Does the Makeup Help to Define the Character." June 3, 2019. https://ivypanda.com/essays/how-does-the-makeup-help-to-define-the-character/.

1. IvyPanda . "How Does the Makeup Help to Define the Character." June 3, 2019. https://ivypanda.com/essays/how-does-the-makeup-help-to-define-the-character/.

Bibliography

IvyPanda . "How Does the Makeup Help to Define the Character." June 3, 2019. https://ivypanda.com/essays/how-does-the-makeup-help-to-define-the-character/.

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The Power of Makeup

Essay by fafahmui   •  April 26, 2016  •  Essay  •  368 Words (2 Pages)  •  10,217 Views

Essay Preview: The Power of Makeup

The power of makeup

Nowadays, wearing makeup is an essential part of people’s routines especially women. Make up is substances that used to enhance the appearance of the skin.  Makeup includes foundation, powder, mascara, lipstick, eye shadow and etc. people can get many benefits from wearing makeup, if they used correctly. It seems to me that the power of makeup is absolutely beneficial for human in many ways.

It has been argued that   many people use makeup as a self-esteem builder. Most of women feel more confident with at least some makeup on. For example, people always wear makeup on special occasions because they feel stronger confidence and better about their physical appearance. Therefore, wearing makeup is a powerful way to boost self-confidence.

Furthermore, people use makeup to impress society and attractive the others. It could be said that using makeup helps people get jobs and look more polished. According   to Nancy Etcoff’s research, “the speed group rated women with the most makeup the most attractive and competent, with the professional makeup job leading on liability and trustworthiness”. So, makeup can help to make a good first impression.

Most people consider that people always wear makeup because makeup can help to bring either mature or innocent looks. For instance, teenagers who want to look older may use mascara, eyeliner, lipstick, foundation and bronzer for this look and women can erase their wrinkles and fine lines by using illuminating finish powder, light concealer, dewy foundation, shimmer highlighter and proper application.  In addition, using makeup can enhance and display a personal beauty.

Some people say that wearing makeup in the long term can cause some skin problems because some makeup products made of chemical and toxic substances that dangerous for the skin. However, people will realize about the importance of the skin, makeup products and turn to take care of their skin. Moreover, a study shows that women who used makeup had less flaws and a better posture than those who never or rarely used any makeup.  

To sum up, makeup is advantageous for the users. People should be realized that makeup is signals of self-care habits. Although makeup is desirable for many people, people have to use it in proper ways and correctly.

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Product Reviews

Amika dry shampoo is awesome | important lessons on aging.

April 17th, 2024 by Karen 6 Comments

Love this stuff

My main criteria for dry shampoo is how my day-two roots feel after a few sprays. If they’re stiff and coated in a thick layer of crusty powder, forget about it! I prefer lightweight sprays that virtually disappear into the hair yet still manage to soak up any jankiness.

For years my go-to has been Oribe dry shampoo , which I think is great at doing this, but you know. Sometimes it’s nice to have dry shampoo choices, especially one that isn’t $52 (!) for a bottle.

Enter the $28 Perk Up Dry Shampoo by Amika . It just takes a few shots to oily roots to, well, perk ‘em up!

I really like this a lot. I only have to use very little, and the spray is so fine, so there’s no need for me to massage any excess product into salt-n-pepper hair.

It soaks up all the excess oil, too, without that heavy, thick feeling.

Bonus, I like the faint floral scent. Everything triggers migraines for me these days, and this is subtle enough to not.

If you’re looking for a new dry shampoo to add to your rotation, try it.

Listen to this ASAP

I’m on a Mel Robbins Podcast kick these days because her shows teach me so much good stuff! Here’s one that I found truly enlightening on menopause. I don’t know much about it, but I’d like to learn as much as I can as I move into the later stages in life. This episode covers what it is and how it’s often dismissed by the medical community, and it offers some good tips on how you can keep your body strong and healthy as it changes when you get older. I found it really helpful.

Please give it a listen if you have a chance.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

A Marvelous Makeup Cleanser and 3 Game-Changing Things for Better Mornings

April 16th, 2024 by Karen 2 Comments

I really wanted the Oat Cleansing Balm makeup remover by the Inkey List to smell like a freshly baked oatmeal cookie. Alas, it’s more like uncooked oatmeal when you first open the packaging. Kinda earthy. I don’t mind it!

This balm is a first cleanse which removes all your makeup, even waterproof. I’ve heard good things about it, but what interested me the most was the affordable price. For a pretty substantial 5-ounce tube, it’s a mere $13. You know I love a good deal!

I’ve been using it for the past few days to remove my, quote unquote, work face, which isn’t really complicated in the makeup department but does involve long-wearing eye make up products, including a water resistant mascara and a gel liner that hangs on for dear life. Side note, Rare Beauty is where it’s at, man!

Oat Cleansing Balm melts them both right off, but FYI, you like to wear liner on your waterline, I’d advise using an additional eye makeup remover, because I’ll get this temporary cloudy haze in my eyes. (That happens to me sometimes with certain cleansing balms.)

Considering the amount you get for the price, I don’t mind it. This is a great deal.

I’ve been binge listening the Mel Robbins podcast, which I stumbled onto while browsing through Spotify.

In the span of two days I’ve learned SO. MUCH. STUFF. And it’s useful!

I’ve been looking for solutions to help me not be so freaking tired all the time. Seriously, if there is a way to find even just the tiniest bit of extra energy, I’ll try it, which is what led me to this particular podcast about three things you can do to have better mornings.

Anyway, I’ve been trying these things for the past few days, and my goodness. I think it might actually work!

Oh, not gonna lie, I was terrified to try water before coffee in the morning because I love coffee so much. It’s been four days now, and I’m still standing and functioning! Anywho, give it a listen.

Have a wonderful Tuesday!

Checking In | Beauty Nerd Things on “The Morning Show” | Chanel Midnight Red Lipstick | Crazy Brussels Sprouts Stalks

November 8th, 2023 by Karen 7 Comments

Do you watch “The Morning Show” with Reese Witherspoon and Jennifer Aniston? If you do, I wonder if the episode that aired last week got your nerdy beauty wheels turning! There’s a scene towards the end where Reese’s character is in her dressing room, and numerous beauty products are displayed in the background.

Like the beauty nerd that I am, I hit pause and tried to name as many brands I could! I spy with my little eye…

• Mario Badescu
• L’Occitane

I think the tall bottles in the middle (the dark blue, periwinkle and mint green ones) are Oribe, but I’m not sure. Hmm.

Don’t ask me why these things feel like a treasure hunt, but they do!

By the way, Reese’s hair in this scene is my dream hair. Love the loose curls, love the volume, love the smoothness. I especially love how the layers around her cheekbones frame her face. Ugh, so good. I try to get there as best as I can with my hair, but I don’t want to put in the extra work to get the little spiky bits around my hairline to play nice. Ha!

The most effort I’m willing to put in is to clamp them down with these weird little flat clips and then spray them with hairspray.

BTW, I put this makeup on just for fun, and from far away it seems pretty chill, but when up close, it has more of an ’80s vibe. I’m wearing the new Chanel holiday eye palette and one of the pigmented red lipsticks, Rouge Allure L’Extrait in Midnight Red .

Connor’s home a lot this week because it’s parent-teacher conference time, which means I get to hang out with my little sidekick, just like the good old days!

We went to TJ’s in the middle of the day (what a luxury, truly) and she begged me to buy her this brussels sprouts stalk.

I’ve never seen a child so excited about vegetables! I had no idea how to pick a good stalk, so I just went with my gut and hoped for the best.

How’s your week going so far? Anything new to report on your end?

Beauty and a Book: Chanel Ballerina and “The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo”

October 25th, 2023 by Karen 7 Comments

The beauty, Chanel Le Vernis in Ballerina

Sure, everyone needs a classic nude nail polish that’s pretty and presentable, but if it can also make you feel super special when you wear it, then it’s that much more wonderful. That’s how I feel about Chanel’s iconic pale pink polish, Ballerina .

When I wear this milky pastel, which by the way, is the exact shade of pink ballet shoes, my fingernails feel bejeweled. There’s something about the creaminess and the smoothness of Ballerina that gives off a luxe vibe. Understated yet sophisticated.

Milky pastels can often be tricky because they tend to streak if you don’t have a super steady hand. This formula, though, levels out perfectly. No tell-tale stripes left behind.

I really do believe everyone should have a few beauty products on hand that make you feel extra special, and this is one of those items for me.

The book, “The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo,” by Taylor Jenkins Reid

Sometimes I just need a quick and satisfying book that’s easy to read, and this one hit the spot!

It’s about a Hollywood star and the secrets she keeps along the way in order to make it to the top of the fame game.

This book is a quick read, but the language is lovely, and Evelyn, the main character, is compelling and complicated, so I couldn’t help but pull for her along the way.

Oh, and side note, Evelyn’s daughter is named Connor. 🙂

If you want something fun and light that you can knock out on a weekend or during a long plane ride, grab this book ASAP.

Friday First Impressions: Maybelline Super Stay 24H Skin Tint

September 1st, 2023 by Karen 5 Comments

This 24H Super Stay Skin Tint seems to be everywhere lately!

Super Stay Up to 24HR Skin Tint delivers buildable light-to-medium coverage for a skin-like finish and a natural, radiant look. Vitamin C infused vegan formula brightens skin instantly and overtime. 95 percent said skin looks healthy. Resists sweat, humidity and fading. Available in 18 shades. — Maybelline.com

Buuuuuut IMHO calling it a skin tint in a stretch. When I think of skin tints, I think of sheer, glowing, barely-there finish, and I’m not getting that vibe from this product at all.

As someone who’s spent a good chuck of the last couple years wearing tints and tinted moisturizers, seeing this on my skin was kinda shocking. On my combo oily and dry face, 24H Skin Tint looks more like a medium-to-full coverage matte foundation.

Not to say that it doesn’t have good things going for it. It is HELLA long-lasting and requires absolutely no special tricks to get it to stick, even when it’s raging hot outside. I can even opt out of setting powder if I want, which is cool. It also dries down fairly quickly, too.

Oh, and the wide shade range and the fact that it’s easy to find? Definitely a plus. By the way, I wear shade 312, which is a warm medium tan with strong yellow undertones.

Ultimately, though, it’s more coverage than I’m used to wearing, and if I go even a little teeny bit overboard with the product, it starts to look heavy and my pores look very pronounced. I’m only comfortable wearing it when it’s very sheered out, like in these pics.

Makeup of the Day Featuring a New Loose Eyeshadow from Chanel Fall 2023

August 10th, 2023 by Karen 10 Comments

I feel really good in this eye makeup, and the best part about it is it took very little time and effort to pull it together.

Apparetly that’s my makeup mantra now, ha!

I’m wearing a couple tried-and-true workhorses ( a brown long-lasting gel liner from Hourglass and a plum shadow stick from Laura Mercier ) and a new loose eyeshadow from Chanel, Ombre Premiere Libre in 402 Sycomore, a pearly warm golden beige.

It’s one of six loose eyeshadows launching this month in the Chanel Fall/Winter 2023 collection, and it’s just so lovely!

From Chanel PR:

OMBRE PREMIÈRE LIBRE Loose Eyeshadow Intense, Longwearing Colour A longwearing shadow that delivers intense effects in a single swipe. Each of the 6 shades recalls the raw tones of nature, illuminated by sunlight. The creamy ultra-fine powder texture makes it easy to apply — just dab or press onto lids with the flexible sponge applicator. $40.00

If “swipe-and-go” is your style, I think you’ll like it.

It comes in a small tube with a stubby sponge applicator which deposits the perfect amount of loose shadow. I pat and swipe the sponge onto my lids exactly where I want the color; it’s very easy to precisely go where you need to, which I love. Then, I use a tapered blending brush and my fingers to diffuse the edges.

It’s similar to a MAC Loose Pigment in that you get a lot of color intensity with a small amount of product, so you don’t have to sit there and build a bunch of layers.

However, I think what kicks the Chanel version up a notch is that the powder isn’t as messy as a MAC Pigment; the Chanel version is loose enough to easily blend, but it’s not so loose that it lands on your cheekbones, your white shirt, your cat’s fur and everything else in sight.

I wore Sycomore yesterday without any eye primer and it stayed on all day. If you’re looking for feel-good eye makeup that’s long-lasting, polished and elegant, I think Sycomore is it!

Summer Beauty Buddies: Dior Backstage Concealer

August 8th, 2023 by Karen 4 Comments

It’s handy to have a full coverage concealer around, even if you don’t like wearing anything close to a full coverage base.

I bought a lovely full coverage liquid Dior Backstage Concealer in 4W at Sephora on a whim a few months ago because I liked the ever-so-slightly pearl finish and the creamy consistency.

Side note, apparently buying makeup “on a whim” is my new beauty philosophy, ha!

Anywho, while I’ve only used it a handful of times, it’s certainly delivered the goods. Lately I’ve had some uneven patches and post-inflammatory dark spots (I’m breaking out from hormones and stress, such a lovely combination), and the concealer does a fabulous job of disguising both.

If you’re searching for a concealer that hides errrrrthang without looking heavy, try the Dior!

I’m wearing it with Laura Mercier Pure Canvas Primer and Rose Inc Skin Enhance Tinted Serum in these pics.

I applied Laura Mercier Primer as a base, and then I mixed the Dior and Rose Inc Serum together and applied the combo all over my face with my fingers, concentrating on my chin and around my lips. After the base dried a little bit, I grabbed a fluffy face brush and buffed everything together for a seamless look.

Then, I took a tiny, pointed concealer brush and painted the spots where I wanted extra coverage, and softened the edges with a finger to remove any harsh lines.

At this point one could dust a little powder on to set everything, but lately, whenever I wear powder, I just feel like I have too much product on my face, and the first thing I want to do is take everything off. I guess this is what happens when you go from wearing ALL THE THINGS to NONE OF THE THINGS, which leads me to the face primer from Laura Mercier.

One could easily skip it to save a step, but I feel like if you’re going to opt out of a setting powder at the end, prepping with a primer at the start really does help to anchor all your base makeup to your face. I have combo skin and it seems to really help the makeup stay on all day, especially on my oily spots.

OK, while we’re still on the subject of makeup, I told myself at the start of the week that I’m going to wear a little bit everyday this week and take a pic of whatever ends up on my face, even if it’s not the most camera-ready look. And if the makeup looks pretty much the same bronzed look all week long, I’m just gonna lean into it, LOL! I think it’ll help put an extra pep in my step.

Hope everything is well with you, and that your week is off to a nice start. If you want to tell me something good that’s happened to you lately, I’m all ears!

Hawaii Vacation Beauty Products, Part 2

July 21st, 2023 by Karen 9 Comments

LOL to this pic of my head and this palm tree!

I was taking a sunset walk and checking to see if the eyeliner that I had applied earlier in the day — the Perfect Strokes Matte Liquid Liner by Rare Beauty — was still on.

It’s by far one of the best on-the-whim beauty buys I’ve made in a long time! It’s a liquid eyeliner with a long, flexible tip that’s very fine, so it’s easy to draw thin, precise lines — purr-fect for the tiny little kitten flicks I’ve been into lately.

I picked it up on a whim at Sephora before leaving the Bay Area, and it’s stayed on through the humidity, drizzle and, ahem, sweating like a beast glistening on a sunset walk. LOL!

Added bonus, the pigment is rich and dark, so I can scribble a quick line and flick and then be on my merry way.

I applied it earlier in the day and wore it with a cute new hat I bought from Splash Hawaii at the Kahala Mall .

Then I wore it all day, and it was still on after a long and sweaty 45-minute sunset walk.

See the tiny lil’ flick and the thin line on my upper lash line?

I love, love, love it. If you’re looking for a liquid liner that’s easy to use and stays on all day, grab it!

It’s been a while since I’ve seen an Hawaiian sunset (at least a few years), and yesterday evening Oahu reminded me just how stunning it is when the sun dips behind the horizon.

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Essays on Makeup

We found 9 free papers on makeup, essay examples, how to apply makeup.

Human Activities

Human Anatomy

This essay will give guidelines on how to apply makeup and contour your face for added depth or enhanced specific areas. To start, secure or pull back your hair to keep it away from your face. Begin by cleansing your face with warm water and an exfoliator, then rinse thoroughly before splashing cold water to…

The Physical Makeup of Neptune

Written by: Forrest Goplin-IriarteThe physical makeup of Neptune is very gaseous, it consists mainly ofhydrogen and helium, but about 2% of the planet is methane. The Voyager2 spacecraft reached Neptune in 1989 and observed a dark stormsystem with a bright core of feathery clouds. Wind speeds on Neptune reach700 miles per hour, moving in a…

Two Partial Bottles of Liquid Makeup

Advertising

American Culture

In America culture, beauty is highly desirable. Neutrogena’s ad plays upon this idea. Liquid base is a product used for a foundation of makeup on a woman’s face. This ad convinces people to buy Neutrogena liquid base because it will ‘improve clarity, texture, skin tone, and fine, lines’ (self’s). A woman’s face is an important…

Formulate and Invent Makeup Products

Entrepreneurship

Since the age of eight, I have always been fascinated by makeup. It was always one of my passions to test out new makeup products and apply makeup on myself or others to create a variety of new looks. I would always take my mother’s makeup when she wasn’t home and apply it to face…

Comparing Makeup Styles of the 1980s and the 1990s

Cosmetology

Makeup is just as important as fashion. According to Place (254), women in the 1980s began displaying individuality, experimentation, and nostalgia. However, with these experimentations came the risk of wearing too-hard-edged and artificial looks” (Astley, 468). Makeup bases became monochromatic with peachy pinks while bold eye colors and richly hued lipsticks became more playful. This…

Bare Minerals Makeup Review Paper

Beauty pageant

Beauty salon

Bare Minerals, by Bare Escentuals, is an award-winning makeup line for its 100% pure mineral foundation and other makeup products, which are made from the highest quality ingredients all free from preservatives, talc, oil, fragrance, and other chemicals that can irritate the skin and cause breakouts. My complexion is a little less than perfect. I…

Being Compelled to Use Makeup

All over the world, women from different backgrounds use makeup extensively. The cosmetic industry has experienced significant growth during the recent decades following the increased usage of makeup among women. For instances, women working in certain companies including airlines have found themselves being compelled to use makeup as a prerequisite for their employment. Conversely, the…

Classification of Makeup

Makeup can be used in many different ways. The way you apply makeup and how much of it you use can greatly alter one’s appearance. Make up can be classified into three different categories: everyday makeup, medical makeup, and theatrical makeup, based on the products used and the way it is applied. One classification of…

Makeup Artist Profession Explaining

Makeup Artist   This paper explains the profession of makeup artistry in depth and sheds light to its pros and cons along with explaining my interest in the field.     Since the dawn of civilization, one has always perceived of occupations that would give satisfaction. With passing time, occupations have changed a long way….

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Home — Essay Samples — Life — Lifestyle & Interests — Makeup

Essay Examples About Makeup

Prompt examples for makeup essays, the evolution of makeup trends.

Explore the historical evolution of makeup trends. How have makeup styles and preferences changed over the years, and what factors have influenced these changes?

Makeup as an Art Form

Discuss makeup as a form of art. How does makeup application allow individuals to express themselves creatively? Provide examples of makeup artists who have pushed the boundaries of makeup artistry.

The Influence of Celebrity Makeup

Analyze the impact of celebrities on makeup trends. How do famous individuals, such as actors, musicians, and influencers, shape the beauty industry and consumer choices?

Makeup and Self-Expression

Examine the role of makeup in self-expression. How does makeup empower individuals to convey their personalities, moods, and individuality? Share personal anecdotes or case studies to support your analysis.

The Intersection of Makeup and Gender

Explore the relationship between makeup and gender. How does makeup challenge or reinforce traditional gender norms and expectations? Discuss the evolving perspectives on makeup's role in gender identity.

Makeup in Advertising and Media

Investigate the use of makeup in advertising and media. How are beauty standards portrayed and promoted through makeup in various forms of media, and what implications does this have on society?

Ethical and Sustainable Makeup Practices

Discuss ethical and sustainable practices within the makeup industry. What are the environmental and ethical considerations associated with makeup production and consumption? Explore initiatives for eco-friendly makeup products.

Makeup's Influence on Confidence

Examine how makeup can influence an individual's self-confidence and self-esteem. Share personal stories or research findings that highlight the psychological impact of makeup on self-perception.

Cultural Significance of Makeup

Explore the cultural significance of makeup in different societies and regions. How does makeup reflect cultural values, traditions, and rituals? Provide examples from various cultures.

The Future of Makeup Technology

Discuss emerging technologies and innovations in the makeup industry. How are advancements in makeup products and application techniques shaping the future of beauty and cosmetics?

The Art of Makeup and Self-expression: Depiction of One’s Self-image Through Alternative and Traditional Media

Wearing makeup: liberating or oppressive, made-to-order essay as fast as you need it.

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The Effect of Makeup on Women Confidence

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Makeup from The Ancient Egypt to Nowadays

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Secrets The Beauty Industry Does not Want You to Know

Effects of using cosmetic that contained mercury, animal testing and alternatives for developing cruelty-free makeup, the black market for counterfeit cosmetics is booming and here is why, beauty is a blessing to women, using pathos and ethos, logos in the makeup forever and mac advertisements, bb cream: usage and benefits, young vietnamese consumers’ makeup application from reference group perspective, the art of makeup and self expression: depiction of one’s self image through alternative and traditional media, relevant topics.

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The endless amount of liquid formulas for your skin makes for an overwhelming beauty shopping experience, to say the least.

As we’re venturing into warmer temps, we’re noticing an uptick in more lightweight formulas. But, lightweight formulas shouldn’t compromise on well-balanced coverage.

That’s why our go-to product to beat the heat is the classic BB cream. Not to be confused with CC creams, tinted moisturizers , skin tints or bronzing drops .

“A BB cream is a product meant to hydrate, illuminate, protect or mattify the skin,” Ernest Robinson , a professional NYC-based makeup artist, told the New York Post. “BB cream is basically a multitasking skin care-makeup hybrid that offers sheerer coverage than foundation .”

RELATED : Best eye creams we reviewed

Uniquely, BB creams differ from tinted moisturizers “due to the fact they prime and moisturize,” Robinson told us, and also for its fuller coverage effect, compared to tinted moisturizers which don’t necessarily balance the skin with even color.

Best BB Cream Overall : tarte BB blur tinted moisturizer SPF 30

Best budget bb cream : maybelline dream bb fresh skin hydrating beauty balm, best bb cream worth the splurge : dr. jart+ premium bb beauty balm spf 40, best bb cream with spf : mdsolarsciences md mineral bb crème spf 50, best bb cream for dry skin : l’oreal paris magic skin beautifier bb cream, best bb cream for oily skin : kosas bb burst tinted gel cream.

BB creams, in some ways, double as a makeup primer and a facial SPF . Its texture, consistency and application reign supreme because of its versatility.

As a full-time beauty formulation tester who has tried virtually every brand, BB creams is finally a product category I did a deep dive into. After using them for weeks on end, I can say with confidence that they’re a staple in everyone’s makeup bag — especially for summer — and are one of the most budget-friendly items you can score in the beauty department.

• Lightweight, blends well and is buildable
• Features broad-spectrum SPF 30 to help protect against both UVA and UVB rays
• Excellent for dry skin and sensitive skin, especially
• Price point may be unreachable for some

And, the award for best BB cream goes to…the tarte BB blur tinted moisturizer SPF 30. Though a splurge, it’s one of the best formulations to achieve a well-balanced, full complexion.

When I unscrew the matte bamboo cap, the lightweight tint that disperses is not too oily or creamy. Instead, it’s a lovely matte texture that is about medium-coverage yet buildable.

The brand offers this BB cream in a rich variety of colors to match fair and dark skin tones alike. Its soft texture is even complete with broad-spectrum SPF 30 to help protect against both UVA and UVB rays. Think: your best moisturizer with SPF , but with more of an even, makeup-esque complexion.

• Excellent quality for the price point
• Hydrates the skin while offering a lightweight tint
• Buildable without looking caked on
• Limited shade variety

I’ll be honest, I don’t use drugstore beauty products all too often because my skin is so sensitive and can become acne-prone as a result. However, the Maybelline Dream BB Fresh Skin Hydrating Beauty Balm completely blows it out of the water, especially because it doesn’t clog my pores and compares with more expensive BB creams I’ve tested.

With more than 19,000 rave reviews on Amazon alone, it has reached peak best-seller status . Interestingly enough, it’s labeled as a beauty balm, and it feels exactly that before it’s fully blended. It’s also one of the quickest to blend. Whenever I’m rushing out the door, it’s the sheer tint I need.

• Features broad-spectrum SPF 40 to help protect against both UVA and UVB rays
• Helps hydrate dry skin
• Includes niacinamide to make the skin feel more hydrated and supple
• Doesn’t last as long as some others tested

For a premium BB cream that borders on a lightweight foundation, the Dr. Jart+ Premium BB Beauty Balm SPF 40 is yours for the taking. It’s a dermatologist’s dream, too, as it contains the recommended ingredient niacinamide and sun protection — just like your favorite facial sunscreens .

Because the shades blend onto my skin so well, the brand can get away with only offering four shades. I love how its creamy finish offers a natural result, too, and this is one of my most-used options, by far. I love how it feels like second skin while feeling like my favorite skincare products at the same time.

• Oil-free and non-comedogenic, so it doesn’t clog pores
• One of the most long-lasting BB creams tested
• Great for mitigating redness and discoloration

I’ve been a fan of MDSolarSciences for quite some time and its MD Mineral BB Crème SPF 50 is one of my tried-and-true beach bag essentials. While plenty of BB creams on this list offer sun protection, the brand is renowned for its SPF offerings I love to use, like the Daily Perfecting Moisturizer SPF 30 ($68) and Mineral Moisture Defense SPF 50 ($41).

As for this product specifically, it’s oil-free while offering a quite long-lasting tint. Also epic? Its ability to mute redness and discoloration. My mom who has vitiligo loves using this cream for discoloration and I love it as well as I’m highly sensitive to sun spots. Plus, it was developed by dermatologists and worth every penny.

• Most hydrating BB cream tested
• Offers a sensational, well-balanced finish
• Doesn’t include SPF

The L’Oreal Paris Magic Skin Beautifier BB Cream is the closest formulation to a balm that I tested. It’s the epitome of a glowy base as it primes and hydrates in tandem. With its price point added to the mix, it’s pretty much a home run.

For a drugstore product, this BB cream wins the game. It offers a well-balanced look and even finish while giving my skin a natural glow each time. If you’re new to BB cream, I’d recommend starting with this one.

• Has the most extensive shade selection among any BB cream on the market
• Vegan and cruelty-free
• Includes copper peptides to support collagen production
• Not the best for acne-prone skin as it may clog pores

Relatively new and already TikTok-buzzy, the Kosas BB Burst Tinted Gel Cream hit the market of lightweight skin cover-ups that excel in both quality and longevity.

What’s great about this BB cream is its consistency. The reason I’d recommend it for oily skin in particular is because it almost bounces when it’s applied, helping to draw out sweat and moisture from the skin. However, my dry skin is quite hydrated all day.

I also love how it includes copper peptides to support collagen production, which will do your skin some good. However, I wouldn’t recommend it for acne-prone skin as it tends to clog my pores sometimes and may cause minor breakouts.

How we tested

After testing BB creams for at least three months and foundations, skin tints and tinted moisturizers for up to four years, here’s the testing criteria I kept in mind for each formulation:

• Price : Regardless of budget, there’s no sense in splurging for a high-end BB cream if it won’t last for hours. Though a good BB cream is worth the investment, I kept the price in mind for each product tested.
• Hourly check-ins : Every hour on the hour, I looked in the mirror and checked my face to ensure there were no signs of the liquid foundation wearing off my skin or looking caked on.
• Ease of application : I took note of how easy it was to apply and blend.
• Shade selection : Though I have fair skin, it’s important to detail if each brand has a realistic, extensive selection of darker shades and peachy and olive undertones. This information is rated for each product below.
• Consistency : I tested each BB cream with the same  concealer , bronzer and blush each day — all of which I’ve been using for years. This ensures there wasn’t an outside variable impacting how each foundation looked.
• Noteworthy features : From iconic packaging to its creaminess and smooth feel, I jotted down anything that stood out to me.

Why Trust Post Wanted by the New York Post

This article was written by Victoria Giardina , New York Post Commerce Journalist & Content Strategist, who has spent countless hours researching, testing hundreds of products and comparing the latest and greatest makeup, skincare, hair and beauty items and trends to determine what’s truly worth your hard-earned cash. She evaluates formulas, textures, ingredients and more, in addition to consulting medical and industry experts. Some of Victoria’s latest conquests include reviewing the viral Korean beauty brand, Cosrx , and testing dermatologist-recommended acne cleansers . Victoria has been creating shopping guides for the New York Post since 2021 and previously held positions at Insider Reviews and CNN Underscored.

Hunting for a headline-worthy haul? Keep shopping with Post Wanted .

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Language of Wars, genocides, and Conflict

WE ARE LOOKING FOR ESSAYS, REVIEWS, RESPONSES, POETRY, PROSE, AND VISUAL ART

Our engagement and  consideration of conflicts , both national and international, has undoubtedly changed in the 21st century, especially in recent years. With the aid of  media and modern technology , individuals and communities have a bigger space and opportunity to respond to  geopolitical events  which are both geographically far away and yet have never been closer.

Responses to  political conflicts, wars, and genocides,  however, must be  approached critically  together with the recognition of different roles and agents (such as international organisations, alliances or foreign governments), both current and past,  that shape the image, portrayal, and study  of these events.

In recent years, the rise of often  simplified mass media responses  (e.g. victim blaming or revisionism) to various painful historical events in human history has led to  a misuse of language  regarding such events as well as alleviation, conscious or not, of the atrocities occurring in our present and our past.

The language that is used to respond to political conflicts, acts of terrorism, wars, and crimes against humanity, however, should be challenged with the understanding that aggression of one country/ ethnicity/ religion/ group of individuals against another must be addressed appropriately with aggressor-victim dichotomy and not ambiguously.

ISSUES OF LANGUAGE AND TERMINOLOGY | COMMUNAL MEMORY AND GENERATIONAL | EXPERIENCE OF WAR CULTURAL GUILT AND VICTIM BLAMING | FRAGMENTATION OF NARRATIVES | GENOCIDE AND HUMANITARIANISM | POLITICAL DIALOGUES | RESOLUTIONS AND AFTERMATHS | INDIVIDUAL AND COMMUNAL VIOLENCE | JOURNALISM AND POPULISM DURING CONFLICT

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A charming look at a reader’s many moods

Elisa Gabbert’s essays in “Any Person Is the Only Self” are brimming with pleasure and curiosity about a life with books.

Tell people you read and write for a living, and they picture a ghostly creature, an idea only incidentally appended to a body. What they often fail to understand is that the life of the mind is also a physical life — a life spent lugging irksomely heavy volumes around on the Metro and annotating their margins with a cramping hand. The poet, essayist and New York Times poetry columnist Elisa Gabbert is rare in grasping that reading is, in addition to a mental exercise, a movement performed in a particular place.

“If I remember anything about a book, I also remember where I read it — what room, what chair,” she writes in her charming new essay collection, “ Any Person Is the Only Self .” Writing, too, proves spatial: “I think essays, like buildings, need structure and mood. The first paragraph should function as a foyer or an antechamber, bringing you into the mood.”

The 16 delightfully digressive pieces in this collection are all moods that involve books in one way or another. But they are not just about the content of books, although they are about that, too: They are primarily about the acts of reading and writing, which are as much social and corporeal as cerebral.

In the first essay — the foyer — Gabbert writes about the shelf of newly returned books at her local library. “The books on that shelf weren’t being marketed to me,” she writes. “They weren’t omnipresent in my social media feeds. They were very often old and very often ugly. I came to think of that shelf as an escape from hype.” The haphazard selections on the shelf were also evidence of other people — the sort of invisible but palpable community of readers that she came to miss so sharply during the pandemic.

In another essay, she learns of a previously unpublished story by one of her favorite authors, Sylvia Plath, who makes frequent appearances throughout this book. Fearing that the story will disappoint her, Gabbert puts off reading it. As she waits, she grows “apprehensive, even frightened.”

There are writers who attempt to excise themselves from their writing, to foster an illusion of objectivity; thankfully, Gabbert is not one of them. On the contrary, her writing is full of intimacies, and her book is a work of embodied and experiential criticism, a record of its author’s shifting relationships with the literature that defines her life. In one piece, she rereads and reappraises books she first read as a teenager; in another, she and her friends form a “Stupid Classics Book Club,” to tackle “all the corny stuff from the canon that we really should have read in school but never had.”

Gabbert is a master of mood, not polemic, and accordingly, her writing is not didactic; her essays revolve around images and recollections rather than arguments. In place of the analytic pleasures of a robustly defended thesis, we find the fresh thrills of a poet’s perfected phrases and startling observations. “Parties are about the collective gaze, the ability to be seen from all angles, panoramically,” she writes in an essay about fictional depictions of parties. She describes the photos in a book by Rachael Ray documenting home-cooked meals — one of the volumes on the recently returned shelf — as “poignantly mediocre.” Remarking on a listicle of “Books to Read by Living Women (Instead of These 10 by Dead Men),” Gabbert wonders, “Since when is it poor form to die?”

“Any Person Is the Only Self” is both funny and serious, a winning melee of high and low cultural references, as packed with unexpected treasures as a crowded antique shop. An academic text on architecture, the Austrian poet Rainer Maria Rilke, a rare memory disorder whose victims recall every aspect of their autobiographies in excruciatingly minute detail, “Madame Bovary,” YouTube videos about people who work as professional cuddlers, a psychological study about whether it is possible to be sane in an insane asylum — all these feature in Gabbert’s exuberant essays. She is a fiercely democratic thinker, incapable of snobbery and brimming with curiosity.

Perhaps because she is so indefatigably interested, she gravitates toward writers who see literature as a means of doubling life, allowing it to hold twice as much. Plath confessed in her journals that she wrote in an attempt to extend her biography beyond its biological terminus: “My life, I feel, will not be lived until there are books and stories which relive it perpetually in time.” The very act of keeping a diary, then, splits the self in two.

Plath once insisted that bad things could never happen to her and her peers because “we’re different.” Gabbert asks “Different why?” and concludes that everyone is different: “We are we , not them. Any person is the only self.” But that “only” is, perhaps counterintuitively, not constrained or constricted. Walt Whitman famously wrote that his only self comprised “multitudes,” and Gabbert echoes him when she reflects, “If there is no one self, you can never be yourself, only one of your selves.” And indeed, she is loath to elevate any of her many selves over any of the others. When she rereads a book that she loved in her adolescence, she thinks she was right to love it back then. “That self only knew what she knew,” she writes. “That self wasn’t wrong .” Both her past self and her present self have an equal claim to being Elisa Gabbert, who is too fascinated by the world’s manifold riches to confine herself to a single, limited life.

Becca Rothfeld is the nonfiction book critic for The Washington Post and the author of “All Things Are Too Small: Essays in Praise of Excess.”

Any Person Is the Only Self

By Elisa Gabbert

FSG Originals. 230 pp. $18, paperback.

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Guest Essay

I Supervised New York City Judges. Juan Merchan Put On a Master Class in the Trump Trial.

By George Grasso

Mr. Grasso is a retired New York City administrative judge.

I spent almost 13 years as a judge in Brooklyn, Queens and the Bronx. I supervised judges presiding over a wide spectrum of cases, dealing with complex legal issues, angry victims, difficult defendants and intense media scrutiny. The job can at times be thankless and frustrating.

But for all the cases I saw, I never encountered anything remotely as challenging as what Justice Juan Merchan faced in his Manhattan courtroom while presiding over the first criminal trial of a former president. And since Donald Trump was found guilty on 34 counts, Justice Merchan has come under further vicious attack.

As a retiree, I was able to attend each day of the Trump trial. What I saw was a master class in what a judge should be — how one can serve fairly and impartially for the prosecution and the defense, and above all remain a pillar for the rule of law in America.

Since the indictment over the cover-up of hush-money payments was issued last year, Justice Merchan has been subjected to an unrelenting pressure campaign. The defendant, Mr. Trump, and his supporters viciously attacked the judge and his family in deeply personal terms. Most judges strive to maintain their composure under the greatest of stress, but few succeed — yet Justice Merchan remained cool, calm and collected at every step of the trial.

As a supervising judge, I always emphasized the importance of maintaining control to those under my charge. That is how a judge ensures that all defendants — especially the most difficult ones — get a fair trial. That is how everyone is treated with courtesy and how rulings are evenhanded and fair. In this area, Justice Merchan excelled.

He issued a gag order carefully designed to protect witnesses, jurors, prosecutors and court staff, but left himself out of the order. He did this to ensure that the defendant’s right to harshly criticize the proceedings was protected even though he must have known that he would become an even greater target of Mr. Trump’s ire. When Mr. Trump repeatedly violated the order, Justice Merchan bent over backward to avoid sending the defendant to jail, despite a clear legal justification to do so.

It is hard for me to think of another defendant acting out in the same manner who would have received such lenient treatment. But special times — and special trials — sometimes call for special measures. A judge needs to know when to apply such measures.

In the course of the trial, he maintained his composure. Defense attorneys received many favorable rulings, and in some instances (like during the testimony of Stormy Daniels) he even made and sustained objections on behalf of the defense during direct examination. On other occasions, when Mr. Trump engaged in particularly objectionable behavior (like muttering curses about a testifying witness), he calmly called one of the defense attorneys to the bench to put a stop to the inappropriate behavior. Other judges might have called out the behavior directly, embarrassing Mr. Trump in front of the jury, which could be seen as prejudicial to the defendant.

I can’t think of one time when the judge interjected himself unnecessarily against either prosecution or defense, but not everyone agrees with that. In a recent New York Post opinion piece , for example, the lawyer Alan Dershowitz referred to “one of the most remarkable wrongheaded biases I have ever seen” regarding Justice Merchan’s handling of the defense witness Robert Costello’s behavior.

Maintaining order and fairness in a courtroom is not bias; it is how justice is served, and it is no easy thing to obtain.

Since the verdict, Republicans have unleashed further attacks against Justice Merchan. One Arizona Republican running for a House seat called Justice Merchan “a corrupt and biased political operative” and said that he “must be disbarred and prosecuted.”

Let’s be clear, these attacks are not really about Justice Merchan. They are direct attacks on our entire system of justice. As President Biden said in remarks concerning this case on Friday afternoon, they are reckless, dangerous and irresponsible.

However, I do agree with Mr. Dershowitz’s position in that same opinion essay that we should televise trials in New York State, so all could see for themselves what I saw every day and what he saw on the day he was there. For most Americans who followed the case, all they were able to see has come from media gaggles outside the courtroom.

Justice Merchan had to set a boundary between Mr. Trump’s raucous but protected speech (barring transgressions of the gag order) and the fact-based evidentiary and back-and-forth questioning that is central to a trial. By guarding that boundary, he protected the integrity of the rule of law.

I am aware of the deep divisions in our country as to the wisdom and strength of this case. But I am certain that Americans were well served by Justice Merchan.

George Grasso is a retired New York City administrative judge and a former Police Department first deputy commissioner.

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