One woman’s dramatic before and after makeup photos have sparked an online debate about whether wearing makeup is deceitful.
The images, posted on Reddit by makeup artist Melissa Murphy, show the complete transformation of an unidentified woman using every day cosmetics.
The woman’s pale skin, freckles, blemishes and acne scars are replaced by a flawless complexion, chiselled cheekbones, big doe eyes, sculpted eyebrows and a seemingly thinner face and nose.
“Makeup. That’s it,” the caption reads.
The dramatic makeover sparked a furious debate among Reddit users who said using makeup to improve your looks was tantamount to a “betrayal”.
“The girl in the photo is apparently not satisfied with the way she looks without makeup and uses makeup to artificially portray a person more people would find attractive,” user plokoonismyfave wrote.
“If a guy wore prosthetic muscles under a long-sleeve shirt (a la Superman costumes), you would likely feel as if you had been deceived, regardless of what you thought of the person.”
Another user, RG150, agreed, writing: “I think it is deceitful, men go for looks, and for most looks are an important aspect of your potential partner.
“It’s actually difficult in identifying those two pictures as the same person! It’s not just a slight difference, it’s massive.
“Women who plaster themselves with makeup are only putting themselves under pressure to keep hiding their true selves.”
But others disagreed, insisting it was a woman’s prerogative to wear as much or as little makeup as they liked.
“To me it’s like putting clothes on that suit my shape,” one user, SJ3, said. “I put my makeup on to enhance my features and because I love makeup. I don’t think it makes you any less of a woman if you wear makeup. If you don’t like it, lump it.”
Another, Kate, pointed out that this was an extreme example as most women do not use makeup to such an extreme.
“These pictures are a bit unfair because most women don’t make such a dramatic transformation,” Kate wrote. “This isn’t really indicative of the norm. Most women don’t have professional makeup artists doing their makeup so most won’t be able to achieve this.”
Perhaps the most insightful comment came from Lolo, who pointed out that women are criticised no matter what they do because society is “bitter, nasty and image-obsessed”.
“I find the comments ironic as everyone says a woman should take pride in her appearance and look her best every time she goes out and then people say it’s all lies and a mask,” Lolo said. You can’t win. Too many bitter nasty people out there. Shallow, spiteful and image obsessed.”
