What Does The Bible Say About Makeup

What does the Bible say nigh makeup? Is information technology wrong to desire to modify or heighten our appearance through the utilize of a little mascara or blush? It's been an age-one-time question that has many women and young girls confused, oppressed, and shamed for wanting to look beautiful. I view makeup as a tool. And like any tool, it depends on how it'due south used and the intentions within my center.

I am 100% a girly girl. I've always loved mode, makeup, and hair. Wearing a certain shade of eyeshadow, a cute elevation tin can accentuate the natural beauty God gave me. I always want to expect my best simply growing upwards I was given mixed letters from both men and women almost my makeup, style, and dress.

One detail conversation comes to mind when a pastor's wife pulled me aside as a new youth coming to church building on Wednesday nights told me that makeup is the devil's fashion of young girls getting the incorrect attention. At the fourth dimension, I had only used concealer and mascara. I was told because I used makeup and highlighted my hair, I looked like a prostitute instead of a fresh-faced teenage girl. This was the first of many confusing messages I received as a young adult female. Either my makeup made me look too grown up, seductive, or not feminine enough.

After, when I met my husband, he taught me simply how beautiful I am without makeup, cute hair, or fancy clothes. His favorite thing is when I wear makeup with a messy bun and a t-shirt. To brand an attempt is a manner to show him I dear him. On the flip side, this is the same human who loves seeing me in my natural art class when we work out, run early morning time errands, or go hunting. My married man taught me to view myself through the lens of God who created me with usa care and wonder. I learned my identity isn't in the right shade of foundation, but my identity is firmly found in my Creator God.

The signal? No matter how women apply makeup or wearable wearing apparel, we live in a culture that criticizes women. Gendered expectations around appearance vary drastically from church to church or community to community depending on the civilisation. Merely the information shows that, regardless of the environment, women confront more scrutiny than men about how they expect and what they wear. One study found that on boilerplate women spend about 3276 on preparation whereas men will spend 1,092. The additional amount of time equates to x total working days. That's a lot of actress time and energy to put into something that is supposed to make us feel better nearly ourselves. Only it tin often lead us off-target.

Is it a Sin to Wear Makeup?

Some Christians believe it is wrong for women to habiliment makeup, citing passages that seem to prohibit it. These people also believe a adult female shouldn't braid their hair nor wear annihilation but skirts or dresses. While we want to alive our lives in a way that respects and honors God, we must exist careful our views and opinions that do not get across the Word of God actuallysays. It is a sin to teach man-fabricated ideas as commands from God (Marking 7:7).

A glance as the nearest mag rack is likely all the evidence you need to know our culture values beauty, seduction, and a amuse over godliness. Simply it's not but our culture. Women have been altering their advent since the start of fourth dimension when Eve forth with her husband covered their bodies with leaves.

In fact, the first use of makeup can be traced back to 7,000 years ago with the ancient Egyptians. Archeologists have even establish canisters of makeup in tombs. Researchers think Cleopatra used lip color created from ground ruby-red beetles for hue.

Photo Credit: © Getty Images/jacoblund

What Does the Bible Say nigh Makeup?

Biblically speaking, we can find a few passages about beauty rituals and makeup. When Esther entered the palace, she went through a twelvemonth-long beauty ritual for purification and cosmetics.

Each young woman's plow came to get in to Rex Ahasuerus later she had completed twelve months' training, according to the regulations for the women, for thus were the days of their preparation apportioned: 6 months with oil of myrrh, and six months with perfumes and preparations for beautifying women (Esther 2:12, NKJV).

The NIV translates the passage as:

Before a young woman's turn came to go in to Rex Xerxes, she had to complete twelve months of dazzler treatments prescribed for the women, six months with oil of myrrh and six with perfumes and cosmetics.

When it comes to how women beautify themselves, at that place are few verses almost makeup or cosmetics. The passages we do find are warnings and words of wisdom to remind usa God doesn't care well-nigh our outward appearance only what is within our hearts. We would practise well to recall Proverbs 31:20, "Amuse is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised."

The passages we exercise find (one Timothy 2:nine-x, Jeremiah 4:30, 1 Peter 3:3-4) have one common thread, it'due south the intent of why we beautify ourselves in the showtime place. We notice that God isn't opposed to women looking beautiful. We find God is opposed to women looking seductive and worldly.

Having the Right Intentions

To answer the question 'what does the Bible say about makeup,' we demand to address the intention behind the utilize of makeup. What intentions do yous accept when you get dressed for church, the gym, or work? What thoughts run through your mind when you're planning a night out with your friends? Are you lot dressing to print others or is your identity found in God? We must call up where our true identity lies. Our worth is found in Christ. When we forget, nosotros leave ourselves open to believing the lies of the globe: "I'grand ugly without makeup." "I'one thousand not pretty plenty." "I'chiliad non equally pretty as her." God also crafted our center in His likeness. He wants our identity, confidence, and security to come from the foundation as His daughter—not how nosotros enhance our looks. Every bit the scripture states, God "looks at the hidden person of the heart", and that is "very precious in the sight of God."

As cliché as information technology sounds, God does care about your outward advent, but He cares well-nigh your heart more. He carefully crafted and wove you together in your female parent'south womb. He took intendance to create your center color, the hue of your pilus, and even planned how you would look right downwardly to the very placement of your freckles.

When we put on makeup, we need to careful that it doesn't get an idol. Scripture warns us that nosotros should never focus then much on the exterior appearance at the price of neglecting our insides. When we do—it leads to more believe more lies, creates self-worth bug, and more than sin.

one Peter 3:3-4 "Your dazzler should not come up from outward beautification, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine wearing apparel. Rather, it should exist that of your inner cocky, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight."

1 Corinthians half-dozen:12 "I have the correct to do anything," you lot say–but not everything is beneficial. "I have the right to do annihilation"–but I will not be mastered past anything."

Ephesians 3:17-xix: "I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord'due south holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the honey of Christ, and to know this dear that surpasses knowledge—that you lot may exist filled to the measure out of all the fullness of God."

As daughters of God, we are free to wear makeup so long as we do then with pure motives. Always remember God cares so much nearly the beauty of your soul. He wants u.s. to wearing apparel ourselves in His dear and grapheme and then that nosotros reverberate Him. Ultimately, we are His masterpieces—His creations. He is the ultimate artist who fashioned us and called united states, "very proficient."

Heather Riggleman is a believer, wife, mom, author, social media consultant, and total-time writer. She lives in Minden, Nebraska with her kids, loftier school sweetheart, and iii cats who are her entourage around the homestead. She is a former award-winning journalist with over two,000 articles published. She is full of grace and grit, raw honesty, and truly believes tacos tin solve just about any situation. You tin find her on GodUpdates, iBelieve, Crosswalk, Hello Darling, Focus On The Family unit, and in Brio Magazine. Connect with her at www.HeatherRiggleman.com or on Facebook.