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Is it Okay For Christian Women to Wear Makeup?

Young women today face unreasonable pressure to fit a standard of beauty that’s physically impossible, and advertisers know this. It’s what makes beauty a multibillion-dollar industry year after year. Every woman, young and old, wants to be beautiful and desirable in some way, leading us to fill our bathroom counters with skincare and beauty products.

But is it okay for Christian women to wear makeup, or are we just falling for another of the world’s temptations? What does the Bible say about makeup?

If you’re on my blog because of this question, you’re in good company. This post is one of my top ten for organic traffic. So let’s consider the question: Is wearing makeup a sin?

[Disclaimer for teens: The advice I in this article—while thoroughly considered through a Biblical lens—should never override any rules your parents have about makeup. If their restrictions go further than what I suggest, you should always heed their expectations. But consider using this post as an opening to a conversation on this topic. (Also, check out my post A Teen’s Guide to Understanding Parents.)

Lauren Thell, author of YA Christian Fiction

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What Does the Bible Say About Makeup?

Let’s cut right to the main question: Is wearing makeup a sin?

The Bible does not specifically say a lot about makeup. But it does talk about beauty, modesty, and self-control. Proverbs 31:30 says beauty is fleeting. 1 Peter 3:3 discourages seeking beauty in elaborate adornments. 1 Timothy 2:9 encourages modesty, decency, and propriety. And Proverbs 11:22 says, “Like a gold ring in a pig’s snout is a beautiful woman who shows no discretion. “

No woman wants to be likened to a pig wearing jewelry!

God doesn’t just give us a bunch of “do nots” in his Word.

But God doesn’t just give us a bunch of “do nots” in his Word. Proverbs 31:30 continues by saying, “but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.” The next verse after 1 Peter 3:3 says your beauty “should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight.” And 1 Timothy 2:10 urges women to clothe themselves “with good deeds, appropriate for women who profess to worship God.” 

So. Is wearing makeup a sin? God does not expressly prohibit the use of makeup. He’s more concerned with matters of the heart, and in that vein, makeup can be used to encourage sin. But it’s not an automatic contraband.

Breathe a sigh of relief and keep reading.

My Personal Journey With Makeup

For years, I shunned all makeup. Except for the occasional girls’ night makeover with my friends, I rarely wore any in high school or college—not even to prom or my senior recital. It’s not that I had perfect skin. On the contrary, I was very acne-prone and self-conscious.

I saw makeup as deceptive. I knew people who wore so much makeup they were completely unrecognizable without it, and I swore never to become that person. So, I restricted my makeup use severely.

is it okay for Christian women to wear makeup

On my wedding day, however, I went all out. My cousins—makeup experts by comparison—did up my face, which was so much fun. They did a great job, too, so I can still look at my wedding pictures with fondness and not horror.

These days, I wear makeup for real. More on that in a minute.

When Christian Women Should Not Wear Makeup

Used this way, makeup becomes like a Superman costume, concealing the true identity of the person beneath.

I once heard of a woman so afraid of being seen without makeup that she wore it to bed just in case there was an emergency at midnight. This is extreme and unhealthy. Used this way, makeup becomes like a Superman costume, concealing the true identity of the person beneath.

The person God created.

If you’ve fallen into the mindset that your beauty comes from what you put on your body, take a step back. God wants you to concentrate on perfecting inner beauty, not on faking outer beauty.

Check out Psalm 139:14:

“I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.”

You are a work of God, and all of God’s works are wonderful. Even with your flaws—which perhaps include imperfect skin or extra pounds—you are wonderfully, uniquely beautiful simply because you are God’s creation. God gave you a beauty that does not require adornment or conformation to the standards of any culture. When you seek beauty, seek it as Psalm 27 would have you seek it:

One thing I ask from the Lord, this only do I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his temple.

Check out these posts if self-esteem due to a negative body image is a big issue for you:

When Is It Okay For Christian Women to Wear Makeup?

I still don’t wear makeup every day but I wear it often enough to finally have a routine and a few products on hand. Why start after all these years of shunning it?

Because I want to be at my best when I serve God out in the world.

Don’t misunderstand me: God does NOT require makeup, and I can serve him effectively without it. But there are times when makeup can be used to enhance your service to God.

1) Makeup Can Get You in the Right Mindset

I have found that when I have a hard time getting motivated to do something, makeup helps me get into the mindset to serve. I wash my face, I brush my teeth, I fix my hair, I do my makeup. I’m putting my best foot forward and giving God the best of me. In that way, it’s not much different from washing with sweet-smelling soap or drinking power smoothies.

Makeup should not be used as a crutch for crippled self-esteem but it can be a boost for the occasional blues. It’s something you have control over.

(FYI, on the days I don’t have a problem getting up and tackling the day’s tasks, I don’t wear makeup.)

2) Makeup Can Get Those Around You In the Right Mindset

Have you ever gone to a recital or important presentation where the musician or speaker is wearing ripped jeans and smells like old cat litter? What does it do to your level of respect for that person? What does it say about that person’s respect for his/her work?

This is a tricky balancing act because while you shouldn’t wear makeup to be deceptive or bandage a cracked self-image, you also need to put in the effort to earn credibility. If the occasion calls for you to dress up and lead in some capacity, makeup can help you create an overall package of respectability. A little mascara can make you appear bright-eyed and alert, infusing your audience, coworkers, classmates, or whoever with excitement for whatever it is you’re trying to accomplish.

What’s the Verdict: Can Christians Wear Makeup?

If you’re looking for a black-and-white, one-size-fits-all answer, I’m sorry but you won’t find that here. This is one of those areas the Christian discernment mentioned in Philippians 1 comes into play.

Makeup is like money. The item itself is not sinful, but how you use it can be.

Makeup is like money. The item itself is not sinful, but how you use it can be. If you’re having a bad skin day or just need a little mental boost to prepare yourself for a big day, a little makeup is not a bad thing.

If, however, you can’t imagine leaving the house or your dorm room without it, then it controls you. And if your bathroom counter is buried under tubes of lipstick and palette after palette of eye shadows and you plaster all these things on your face every day, there’s a problem.

In that case, I recommend going on a makeup fast for a few weeks, where you wear none at all. During that time, spend ample amounts of time in the Bible and in prayer. Ask God to set your heart on the right path. See my post Priceless: Hope for Young Christians Struggling With Low Self-Esteem.

The Right Question to Ask

The right question to ask at this point is not Is it okay for Christian women to wear makeup? but How can I honor God with this? How are you honoring God with your life? Are you using makeup to honor yourself or to present yourself as God’s servant? Is outward appearance an obsession for you or is it another tool to help you do your best for him? 

For more on honoring God with your life, check out Let Your Life Be a Glimpse of God’s Glory and The Holy Teenage Life: Real Faith, Real Happiness.

How to Wear Makeup in a God-Honoring Way

After you’ve checked out the above posts on honoring God with your life, consider the conditions under which makeup would assist you in glorifying God, and go from there. My makeup routine is very basic: eye shadow and mascara, foundation and blush when I need it. (I never could get used to the feeling of anything on my lips.) But there are lots of God-honoring ways to wear makeup.

If you’ve decided to give it a try—or rethink your current use of makeup—read this post from GirlDefined: How to Wear Makeup in a Feminine and God Honoring Way.

Let everything you do point to Jesus!

More Resources For Christian Girls

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Makeup use as a Christian girl is a very complex topic so don’t feel bad if you’re still uncertain after reading this post. I encourage you to talk to an older Christian to help you determine if makeup has a place in your toolbox. Don’t overlook Dad or Grandpa for advice. Men have a unique perspective that might shed some light on your confusion.

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