I want to say it’s more of a creative outlet for me because I really love wearing makeup, period, whether that’s at home just for me or not, but often, it is more functional day-to-day since it is about testing and reviewing.
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I would say makeup for me is a creative outlet as well. It’s so calming just to be able to sit at a mirror and work for hours (I need the practice) on a particular look. And there is no better feeling than when you pull back from the mirror and see that you nailed the eye look you were going for.
Cynthia
Functional. I wear makeup to look my best, not to achieve some sort of artistic expression. I was going to say I get my artistic expression via sewing my own clothes although, to be honest, almost everything I make features simple lines and shapes and, for the most part, solid colours and is also functional (I could probably throw 6 items into a satchel and travel for a week; my makeup, skin and hair care would take up more room than my clothing!)
Creative for sure. Makeup is art supplies for my face 🤩
I find it hard to draw a distinction. I love applying makeup and I wear a full face everyday, even if I am not leaving home. But it helps me feel better about myself mentally because I ah e a need to present a more perfect version of myself and to me, that is more functional than creative.
Edited to add that I don’t think I am very creative myself and I rely on the creativity of others whose looks I copy or adapt.
Creative for sure! A way to begin the day with a small pleasure and in relaxing way! In fact most of my daily makeup is limited on the ‘part’ (eyes, lips, highlighter)… And I don’t care so much if the colour used are the best for my skintone or underone or no. Very rarely, only in some occasions, I use the more functional part of makeup (concealer, base)… Or if something very bad occurs to my skin (aka: a couple of months ago the mask caused me ugli acne in the lower part of the face)
Some parts are boring and functional (mascara, concealer, foundation, brow gel) and others are super fun and creative! Well, colored mascara goes in the fun category, too, but black mascara is more of a necessary step I do so that my eyes don’t look weird when I put on a bunch of shadow. I love choosing the colors of various products to use and experimenting with different combinations!
Both. I have severe allergies and rosacea, so leaving my face uncovered and at the mercy of the elements is not good. Foundation is absolutely essential, even if I’m staying at home and now that I’m older, brows are pretty functional too. The rest of my face is a creative outlet when I have the time — I do have a go-to face I do when I’m working, just because I don’t have the time in the mornings to fuss with it. The only good thing about the pandemic has been having more time at home to practice my looks.
More functional in the sense that it makes me feel ready to face the outside world looking decent.
More of a creative outlet because I enjoy putting together unexpected color combos.
So both?
Functional, but not in the sense it’s a “necessity”. The simplest way to explain it is, I look at makeup as an accessory, much like a pair of earrings; it’s not necessary, but it completes an outfit. While clothing has a universal purpose, we all have individual aesthetics, and even when I’m required to limit my choices (ie, uniform, dress code, etc…), I can often find a bit of “wiggle room” when it comes to makeup, and that’s where I tend to get a bit “creative”. While I may not be able to get by with a more “unconstitutional” lip, I can always find a way to sneak in a red eyeliner, more “extreme” technique using subtler eyeshadow shades, or throwing on a bit of a duochrome highlighter.
If I can be loose about what passes for creative, then both. Definitely use it to look better, but love to try out different colors, textures, techniques and combos – but it’s all pretty subtle at this point. Partly a feature of age & experience, partly a feature of my taste.
Same. I am much more strategic about placement, textures and colors these days.
I don’t have a job that requires make-up nor do I wear make-up because I need to, but I’m also not the most creative when it comes to make-up (most likely I’m the least 😅)… so at this point I don’t know how to choose between the two.
I just love wearing make-up, even if it’s the same boring look with the same products I keep repurchasing again and again.
Makeup is both a creative and functional outlet for me – I love wearing makeup and combining shades to create an effect that I like and that suits me, both in eyeshadows and lipsticks. In lockdown, it was one of the most enjoyable events of the day. I like the range of beautiful colours that I have and how they play out on my eyes and lips.
It is also functional too – I have always worn makeup to work and it helped me to have my ‘professional face ‘ on and deal with the day. And although I am now retired, I still feel that it makes my day.
When I’m painting a piece of wood or a picture on paper and then I go to put my makeup on it feels like a natural transition I’m just painting on, and using a different medium so it’s definitely creative. It’s all in the prep work too!
100% creative for me.
Its the only thing I have for myself. I rarely leave the house with make up on since I can’t get the two eyes to look the same, haha. But practice makes perfect!
Sadly I’m a perfectionist, sooo that leaves me rarely 100% pleased. So all in all, its just art for my face that I can take pictures of and share to mostly my mum and make up buddies. ^_^
I actually go bare faced a lot so most makeup falls into the fun category but I will use things like foundation or BB cream that are functional in that their job is to help me achieve the kind of skin look I want – mainly to tone down the redness when I’m tired of looking at it. Everything on top of that is strictly because I had fun putting it there. I wouldn’t call makeup personally creative though, rather I find it relaxing because of the sensory aspect to it. It helps me get out of my head for a while, whereas when I’m feeling creative I’m very much in a thinking place and tend to forget about everything else.
Honestly Both. Especially as red as my face gets I am not comfortable “running around” with out it covered up. As far as the eye looks that is the creative part for me. So depending on the day it can be one or the other or both…… Wow I am a complex person can’t pick just one 🙂