Spiritually, for some, makeup is a cover-up, which means that makeup covers the deep emotional pain that women sometimes feel. We as women are constantly pushing through, often ignoring how we feel, always putting other’s needs before our own”, says Tiffiny Bryant, CEO and Master Make-Up artist at BeautyStarr, Inc.
“In some instances, makeup is comforting; it gives us the feeling that everything is going to be ok. It helps us get up to face the world,” Bryant adds.
OUR HISTORY WITH MAKEUP
Humanity has a long history with makeup. Evidence of people using makeup dates back to 10,000 B.C. in ancient Egypt. Back then, Kohl, a ground black mineral, was used to line the eyes to decrease sun glare, and colored clays and dyes were used to rouge lips and stain nails.
Since then, and according to the NDP Group, global spending on cosmetics was estimated at $41.4 billion in 2015.
According to the blog, Science of People, an estimated 44 percent of American women do not like to leave their homes without makeup. Research shows there are two primary reasons why women wear makeup:
Camouflage – Women who are anxious and insecure tend to use makeup to appear less noticeable.
Seduction – Women who want to be noticeably more attractive tend to use makeup
to be more confident, friendly, and assertive.
Women have it drilled into them from a young age that to be successful in everything, from dating to job interviews to forming friendships with other popular girls, they need to be pretty.
BEAUTY FOR ASHES
“I’ve always been girly, girly. My grandmother is my greatest inspiration, she is the person who introduced me to makeup. She’d always say to me, ‘Stay ready, so [that] you won’t have to get ready”.
Tiffiny now admits that she used makeup to cover her pain. “Makeup gave me the confidence to face the world every day. It helped me to cover up my hurt. It took God’s healing process to help me figure out what I was using makeup to cover. Like so many other women, I had deep-rooted issues that kept me from my progressing in my purpose”.
Bryant says with counseling, prayer, and giving all of her hurt to God; she was finally able to get unstuck and move into a space of freedom. “I went through a process of writing down all of my hurts, pains, and issues on a piece of paper and then burning them while allowing my emotions to heal from the past. After this process, the Beauty for Ashes Ceremony, I felt infused and empowered by God to walk in my purpose, which is to help other women convey their true selves when they are wearing makeup”.
A LITTLE IS A LOT
Experienced makeup artists know that every woman has her own makeup style, but not every woman knows what style she should wear and when. Tiffiny’s clientele is ‘every woman, and her skill set is highly sought after. Even though makeup artistry came naturally, she attended the then Dunwoody School of Esthetics (Atlanta Institute of Esthetics) to master her craft.
“Sometimes I have first-time clients who request just a little bit of makeup, not realizing that a little is a lot. Anytime you wear makeup, you are putting energy into feeling like the person you desire to be. You are calling up the energy to affirm to yourself and others that you are here to fulfill your purpose”.
Ever since Tiffiny’s healing ceremony, she has noticed that makeup is her ministry. “When I am preparing for my clients, I always make sure that I am prayed up. It’s all about vibes and energy. I want to help in any way that I can because I know that it’s not always about makeup. Some days I am a needed to listen, others days I am may be called mentor, while on other days I may have to comfort and pray with my clients, it just all depends.”
Everybody’s purpose is different in the makeup industry. Mrs. Bryant advises that if you are interested and are a beginner, stay passionate, learn old trends, keep up with the new ones, get educated, and always ask God what your purpose is for you as a makeup artist.