This video has contradictory smeared all over it… or at least half of it. Ok, now that we got that out of the way, let’s clear some things up… without makeup.
Wow, I’m sorry that happened again.
Makeup Vlogger, NikkieTutorials, recently released a video called “The Power of MAKEUP!” to her 1.2+ million subscribers on YouTube. The point of this video was to let people know that loving makeup is not wrong, and you shouldn’t be ashamed to say that you enjoy getting all dolled-up. And to this point having 17,120,422 views on the video seems to show that people are on her side. I have contributed to this number 5 times, by the way. So what’s all the rage about, and how is it contradictory?
Well on one half (let’s call this, “the makeup side”), I completely agree with Nikkie that in today’s society it is, seemingly, a crime to love/enjoy makeup. Sadly, people automatically assume you might have low self-esteem, don’t find yourself to be attractive, or are just trying to look good to impress guys. I use the word “sadly” because IDO agree that people often times put on makeup just for the fun of it. I understand sometimes girls just want to get fancy and have a great night on the town, and I bet that’s very fun. I am the furthest from thinking “oh, you just think you’re ugly.” So congrats NikkieTutorials, you have a believer in me.
Now on the other half (shall we say, “the natural side”), as the video progresses it makes me believe Nikkie less and less. My fiancee enjoys watching her fair share of makeup Vloggers so I knew what to expect as I watched this. There were a lot of awkward silences as she applied the makeup, quick-cuts to speed things up, “product placement” for advertising purposes, and commentary on how/why she applies makeup where she does. In the midst of all this, here are the words Nikkie says that stuck out to me:
“I have dark circles. I want them to be gone.”
“I love ‘brows. Problem is, I don’t have any. Solution? ‘Brow pencil.”
“For eyes, I don’t like how my eyes are hooded, slightly on the smaller side, and just not as open and awake and fresh.”
“I love optically making my eyes look larger.”
Also, after claiming that people tell her when she is not wearing makeup that she looks “so much slimmer” in her videos, Nikkie responds in the by saying “let me introduce you to the world of contouring. Contouring is my religion.” She continues, “Got a double-chin? Contour that s**t.” After contouring her one half of her face she exclaims, “Look at that, look at that. (while pointing to the “full-on glam” half of her face) Cheekbones on point, (pointing to the no makeup side of her face with a disgusted facial expression) what’s the point?” And for the final statement that made me questions everything in the video:
“Makeup is there for days when you wanna look hella good.”
Ok, wait, hold on, what? Remember a few minutes ago when you told all of us that we can do this for fun and because we love makeup? Why can’t we also look hella good without makeup? Now maybe you’re thinking I stretched that statement a bit far (I don’t think so). What about the claims she makes about everything wrong with her face? This may not be the amount of makeup she wears every day, since it’s her “full-on glam” look, but the fact remains…
NikkieTutorials’ “The Power of MAKEUP!” video teaches how to apply makeup to fix the imperfections your face.
Thank you NikkieTutorials.