Makeup: Do or Don't?

Girls meet with a lot of conflicting ideas about makeup. There are the people who talk about women's rights to wear whatever makeup they want. There are the people who make of you for wearing too much makeup. There are the people who think makeup should look 'natural'. There are the people who think girls shouldn't wear makeup. And all of that is just in the secular world.

As Christians, it can be even more confusing. What does the Bible say about makeup? What's a Christian girl to do?

Makeup is one of those things that the Bible doesn't expressly talk about. That means that, as a Christian, you are free to make your own decision based on passages that you feel imply one thing or another. My personal opinion is that there is nothing wrong with wearing some makeup if it makes you more confident. However, there are some things you should consider when making your decision.

• First and foremost, follow your parents' rules. If they won't allow you to wear makeup, it's simple: don't wear it. One thing the Bible is very clear on is obeying and honoring your parents. If that means going without makeup until you move out of the house, that's what you should do.
• If you feel that makeup will cause you to become obsessive over your appearance, it's probably best to leave it alone. The Bible does say that real beauty comes from the inside out, and you don't want to lose sight of that in a rush to make yourself the prettiest girl in school.
• If you do choose to wear makeup, it's best to keep it tasteful and natural. Modesty rules apply here too! As I said when discussing why we dress modestly, you don't want what you like on the outside to distract from the beautiful person you are on the inside.

What do you think? Do you wear makeup? Do you have the same opinion about this, or do you think that Christians should avoid makeup altogether?