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(#1) Psychotherapists Claim The Ritual Of Applying Makeup Can Help Soothe Anxiety
Studies have shown the ritual of applying makeup can actually help soothe anxiety and calm the mind. Because routine activities - like getting glam every morning - give the brain specific, concrete actions to take, they eliminate an element of the unknown and provide peace of mind.
Psychotherapist Jonathan Alpert explains, “Anxiety is about uncertainty - not knowing how a situation will turn out, negative thinking, and ruminating on unhealthy thoughts. An activity that is structured and routine, such as... [a] morning makeup ritual, provides a degree of predictability and certainty that can help curb anxiety.”
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(#2) Blogger Jaclyn Hill Says Doing Her Makeup Helps With Her Anxiety
According to makeup blogger Jaclyn Hill, beauty isn't just skin-deep - she turns to makeup to help calm her anxiety and swears by its healing, restorative properties!
When she tweeted, "I swear doing my makeup helps my anxiety so much!! If I start getting anxious for no reason & just sit down & start doing makeup, my anxiety settles down within 10 minutes. Every time! Thankful for makeup," hundreds of fans tweeted back in agreement.
One woman replied, "I recently just started to have actual panic attacks because of everything happening through my senior year of high school but makeup helps me sooooo much and of course watching makeup vids! Keeps my mind off everything!!"
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(#3) One Woman Claims Makeup Curbs Her Cravings Post-Drug Addiction
Who knew makeup could be so powerful? After Jaclyn Hill tweeted about how makeup helps calm her anxiety, follower @ChelseaBeckner chimed in and said her makeup routine has helped her recover from drug addiction and stay sober for three years.
She said, "I'm three years sober from heroin and other various drugs, and have my second son on the way due next month... I've established solid ground in my sobriety but sometimes I still need that getaway. Makeup really helps me cope with cravings and just all my anxiety/depression."
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(#4) Makeup Tutorials Don't Just Help You Learn New Skills
In early 2018, the University of Chicago’s Booth School of Business did a study on makeup tutorials and found the videos aren't necessarily making viewers any better at applying makeup. The study claims YouTube tutorials provide the "illusion of skill acquisition" - but viewers notice another important benefit. One fan of makeup tutorials said, "When I first started watching... tutorials, and it helped distract me from my eating disorder."
Another agreed, explaining "the talking calms me down from feeling alone." Clearly, YouTube tutorials are about so much more than learning new skills.
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(#5) Applying Makeup Can Boost Your Creativity
There's no denying makeup is a form of self-expression, and when dealing with mental health issues, it's important to find ways of channeling your emotions in a healthy way.
There's proof that self-expression is crucial for mental health, so if makeup is your preferred medium, more power to you!
Psychotherapist Jonathan Alpert confirms it: “The act of applying makeup and the end result can be transformative for some and help boost confidence,” he says.
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(#6) Those With Social Anxiety Can Use Makeup To Show The World Who They Are
Makeup is an especially important tool for introverts and those who deal with social anxiety. While walking into a party alone or talking to a large group of people may seem intimidating, makeup offers a way to show the world who you are before you open your mouth. For example, a bold red lip can make a confident impression or unicorn eyeshadow can show off a wild side.
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(#7) Makeup Offers A Way To Take Control Of Something In Your Life
A 2017 thread on the Makeup Addiction subreddit asked Redditors to explain how makeup has helped them through a mental ailment. One of the most popular responses had to do with gaining some control over a seemingly out-of-control life.
Redditor /u/gotohela put it this way: "I grew up really controlled, and my appearance was definitely a part of that control. My mother picked my clothes for me through middle school (and trust me, I wasn't inept at picking my own clothes). Later, my parents used to make comments on how I looked without any sort of guidance. So now that I have disposable income and free time, I'm SO particular about how I look and what I use… I relish in the luxuriousness of my skin care and makeup. Overall, it gives me a sense of control I never had as a little kid. And I like being known for being good at this kinda stuff too."
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(#8) It's A Way To Treat Yourself
Ever hear of #SelfcareSunday? Self-care is essential to a healthy mindset, and for many, makeup is a form of self care. Redditor /u/AmyPond808 said "The self-care of my skincare routine (almost clear skin now from acne!) and the self-esteem boost of adding color to my face (eyeshadows) makes me feel accomplished. I have mental health issues too (depression/anxiety/recent severe panic attacks) and it's a great way to be nice to myself. I'm only aiming to please myself with my makeup, so I don't feel self-conscious about it."
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(#9) Makeup Can Be The Armor You Need To Get Through The Day
When dealing with severe mental or physical illness, it can be hard to find the motivation to get out of the house - or even out of bed - because of how awful you feel on the inside. When that's the case, makeup can be a motivator - a coat of armor. Redditor /u/tikappu-kitsune said "It's my war paint when I feel I need an extra layer of armor."
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(#10) It's A Pathway To Feeling Comfortable In Your Own Skin
Redditor /u/pomme_dor thanks makeup for helping her find herself: "I completely rejected everything remotely feminine for a long time. It's been a long hard road to where I am now, comfortable in my own skin. Exploring makeup has been a part of that journey."
It makes sense - with manipulated media images in every corner of the internet and the growing pressures of social media, young women tend to feel a lot of anxiety around their appearance. Makeup can offer a path to finding yourself and feeling unique.
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(#11) A Morning Makeup Routine Gives You Something To Focus On
The simple act of applying makeup can be seriously meditative, especially when it's a consistent part of your morning routine. According to mentalhealthcenter.org, "Our minds also rely on patterns and routine. Because our brains have so much to process, they depend on habits to regulate daily processes."
Redditor /u/klar971 sees the benefits of routine every day: "Those 15 minutes in the morning that I put on makeup is my 'me' time before taking on the day. I get to pamper myself and also be creative."
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(#12) It Can Stop Your Mind From Running A Mile A Minute
Anyone with a panic or anxiety disorder knows one of the key characteristics of the condition is constantly overanalyzing things. If that sounds like you, makeup may actually be able to help!
"Makeup definitely helps me conquer anxiety and depression. My mind is constantly engaged in worry/negative thinking, and putting on makeup for fun is a time where I can get away from that. Pretty difficult to speculate about how my life is falling apart when I’m playing with my glorious hoard of makeup," explains Redditor /u/gudegudegg.
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(#13) The Right Lipstick Can Help You Conquer The World
As the saying goes, "Give a woman the right lipstick and she can conquer the world." Of course, lipstick isn't a totally valid tool for mental health, but it sure can make you feel better when you're going through a tough time.
"Red lipstick made me feel so badass and helped me pull myself back up. Now I'm obsessed with lipstick and love bold shades! It's a part of who I am now," says Redditor /u/girlwiththebeetattoo. It can't hurt!
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(#14) It's Not All Pretty
Of course, makeup can support mental health for some people, but it's important to mention it can also be detrimental to the mental health of others. Studies suggest the "unrealistic images of beauty" have "resulted in anxiety, low self-esteem, and low self-confidence in many women."
If you do turn to makeup to deal with your mental health, make sure you're doing it for the right reasons: to express yourself and get creative, rather than trying to achieve an unrealistic idea of beauty.
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About This Tool
Perhaps many people think that makeup is a superficial deception, but studies showed that makeup and skincare can help people deal with depression, anxiety, and other mental health problems. Beauty is not just about shopping and makeup products. Feeling good about our appearance can have more confidence. Daily makeup can also provide a creative and interesting way for self-expression, which can make people more positive and optimistic even they are depressed.
Make-up has gradually become an art in modern society, and no one does not want to look more beautiful. The random tool introduced 14 theories about studies that prove makeup is beneficial for improving mental health.
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