‘The cosmetic industry (from the same Greek root as “cosmos”) and social media have been infiltrated by the father of lies and so we must be aware and vigilant about becoming trapped in the idolatry of either self-exaltation or self-hatred.’ says Emma Stark.
I love makeup. Undereye concealer and good quality tweezers are a must in my world! Beauty, colours, shapes, creativity, patterns, interior designs, art, and fabrics bring me so much joy. God delights in beauty and devised the world in all its ravishing splendour. In his detailed instructions for the layout, design, and furnishing of the tabernacle (read Exodus 25) we discover that our Creator cares for the finest details and artistry.
How much make-up should a Christian woman wear?
Precious stones, brilliant colours and intricate designs all reflect his creative nature. Scripture describes the heavenly realms in great technicolour terms and there is nothing grey, drab, or worn about the wonders that surround his throne. In Genesis 1 God declares his creation as “very good” - and that includes you! You are made in his image, reflecting his beauty and nature.
God is interested in form, colour, and structure and many passages celebrate beauty as a gift from God
God is interested in form, colour, and structure and many passages celebrate beauty as a gift from God. It is a good thing when our makeup, beauty treatments, and fashion choices liberate us to be who we are created to be, in all our divinely-designed glory. When approached in the right way, these are enhancements that playfully use our God-given creativity and artistry in wholesome, freeing ways.
Your makeup choices will complement or augment the original, naked you - which is already fully and totally loved by God, no matter what you look like, wear, or whether you’re having a bad-hair-day or not. In Chapter 2 of the book of Esther we read the affectionate way that the Bible describes the already-gorgeous Esther and her twelve month care and beauty regime:
’Esther, had a lovely figure and was beautiful… [she] pleased [Hegai, who was in charge of the king’s harem] and won his favor. Immediately he provided her with her beauty treatments and special food. He assigned to her seven female attendants selected from the king’s palace and moved her and her attendants into the best place in the harem… Before a young woman’s turn came to go in to King Xerxes, she had to complete twelve months of beauty treatments prescribed for the women, six months with oil of myrrh and six with perfumes and cosmetics (Esther 2:7,9,12).
What do Pamela Anderson and Alicia Keys have in common?
The Bible doesn’t condemn beauty; nor does it avoid acknowledging its power. There is a line that we all need to draw (and I don’t mean with an eyeliner pencil!). You have to balance when makeup tips over from being “your skin on its best day” versus the lack of authenticity that comes from unrecognisability and a version of you that is far from what your Creator intended. When your clothing, your body-art, your body transformations, and your cosmetic choices begin to control you and draw you into something that is fake, we start to be tempted towards all that is twisted.
Satan, who is a deceiver and thief, always tries to steal and warp our God-given identity and destiny.
Satan, who is a deceiver and thief, always tries to steal and warp our God-given identity and destiny. He tries to tempt us into slavery under the kingdoms of this world - this cosmos - which he has slimed with everything that is false. The cosmetic industry (from the same Greek root as “cosmos”) and social media have been infiltrated by the father of lies and so we must be aware and vigilant about becoming trapped in the idolatry of either self-exaltation or self-hatred. There are some makeup brands that are heavily demonised because their aim is that you lose “you” in the process. On the other hand, there are some brands that seem to be much more about helping you be on your best day.
Model Bella Hadid has been scientifically declared as the world’s most beautiful woman. Is there any value for Christian women to engage with these kind of beauty standards?
Ultimately, although our Heavenly Father has counted every hair on our head (and our bodies too!), his Scriptures urge us to care most of all about our inner world, and the unfading beauty of our inner self - which the Bible says is, “of great worth in God’s sight”. Whenever you look in the mirror, remember that Jesus doesn’t see things the way we see them. To paraphrase 1 Samuel 16, “Instagram judges by that’s just the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”
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