The Psychology of Makeup: Confidence, Creativity, or Cover-Up?

There’s something powerful about the moment your eyeliner lands just right or your lipstick gives you that subtle, secret confidence. But let’s be honest — makeup is complicated. Not just the application (hello, contour tutorials with 27 steps), but the meaning behind why we wear it.

So what is makeup to us?

Is it armor? Art? A mask? A boost?

For some, makeup is self-expression. A way to play with identity, mood, and color. For others, it's about control — the power to shape how we’re perceived in a world that already has ideas about what we “should” look like. And sometimes, it’s a shield. A way to feel “ready” when the world feels overwhelming.

But none of these answers are wrong — in fact, they’re layered. Just like us.

At Underneath the Layers, we’ve talked to guests who ditched makeup to reclaim their natural skin, and others who found joy and self-love through bold, unapologetic glam. And guess what? Both are valid.

The takeaway? Makeup isn’t inherently empowering or disempowering. It’s why we reach for it that matters. Are we covering up out of shame? Or expressing something we feel inside?

The next time you’re doing your face, ask yourself:

• Am I doing this for me?

• Does this routine make me feel more me, or less?

• Is this a ritual, a chore, or a creative release?

There’s no right answer — just the one that feels honest today. And that might change tomorrow. That’s okay. That’s human.

Because beauty isn’t in the product. It’s in the intention.

Want to dive deeper? Listen to Underneath the Layers where we explore identity, makeup, and what it really means to feel seen.

We’d love to hear from you: What’s your relationship with makeup right now? Drop a comment below or share your story on Instagram and tag @underneath_thelayers