What Dose The Bible Say About Makeup

What does the Bible say most makeup? Is information technology wrong to want to change or heighten our appearance through the employ of a lilliputian mascara or blush? It's been an age-old question that has many women and immature girls confused, oppressed, and shamed for wanting to expect beautiful. I view makeup as a tool. And like any tool, information technology depends on how it'southward used and the intentions inside my centre.

I am 100% a girly girl. I've always loved mode, makeup, and hair. Wearing a certain shade of eyeshadow, a cute top tin can accentuate the natural beauty God gave me. I always want to look my best but growing up I was given mixed messages from both men and women about my makeup, style, and apparel.

One detail conversation comes to mind when a pastor'south wife pulled me aside as a new youth coming to church building on Wednesday nights told me that makeup is the devil'southward way of young girls getting the wrong attending. At the time, I had only used concealer and mascara. I was told considering I used makeup and highlighted my hair, I looked like a prostitute instead of a fresh-faced teenage girl. This was the first of many confusing letters I received as a immature woman. Either my makeup made me look too grown upward, seductive, or not feminine enough.

Later, when I met my husband, he taught me just how cute I am without makeup, cute hair, or fancy clothes. His favorite matter is when I habiliment makeup with a messy bun and a t-shirt. To make an try is a style to show him I beloved him. On the flip side, this is the same man who loves seeing me in my natural fine art form when we piece of work out, run early morn errands, or go hunting. My husband taught me to view myself through the lens of God who created me with us care and wonder. I learned my identity isn't in the correct shade of foundation, but my identity is firmly found in my Creator God.

The indicate? No matter how women employ makeup or wearable clothes, nosotros live in a culture that criticizes women. Gendered expectations around appearance vary drastically from church to church or customs to community depending on the culture. Simply the data shows that, regardless of the environment, women face more scrutiny than men about how they look and what they wearable. I study found that on boilerplate women spend about 3276 on grooming whereas men will spend 1,092. The additional amount of time equates to ten full working days. That'southward a lot of extra time and free energy to put into something that is supposed to make the states feel better about ourselves. But it can often lead us off-target.

Is it a Sin to Habiliment Makeup?

Some Christians believe it is wrong for women to wear makeup, citing passages that seem to prohibit it. These people besides believe a woman shouldn't braid their hair nor wear anything but skirts or dresses. While we want to alive our lives in a way that respects and honors God, we must be careful our views and opinions that do not become across the Word of God reallysays. It is a sin to teach human-made ideas as commands from God (Marker 7:7).

A glance equally the nearest mag rack is likely all the evidence yous need to know our culture values dazzler, seduction, and a amuse over godliness. Just it'southward not just our culture. Women have been altering their appearance since the beginning of fourth dimension when Eve forth with her hubby covered their bodies with leaves.

In fact, the first apply of makeup can be traced back to 7,000 years ago with the aboriginal Egyptians. Archeologists have even found canisters of makeup in tombs. Researchers think Cleopatra used lip color created from ground carmine beetles for hue.

Photograph Credit: © Getty Images/jacoblund

What Does the Bible Say about Makeup?

Biblically speaking, we can detect a few passages about beauty rituals and makeup. When Esther entered the palace, she went through a year-long beauty ritual for purification and cosmetics.

Each immature woman's turn came to go in to King Ahasuerus after she had completed twelve months' preparation, according to the regulations for the women, for thus were the days of their preparation apportioned: six months with oil of myrrh, and six months with perfumes and preparations for beautifying women (Esther two:12, NKJV).

The NIV translates the passage equally:

Earlier a young woman's turn came to go in to Rex Xerxes, she had to complete twelve months of dazzler treatments prescribed for the women, six months with oil of myrrh and vi with perfumes and cosmetics.

When information technology comes to how women adorn themselves, in that location are few verses well-nigh makeup or cosmetics. The passages we exercise find are warnings and words of wisdom to remind us God doesn't care about our outward advent but what is within our hearts. We would do well to remember Proverbs 31:20, "Charm is deceptive, and dazzler is fleeting; merely a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised."

The passages nosotros do find (i Timothy 2:9-10, Jeremiah four:30, one Peter 3:3-4) have one mutual thread, information technology'southward the intent of why nosotros adorn ourselves in the first identify. Nosotros observe that God isn't opposed to women looking beautiful. Nosotros find God is opposed to women looking seductive and worldly.

Having the Correct Intentions

To answer the question 'what does the Bible say about makeup,' we need to address the intention behind the use of makeup. What intentions practise y'all take when you become dressed for church, the gym, or piece of work? What thoughts run through your mind when you're planning a night out with your friends? Are yous dressing to print others or is your identity found in God? We must think where our true identity lies. Our worth is found in Christ. When we forget, we leave ourselves open to believing the lies of the world: "I'm ugly without makeup." "I'thou non pretty enough." "I'thou not as pretty equally her." God likewise crafted our heart in His likeness. He wants our identity, confidence, and security to come from the foundation as His daughter—non how we raise our looks. As the scripture states, God "looks at the hidden person of the heart", and that is "very precious in the sight of God."

As cliché every bit it sounds, God does care about your outward appearance, just He cares about your heart more. He carefully crafted and wove you together in your mother'southward womb. He took intendance to create your heart color, the hue of your hair, and even planned how you lot would expect right down to the very placement of your freckles.

When we put on makeup, nosotros need to conscientious that it doesn't become an idol. Scripture warns u.s.a. that we should never focus and so much on the exterior appearance at the cost of neglecting our insides. When we practise—it leads to more than believe more lies, creates cocky-worth problems, and more sin.

1 Peter 3:3-4 "Your beauty should not come up from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of golden jewelry or fine clothes. Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight."

one Corinthians 6:12 "I have the right to do anything," you lot say–but not everything is benign. "I have the correct to do annihilation"–but I volition not be mastered by anything."

Ephesians 3:17-nineteen: "I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may accept power, together with all the Lord'southward holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that y'all may be filled to the measure out of all the fullness of God."

Equally daughters of God, we are free to wear makeup so long as we practise so with pure motives. Always remember God cares so much nigh the beauty of your soul. He wants the states to dress ourselves in His love and graphic symbol and so that nosotros reflect Him. Ultimately, we are His masterpieces—His creations. He is the ultimate creative person who fashioned us and called us, "very practiced."

Heather Riggleman is a believer, wife, mom, author, social media consultant, and total-time author. She lives in Minden, Nebraska with her kids, loftier schoolhouse sweetheart, and three cats who are her entourage around the homestead. She is a former award-winning journalist with over 2,000 articles published. She is full of grace and grit, raw honesty, and truly believes tacos tin solve just about whatsoever situation. You can find her on GodUpdates, iBelieve, Crosswalk, Hello Darling, Focus On The Family, and in Brio Mag. Connect with her at www.HeatherRiggleman.com or on Facebook.