Glam to Gone

Written by: Molly Bearce & Kadence Schaecher

Photographed by: Sierra Ball

Modeled by: Madilyn Dalton, Alexis Loftis, Lexi Losh, Andrea Martinez, Avary Boumstein, & Rachel Mueller

Graphics by: Autumn Adams

Makeup by: August Ervin

My room is a mess covered with failed outfit ideas. My bathroom counter is cluttered with  makeup everywhere. I’ve redone my eyeliner multiple times and two hours later I’m finally satisfied and feel like the prettiest girl in the world. Then I get the photos back from the night. “Is that really what my face looked like?” “My hair didn’t even stay longer than an hour and it’s all over the place?” “There’s no way I followed that tutorial just to look like this?” Unfortunately, these are real sentences said by me and nearly every woman in my life after an event. So why do we put in all this effort just for it to be erased in seconds? 

It’s not a secret that for me and thousands of other women, getting ready is often the best part of the night out. You get to listen to the music you like, be with your friends, and take time to focus on yourself and your self care, something that until Friday and Saturday night can be easily neglected. Spending time on yourself to look good and leave for the function in full confidence can make your attitude of the night change despite how it may look by the time you actually get there.

But why do we feel the need to put in all this effort just for a few minutes of satisfaction? For one, the confidence you get from looking your best can’t be beat. However, the second and the biggest reason is societal expectations of women. Makeup and beauty products are sold to us and target insecurities that are less bad things and more natural parts of being human. From smooth legs to tan skin to clear skin and sleek hair. All these things are often out of our control, yet society often expects women to fit one standard within those categories. All these products can easily cost you hundreds of dollars. 

But recent trends show that it doesn’t have to be this way. In what almost seems like a direct rebellion to the ‘clean girl’ makeup that has been popular over the past few years, messy makeup is becoming a fashion statement. Instead of your makeup smudging and smearing through the night, people are beginning to arrive at the function with smoky eyes already smeared, mascara already running. 

While clean, neat makeup is certainly not going anywhere in the beauty trends, messy makeup offers an option for some who may not be as talented with makeup or prefer an alternative look. Additionally, the trend tells women that they don’t always have to look perfect, and can embrace the journey their makeup takes throughout the night, all the way from glam to gone.