Welcome my friend, come on in & we’ll have a delightful cuppa together while exploring where the use of Cosmetics originated & their true purpose.

But first lets grab our cuppa’s, mine today is a new blend called French Earl Grey, its an exotic blend of vanilla, rose petals, lavender, bergamot & black tea.

And my treat is a gf English Muffin toasted & spread with Strawberry Conserve. Both absolutely delicious!

Now we’re comfy let’s begin…

A Little personal background

When my second granddaughter was little & came for her first ‘Sleepover at Nanny’s & Poppy’s house’ she witnessed me putting on ‘make-up’ the next morning for our outing together.

She asked me why I was ‘painting’ my face, unfortunately I replied without thinking it through;

“To make me more beautiful darlin’.”

Her response has always stayed with me for it was quite profound & rather thought provoking. She said the following in a cute but astounded voice;

“But Nanny you’re already so beautiful! You’re my beautiful Nanny!”

Awwww….

But as a grandmother I was mortified at the message I had just portrayed to my four year old granddaughter about natural beauty not being enough.

Another wake up call

Those who join me here often will be aware that over the past 18 years I have lived with Fibromyalgia & other autoimmune conditions.

Therefore, daily energy levels are problematic, I have to make daily decisions around what I choose to do verses what I need to do on any given day with very little energy.

And applying ‘make-up’ (cosmetics) before I leave the house, is one of those things most often I just have to forego.

As believe it or not it takes an enormous amount of energy & concentration to apply.

Sadly, it has been a much too slow a journey for me to view true beauty through God’s eyes! How about you?

You too?…so let’s explore this together…

The Origin of Cosmetics

The use of oils & perfumes for skin wellbeing mentioned in scripture is in the Book of Esther. In fact she went through twelve months of pampering to be presented to the King!

However, skin moisturisers & perfumes are far different then actually applying ‘make-up’ or cosmetics to one’s face & body.

Let’s see where it all began…

The application of make up (cosmetics) to the face & body by both men & women actually began with the Egyptians around 6000 -4000BC!

Why?

Well, the Egyptians believed it would make them more ‘beautiful & appealing’ to gain favour by their gods.

And the Kohl eye liner around their eyes that their famous for?  Was actually done to protect them from the ‘evil eye’, therefore eye shadows were also used to replicate the eye colours of their protective gods so they would be protected from evil! Ref

Hmmm!

Examining why we do what we do…

Cosmetics as we know it didn’t come into the general population until the 1920s with the advent of Hollywood & its Movie stars.

Which the cosmetic industry & media of the time seized upon creating an annual multi billion dollar industry.

Cosmetics are all about creating what the western world sees as “beautiful”…which seems to be ever changing depending on the fashion & the cosmetic industry’s new product releases.

Let’s make this personal, as you may relate to my story…

As a teen in High School, I was teased & bullied about my appearance. You see until that time I didn’t realise I was different to anyone else,  I just saw me as me.

But when it was pointed out to me with great unkindness that I had red hair, freckles, blonde eyebrows & eyelashes I thought, oh I must be different.

Thus, I started to notice that indeed I was different!

As everyone else I saw had varying shades of brown or black eyebrows & eyelashes, didn’t have as many freckles as I, if any at all & not many people had red hair!

However, at that time being a young teen I wasn’t allowed to wear ‘make up’ to be able to ‘fix’ this ‘problem’ because my parents said I didn’t need it & I was too young (& rightly so).

But to a teen who just wanted to be accepted to ‘fit in’ this was difficult to bear.

Then as an older teen I started working as an apprentice Hairdresser in an elite Hair & Beauty Salon.

The senior hairdressers & beauticians there said I needed ‘make up’ to frame & add colour to my face…

However, this only reinforced my High School experience & lowered my self esteem about my appearance & that indeed I must be ‘different’ to be in need of these cosmetics to be seen as “beautiful”.

These ladies (I’m sure well meaning at the time) decided to give me a “make over” there & then by cutting off my long hair, styling & putting highlights in it & applying make up, teaching me how to do so in the process.

Thus started my journey with applying make up to bring ‘colour & frame to my face’ making me ‘more beautiful’ & presentable in public. 

A conflict of interest

However, when I became a Jesus gal as a young Mum I read the following scripture;

“You should not use outward aids to make yourselves beautiful, such as the way you fix your hair, or the jewellry you put on, or the dresses you wear.” 

1 Peter 3:3 GNB

However, this was a little confusing as a new Christian, as I saw many  women around me using cosmetics & having their hair styled in the latest fashions, wearing jewellery with their fashionable dresses.

So I concluded as a new babe in Christ this must not include ‘make up’ because it didn’t actually say ‘make up’ or cosmetics & thought maybe this scripture wasn’t for “today”.

Hmmmm…

The process

However, my granddaughter’s comment all those years ago had me often pondering this scripture over the proceeding years. For it continues to say;

“Instead, your beauty should consist of your true inner self, the ageless beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of the greatest value in God’s sight.“

1 Peter 3:4 GNB

It’s stating directly about beauty, so I thought maybe, just maybe it is for today & is talking about cosmetics!

I looked up where the word cosmetics originated & what it actually meant. The word;

Cosmetic comes from the Greek word meaning adornment.

Ahhh got it! The above scripture is definitely talking about cosmetics.

What are we teaching our young ones about true Beauty?

We really need to seriously look at the messages we are sending to our young ones today about what constitutes true beauty & in what we ourselves are doing by our actions & words to reinforce that message.

As you read above, sadly I have been guilty of giving the wrong message about my own natural beauty, which of course is God given & is more then enough!

However, I have learned that lesson & my catch cry today, when asked about not wearing make up is that, ‘God got it right!’

And I even have white hair now to match my blonde eyebrows & eyelashes making my large eyes with their bright colour ‘pop’.

I’ve come to realise over the years that esteem, worth & beauty is centred in relationship with our Heavenly Father, for we are loved, & our beauty both inside & out is nurtured by His Son Jesus.

We are in His image & therefore each one of us are unique, one of a kind & joint heirs with the King of kings!

So thankful

Don’t get me wrong here, I still make sure I am presentable when I go anywhere in public but most often it’s without make up now. I still care for my skin & look after my body as best I can.

But my focus is more & more on the inner woman before God who sees our true beauty. Which is far different to what this world would have us believe it is…& yes I’m a work in progress.

So to conclude I am very grateful for my granddaughter’s comment all those years ago (she’s an adult now), out of the mouths of babes!

And for Fibromyalgia that has caused me to stop & think through the daily choices I make, even in reviewing the reasons why I do what I do & did what I did.

Realising that actually wearing make up isn’t at all important in the wider scheme of eternity, as it’s His indwelling Spirit who shines forth the truest beauty through His children.

Until next time,

Jennifer

You’re most welcome to join me in The Reading Nook

Or in Prayer

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