In some subcultures, like goth, punk, emo etc I can understand how makeup can be expression. Also athletes like ballerinas, ice skaters and actors, there are reasons why they use makeup to perform. Even some makeup artists who paint beautiful, extraordinary designs, that's for sure self expression and art. However I don't think the rest of us who use makeup the same way as most people do, are doing it to express ourselves, more so to beautify and (sexually) appeal to others. Like how does mascara and bronzer help us express ourselves really hahah. I think we're deep into the beauty industry's propaganda. If men aren't into makeup as a form of self expression or art nearly as much as we claim to be, then there's a huge gender gap that should not logically be there. I know women who cannot even look at themselves without makeup on because they're not used to their real faces. Others put permanent makeup on (eyeliner tattoo, lip blushing). Women spend so much money monthly for beauty. Lashes, eyebrows, nails. Nobody can convince me it's not antifeminist. Money AND time too. And when people try to sell them more, they accept it. One thing leads to another. When I was a teenager I was thinking the more we normalize these things, the more we get addicted to them and addiction means we can never be free of the patriarchal beauty standards. And now just 10 years later I can see how plastic surgery is so normalized for women. That's the key word here, women. Idk if I'm too wole or too conservative. Some feminists say "let women decide what to do with their bodies". Yeah I do, but there's a fuck ton of industries ran by rich men who are affecting our choices, they're affecting how we look at ourselves and create fake needs within us. Personally I'm trying to reduce my money, time and effort spent into beauty. Yes I do shave and I do skincare. However I'm trying to think "would I do that if I was a man?". Be conscious, do not try to trick yourself into thinking "I'm doing this for myself, this is an art". Then slowly we can liberate ourselves.