My friend Jess wears makeup every day, even if she does not leave her house. She wakes up at approximately 5:45 a.m. to apply makeup. She said the process of putting on mascara, foundation, eyeshadow, eyeliner and blush takes up the better half of an hour spent in the mirror. Though she said it is time-consuming, she also believes it is worth the time because it makes her feel good, on the inside and out.

Jess is not alone. According to yahoo.com, the average woman spends $15,000 on makeup in her lifetime. This is neither sad, nor pathetic; it’s real. At KHS, 42 percent (84/199) of girls apply makeup every day of the week. In a society that illuminates all the imperfections of bodies and faces, real beauty should not be measured by the amount of makeup someone wears. Makeup can be applied to hide acne or dark circles under eyes, but it can also be used as a way of self-expression. At KHS, 47 percent (76/160) of girls wear makeup to express themselves.

Today, the media feasts on what is considered beautiful, when, in actuality, being beautiful should not be decided by anyone but yourself. There is an idea of what “the perfect body” and “the perfect face” look like, but society has it all wrong. Being beautiful might mean wearing no makeup or wearing a lot of makeup, but either way, the only person people should be trying to impress is themselves.

Though makeup is often linked to women, men have started wearing makeup, too. Many male celebrities have said they wear makeup, including actor Benedict Cumberbatch and radio host Elvis Duran. To hide blemishes and dark circles under their eyes, almost all male celebrities wear concealer or bronzer for big events and premieres, whether they like to admit it or not.

I wear make up (maybe too much) on the weekends when I go out with friends or to dinner with my family, but at school I apply concealer so I don’t look like the walking dead. I wear makeup so I don’t feel the need to hide my face in public and so I am more confident in myself. Wearing makeup, especially to hide acne, is nothing to be ashamed of. Today, living in a society where imperfections are constantly being sought out, seeing yourself as beautiful is the ultimate goal and the ultimate success, even if it takes wearing makeup to get there.