Six steps towards zero makeup

We’ve all heard a talk here and there discussing that makeup is Haram and how women should be modest and not beautify themselves in front of non-mahram men.   But what all these talks lack is the understanding of why we, as women, find it so hard to quit makeup. Men think about it as a black and white issue. How hard can it be? “Just wash your face and Voila! You’re makeup free!” But to us women, it’s not that simple. These days we are daily subjected to images of beauty that naturally increase our insecurities, and for some of us, that winged eyeliner, grants us the feeling of empowerment to walk out of the house confident and happy to face the world. In a society where we face bigotry and discrimination as Muslims, especially women who wear the headscarf, it’s hard not to feel self-conscious, hence you try to fit in any way you can. This is where makeup plays a big role! But what we don’t realise is that there’s a huge problem there. Our minds have been programmed to feel the need for this paint to cover our “real” face to feel more comfortable in our own skin! Don’t you find this disturbing?! So here are six steps to help you give up wearing makeup:  

  1. Understand the true meaning of modesty

 
“Tell the believing men to lower their gaze and be modest.  That is purer for them.  Lo!  God is Aware of what they do.  And tell the believing women to lower their gaze and be modest, and to display of their adornment only that which is apparent, and to draw their veils over their chests, and not to reveal their adornment.” Quran 24:30
So, what is modesty? The key to modesty is knowing that Allah is aware of what we do and shying away from that which He forbids.   Think about it this way, if your parents forbade you from doing something but you still wanted to do it, would you do it right in front of their face?? Definitely not! We know that Allah is watching us as we’re putting on that mascara making our eyelashes touch our eyelids, yet we seem OK with the idea!

  1. Surround yourself with good company

Surround yourself with people who remind you of Allah and are God-conscious. Being around people who dress modestly not only encourages you to be better, but also makes it easier for you to adopt good habits for the long run.
Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said: “The example of a good companion and a bad companion is like that of the seller of musk, and the one who blows the blacksmith’s bellows (respectively). So as for the seller of musk then either he will grant you some, or you buy some from him, or at least you enjoy a pleasant smell from him. As for the one who blows the blacksmith’s bellows then either he will burn your clothes or you will get an offensive smell from him.” [Bukhari & Muslim]

  1. You don’t need makeup to look presentable

The Prophet ﷺ drew attention to the fact that the Muslim should always be clean and tidy at all times.
“The Messenger of Allah ﷺ saw a man wearing dirty clothes. He said, `Could this person not find anything with which to wash his clothes?'” (Ahmad)

  1. Dress to impress Allah, not the people

We are bombarded daily with photoshopped photos of celebrities and models, which creates a false image of beauty in our minds.
“Allah does not look at your figures, nor at your attire but He looks at your hearts [and deeds].” (Muslim)

  1. Develop an inner natural glow

Fatima, the daughter of the Prophet ﷺ was called, Az-Zahra, the splendid light, because she had a light that emanated from her face. The scholars would say, beautify your prayers at night and Allah will beautify your faces in the day.
  1. Ask Allah to increase your modesty
Ask Allah to make it easy for you.
Say this du’aa: “O’Allah, make Imaan (Faith)  beloved to us and beautify it in our hearts. And make Kufr (Disbelief, transgression, and sins) hateful to us.” “O’Allah! Enable us to see the truth as Truth and give us the ability to follow it. And show us the falsehood as false and give us the ability to refrain from it.”
No one expects you to wipe your face and go makeup free tomorrow. Maybe start going out with less makeup and slowly you’ll start to get used to your face and accept the way you look as Allah has created you. Maybe not too popular in this dunya, but insha’Allah popular amongst the angels in the heavens!   May Allah give us the strength to come closer to Him through our actions.

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