Eyeliner Gives You Wings

The slogan for Red Bull energy drinks reads, "Red Bull Gives You Wings," implying that it will improve your energy so much that you can fly.

But I think makeup can be better than an energy drink. Especially eyeliner. A good winged eyeliner look (also known as a cat-eye) swoops upward to a point, extending the eye upward and outward to add drama. The "wing," to many makeup users, is one of the most iconic and powerful looks. Some people even get their black eyeliner tattooed onto their eyelids, so that it will never wash away. Though I do advocate taking off your makeup at night, I can see why some people want their makeup to be a permanent feature.

Makeup is powerful. That's why it's been around for so long.

Makeup can hide perceived flaws. Some flaws are real (like a pimple) and some are imagined (like face shape, which makeup users have recently begun altering with makeup). In some ways, hiding a flaw with makeup can be a way of hiding oneself. But I believe that makeup's power can be used for good.

Colors directly affect mood, and lipstick, eyeliner, blush, etc., all come in different colors. With makeup, we can change people's perception of us to what we want it to be. If I feel standoffish, I can say so without a word; I'll just make the wings of my eyeliner bigger and darker. If I want to look glamorous, I will wear deep red lipstick. If I want to look cute, I will wear blush. These are the most familiar ways of using makeup, but there are so many more. And with each new way of wearing makeup, there is a new mood, and a new moment of awe and inspiration once the look is complete. Because when it is finished, we see ourselves in a new light, and we see our own potential.

An energy drink may give you a buzz, but makeup can give you the power to change your look--and your life.