Makeup, Overconsumption & Identity
Вставка
- Опубліковано 6 лют 2025
- The cost of beauty in a capitalist society and more thoughts on overconsumption and makeup use.
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Here is a Link to Olivia's video essay if you haven't already seen it: • makeup is oppressive.....
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Join the Moonbeam's World DISCORD SERVER: / discord
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Music Credits:
massobeats - midnight • massobeats - midnight ...
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Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use.
As someone who loves makeup, this makes so much sense and I’ve realized that I’m being dragged into this mindset of consumerism and identity. I don’t think personally I’ll give it all up, but be more mindful with what I’m buying and only buy things I need. I’ll pay less attention to the trends that keep me buying more!! Thank you for opening my eyes ❤❤
I don't usually wear makeup because I'm lazy. Not too lazy to put it on, but sometimes too kazy to take it off, and then i suffer breakouts and clogged pores. So i would usually just prefer to avoid the hassle. 😅 Is it my choice? Or is it out of convenience? Idk. There's always a Nexus between the two.
We can try for 100 years and boycott makeup brands/fast fashion/whatever in hope of changing something, but without systemic action that makes it harder for producers and retailers, we won't see real and prevailing changes. See the issue of the ozone layer and how we fixed it by banning harmful chemicals in aerozols...not by buying less hairspray
From my perspective the phrase "you cannot win" makes no sense. It's like to someone life is about pleasing everyone, not about concrete universal values.
What is identity? When I started this video I think I realize I define it a bit differently than maybe you do or the types of people talked about in this video. I often don't think much about being a man as a part of my identity, partially because I don't see inherent value in masculinity or find that to be an important part of my identity. It could also be because of the privilege I have being a man and being perceived/treated certain ways. Anyway, identity to me these days is more about my actions and output in the world.
I identify more with being an athletic coach and role model than I do with being American or a man. BEING creative is more important than LOOKING creative. Sure I have hobbies and interests but the values that I have are a bigger part of my identity than how I am perceived in the world, and I think that is sort of the crux here, that we build a lot of identity around appearance and aesthetic and less around value, morals, and action.
Edit: Profit motive has a lot to do with why people spend so much time and money on the beauty industry. There's no money to be made in solving homelessness, and that in and of itself discourages a lot of people sadly. I think the industry exists because once the majority of society needs were met, people wanted to make money and accrue capital and they just found a thing to base their business around just like anything else considered non-essential, but people are beginning to realize how damaging this industry is.
Is it weird to be watching this as a man? Well, I love philosophy so this was really interesting.
Why would it be weird? I'm confused. 😅
it's not weird
This can apply to men to. With the whole “looks maxxing” trend, men now have a lot of the same pressures. However it’s also men setting these standards. Most women I know don’t like the look of Chads. Personality is way more important in terms of attractiveness than any muscles or good jaw line.
Your other comment was weird though! Why are you saying thank you under a compliment to the creator of the video…?
@@alexyssaubrie1606 I answered this in your other comment
The mentality I’m holding onto into 2025: how you look should be the most boring thing about you
You are so wise and it is amazing to see you have this conversation! Thank you.
you are so kind thank you so much for this comment it keeps me going! Let me know any other topics like this that interest you so I can make more videos :)
@@MoonbeamsWorld Of course! I subscribed immediately because everything you said resonates deeply with me as a Gen-Z woman who grew up before the internet became so central. I’ve seen such a massive shift in lifestyle and values. My coworkers often find it surprising that I don’t have social media, don’t know the latest slang, and seem "mature" for my age. Like you said, it’s odd to hear that, as these values feel fundamental to living ethically. I’d love to see more content like this-it’s comforting to know creators like you are questioning these issues. We have to, before things get worse. Much love!
Amazing video! You are so well-spoken and you made some great points that I definitely agree with/were very thought-provoking. Take care!
Absolutely loved your takes on these topics. Great video! Subbed!
Amazing, you managed to articulate so well such a complex idea, thank you so much for doing so!
thank you so much for your comment!! Let me know if there is any other topics you want me to explore. :)
I don't use makeup, but my sister cant even go to the gymmm without makeup, it makes me sad for her
Hello, I want to start this by saying that I am in no way trying to sounds rude, I truly did appreciate the video and your articulation.
However, I do believe that having opinions on this and sharing is important. Unfortunately, I feel as though having emotional reactions to things, whether they effect us or not is important. Deciding something is unimportant and brushing it under the rug has, sadly, never allowed a problem to disappear, especially globally. I also think that doing things out of "spite" is influential, no revolution has ever been started without any rebellion or resent to the oppressor.
Though I do agree that there is no perfect person and that focusing on yourself and deciding for yourself to be happy should be someone's only priority in life. The answer is not straightforward and there is no one person or thing that is to blame, though I do suspect the patriarchy is one of the main causes to this nuanced issue.
I also say all of this as someone who also does not wear makeup at the time.
sorry for the long comment I just really love topics like these and think it's interesting to hear differing perspectives😅
I know this is such a nit pick but saying society rewards masculine traits isn’t true if you’re not a man, and I’m only really saying it because I notice a lot of otherwise really solid and interesting videos (like this one) kind of flatten that and leave gender nonconforming women out of the equation entirely when talking about appearance affecting employment and treatment in the workplace. I don’t ask for masculine women to be centered in everything (lord knows we are not common) but it very often feels like we’re invisible when we aren’t being painted as privileged for being masculine (not saying you did this but other videos from other creators in the past have).
I totally agree with you. It can be easy to not include all of society, even if it’s a minority!
I agree with you, and I think talking about the struggles of being a gnc woman would be a great topic related to this video. Men seem to see masculine traits in women as something uncomfortable possibly because it doesn't signal social submission. I remember someone calling makeup and beauty standards masculine before, with the reasoning that since men have always made them, profited from them, and benefited from them in some way, so it's much more accurate to call it such. Of course I doubt the sentiment will become widespread but it's something I think about. I'm gnc too, and I've noticed I have to be more direct about pushing for better treatment in the workplace which while I appreciate getting to become a stronger person for, it isn't fair to me or anyone else dealing with this regardless.
To the point at the end of your video, i totally agree!!! I even posted that "futuristic city" meme with the caption "the world we could have if we stopped naking fun if people's appearances and focussed more on ethical behavior." 😂 I would gladly live in a world with 50% more affordable housing every single year if there was maybe 10% less redundant makeup. Maybe even 20% less.
new moonbeam video?! time for me to get cozy and introspective 😊☕
😭💗 you're amazing
This is a really mature take 😊 how should I stray away from the things you warn against?
Tysm for your nice comment! Eckart Tolle has a book called 'New Heaven New Earth' that has a lot of great ideas and practices to break out of these kinda bad habits! But a big thing that helps me stray away from these things is staying off social media as much as I can. I have videos on doing that too!
You are so articulate :)
Ehmmmm.... thanks?😅
@@nikibasilius4787 why would you take this as a compliment to you? You didn’t post this video and in another comment said you were a man.
@@nikibasilius4787 this is weird!
@alexyssaubrie1606 lol I'm sorry. It came to me as a notification and I thought it was meant for me. That's why I was confused and put a questionmark
@@nikibasilius4787 how is that possible? It’s not even a reply to your comment
Off topic, where is that mug from?
I mean yes sure I agree with the sentiment. But your argument is like saying "imagine if football players were not being paid millions and we put this money into eradicating systemic inequality." The system does not work like that. It is not a lack of universal energy or brain capacity that causes smarter makeup stupider housing markets. It has never been a lack of social architects that causes injustice. I am a political science student and trust me all professors academics scholars and most students know exactly what is going on and have remarkable proposals of how to make society better. It is a matter of interest and the economic system being inherently profit driven. More weight is given to what is instantly profitable. Not only is the makeup industry more profitable than a morally acceptable housing market, a morally acceptable housing market is not profitable at all. In this kind of profit-driven system, you need people to feel bad about themselves as you need people to face the threat of homelessness because this generates the kind of competition-based process which sustains the economic system.
I would argue the first part, (comparing a salary to makeup and identity) although there is a system that combines makeup with identity, we can control how much we consume in the beauty industry. We often buy more than we need, by consuming less we can move that energy elsewhere. I do agree with you that it won’t correlate with a growing housing economy etc. that’s where I believe we would need like a plan or something. To make it more profitable in marketing. I believe her main points are that we simply need to be more aware and look at the possibilities of what we can do with that same energy.
The politicization of something as simple as a woman’s choice to wear makeup- really making each women question their intentions (often in ways that instill guilt), is inherently sexist.
Just let women enjoy things without having to tally down the potential ways in which their decisions relate to male influence. We deserve to be able to think of our hobbies, our joys, the way we want to dress without having it all shadowed by the “what if the real reason I subconsciously want to do this is because of what some random patriarchal ideal?”.
Questioning intentions every once in a while is needed, but for everything? Girl, just decide what you want for yourself. Let other women do the same without the need to fit it to their politics.
I think her argument was to show awareness that sometimes someone can be too involved into consuming beauty products. That having certain materialistic things add to our identities. But this was my personal take, I love makeup so much!! And I will not be giving it up but I think that I should be more mindful of what I’m doing. I believe this is also a much bigger topic than consuming and identity in the beauty industry. And if we only focus on beauty and women, it can feel like we are the only ones responsible.
Agreed. I'm tired of being made to feel guilty and ashamed for caring about my outward appearance. I do not enjoy being scolded like a small child for liking makeup and fashion. It's not as if all my energy and thoughts are consumed by these interests, and I invest in myself in other ways, such as education. I appreciate how this creator is not vilifying those who enjoy beauty and has a more nuanced approach. I think it's really neat I get to customize my avatar however I please and I will happily continue to do so while acknowledging the complex history and societal structures surrounding the beauty industry to participate in these things as ethically as I possibly can.
Thank You👏👏
thank you for watching!
So makeup is the reason we dont have affordable housing? Wow the pick-me holier than thou attitude was disappointing. You clearly cant read the room or understand nuance. I also dont wear meakup and i agree with your point about overconsumption but honestly there are so many better videos out there that dissect the issue in a better way