Last month, we published a story about an engaged Adventist couple who chose not to have wedding rings. The article was read widely, and many people commented that they were encouraged by it. Here is a another article by the same author that discusses cosmetics.
Since we’ve discussed jewelry, along with some of the Biblical principles of modesty and stewardship, a few questions have come up about makeup. As I mentioned previously, we want to live our lives in harmony with God in every way. Naturally, this area is no exception. My fiancé, of course, doesn’t wear any cosmetics (hey, some men do these days…) so as a woman, this topic is a bit more relevant to me. First, I will share some thoughts from the Bible. Then, I will discuss my perspective and experiences.
What Does the Bible Say About Makeup?
While we don’t see as much clear guidance about makeup in the Bible as there is about jewelry, there are these three verses that seem to lean away from excessive alterations of your outward appearance, particularly your face:
2 Kings 9:30 - “Now when Jehu had come to Jezreel, Jezebel heard of it; and she put paint on her eyes and adorned her head, and looked through a window.”
Jeremiah 4:30 - “And when you are plundered, What will you do? Though you clothe yourself with crimson, Though you adorn yourself with ornaments of gold, Though you enlarge your eyes with paint, In vain you will make yourself fair; Your lovers will despise you; They will seek your life.”
Ezekiel 23:40 - “Furthermore you sent for men to come from afar, to whom a messenger was sent; and there they came. And you washed yourself for them, painted your eyes, and adorned yourself with ornaments.”
Let’s Consider…
In Eden, everything was perfect. God saw that everything He made was not just good, but very good! (Genesis 1:31). Sin has not yet marred humanity. In Eden, all was perfect in beauty, order, and balance. God made beautiful things because He is a beautiful God.
However, when we sinned, things changed. After sin, we lost our robes of light. We wear clothes now to cover our nakedness until Jesus comes back to take us home and restore what was lost.
Is it a sin to wear clothes? No, they serve a functional purpose.
Can clothes be used as self-glorification / adornment? Yes. Yet, clothes can be worn modestly. Clothes themselves are not the issue.
Likewise, when we sinned, we lost the health and beauty we once had. Now there are diseases and infirmities we may face that bring skin issues, scarring, lashes/hair/eyebrows thinning or falling out, nail issues, etc. These days, some people use makeup to achieve normalcy, balance, and order.
Is it a sin to do this? No, it serves a functional purpose.
Can makeup be used as self-glorification / adornment? Yes. Yet, makeup can be worn modestly. Makeup itself is not the issue.
I do want to make the point that it’s important first to obey God’s laws of health and trust in God for our healing. We can’t expect healing from any health condition if we’re not willing to stop violating the basic laws that govern our being. That being said, if a woman is doing the best she can to obey God’s commands and leaning on Him, she can safely ask God to bless her efforts for the preservation and restoration of health and expect blessed results to follow.
I think there is a marked difference between the woman who uses minimal amounts of nontoxic products to achieve normalcy, order, and balance in her appearance, and the woman who uses makeup in an unnatural way, to excite others and attract attention to self.
Makeup can absolutely become an idol or a “fig leaf.” When the inside is empty or lacking, we have an intense need to change something on the outside, but many times we don’t recognize our heart needs to change first. I spent my entire childhood in the theatre where makeup was used as a means of self-glorification. I wore makeup like this for years. The amount of makeup I wear now vs then isn’t comparable. I used to spend several hours getting ready and putting on makeup for shows.
In the present day, I do prefer to have the appearance of visible eyebrows and eyelashes like an average person has. Additionally, I don’t like the hyperpigmentation and scarring I’m still healing from due to the health problems I’ve had and I’m still working on. It’s a healing process. God is working on that and working on me. I trust that if there’s anything I need to purge from my life He will help me get there. He’s brought me so far from where I was before! I know the healing and restoration isn’t over. I fully recognize that I don’t know or understand everything and that I’m not perfect. But I serve a perfect God who hasn’t given up on me!
How Does this Relate to Jewelry?
The principle of modesty and simplicity as seen in 1 Timothy 2:9-10 and 1 Peter 3:3-4 applies in both instances. The Bible is a lot more explicitly against jewelry (reference our previous article on jewelry) and has less to say about makeup in particular. Nevertheless, we must act on principle, which is explicitly clear in God’s word.
The difference between jewelry and makeup is that we were never made to have jewels or metals hanging on our bodies, but we were made to desire natural beauty, order, and balance. That desire is God-given.
The truth is…
I brush my teeth not only because it’s healthy for me but because I don’t like how I look with yellow teeth.
I brush my hair not only because it brings circulation to the scalp but because I don’t like how I look with unkempt hair.
I think these things are completely normal and nothing to be ashamed about. God knows I’m excited not to have to think about any of these things in the new earth.
“Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed— in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed” (1 Corinthians 15:51-52).
When Jesus comes to take us home with Him, all our infirmities, defects, and earthly limitations will vanish. What will that be like exactly? We don’t know for sure, but it will be wonderful and amazing because we serve a wonderful and amazing God.
“It has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him…” (1 John 3:2).
The desire for self-glorification is, however, not of God, but of the enemy. We should always honestly ask ourselves why we’re doing what we’re doing and be willing to surrender everything to Jesus: our health, our appearance, our desires, everything! All can be safely trusted with the One who made us and knows us better than we know ourselves.
The Bottom Line
We turn to makeup, dying our hair, unhealthy and extreme diets, tanning beds, jewelry, tattoos, Botox, and even plastic surgery, because we seek eternity.
Ecclesiastes 3:11 tells us that God has planted eternity in the human heart. We want to live forever – physically, mentally, and spiritually. This is a God-given desire.
God desires to rebuild what you were meant to be from the inside out. By using God’s ways and methods, you can find restoration to what God intended for your life, your body, and your health.
What we need on the inside is a genuine, authentic, and fulfilling relationship with Jesus, as well as allowing our bodies to repair themselves to what they were meant to be from the beginning.
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