Makeup Distorts God’s Beauty

To my children,

Makeup and other cosmetics are very popular in our culture. And I don’t believe it’s an understatement to say that the majority of girls and women put it on. However, you’ll be hard-pressed trying to find anyone who is willing to search the Scriptures. Since four of you are young girls, I felt this topic to be an important one.

The Origin of Beauty

On the sixth day of creation, God created mankind in His own image. The first female created was Eve, and she was perfect in every way. Their was no flaw in her since she was not conceived in sin. She must have been the most beautiful and attractive woman.

“So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them…And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good.”

Genesis 1:27, 31 KJV

Shortly thereafter, Satan beguiled Eve and persuaded her to disobey God. Then she turned and handed the forbidden fruit to her husband. Adam ate because she handed it to him. Now, the Bible doesn’t tell us what Adam was thinking, but we can conclude that his choice to disobey God revolved around Eve, not the lie told by the serpent. Eve’s natural beauty must have played a significant role in Adam’s decision.

You’ll notice that Eve didn’t wear makeup to look beautiful. She didn’t put on lipstick and eye shadow or those fake eye lashes. And I don’t think she batted her eyes and puckered up her lips. That’s just not how it happened, folks. God’s creation of beauty is far superior than man-made beauty.

“What’s wrong with wearing makeup?” you ask. Well, I’ll admit that on the surface, makeup and other cosmetics appear harmless. However, using these products places you on a very slippery slope. Cosmetics are the precursor to tattoos and very instrumental in the body alteration movement. But regardless, makeup and other cosmetics are intended to alter mankind’s image from God to self.

“Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.”

1 John 2:15-16 KJV

The Makeover of God’s Creation

1. Makeup draws unnecessary attention to oneself – Pride of life.

Cosmetics draw unnecessary attention to one’s face, no matter how unintentional in may be. Believers are set apart and should be pointing people towards Christ, not drawing them to themselves. But in addition, to live a moral and virtuous life, you must look after others, not yourself. When a person draws unnecessary attention to themselves, they are exalting themselves above others and above God.

“Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.”

Philippians 2:3-4 KJV

2. Makeup attracts the wrong crowd – Lust of the eyes.

As a general rule, men are highly attracted to woman who wear makeup. However, this attraction is only a fleshly lust. Prostitutes know this and take advantage of it. Furthermore, the wearing of makeup and immodest attire go hand-in-hand. It attracts the wrong kind of men.

“But the Lord said unto Samuel, ‘Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.’”

1 Samuel 16:7 KJV

3. Makeup focuses on self-image – Lust of the flesh.

Beauty for oneself is the sole purpose of makeup. Women spend hours in the bathroom perfecting up their outward appearance. The extended period of time needed to apply the makeup is an indication of inward vanity. Since God doesn’t look at the outward appearance, the time being spent is for self, not God. Makeup appeals to those who strive for outward beauty while possessing inward ugliness.

“Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised.”

Proverbs 31:30 KJV

4. Makeup produces the wrong image – Pride of life.

Makeup is a cosmetic that alters the physical image of a woman. So does hair coloring, body piercings, and tattoo markings. It’s the recreation of oneself into the image of self, as opposed to the image of God. Therefore, cosmetics are products of the world – a world that hates Christ. When it comes to our physical appearance, we need to glorify God. And any professing Christian should enjoy the unsurpassed beauty of God’s creation, not alter it. Since God didn’t make us ugly, cosmetics aren’t needed to make us beautiful. Women already have a beauty that’s natural.

“Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.”

1 Corinthians 6:19-20 KJV

God’s Word on Beauty

1. Physical beauty is God’s creation, not man’s.

God has knit each of us together in the womb. He says that we are fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139:14). God is perfect and in Him are no flaws. So we can expect nothing less in His creation than perfection. Cosmetics cannot improve what’s already perfect.

“Thou art all fair, my love; there is no spot in thee.”

Song of Solomon 4:7 KJV

2. True beauty is on the inside.

Inner beauty is far more precious than outward appearances. God examines the heart, not the face. Exterior beauty will fade over time or could be drastically altered with one accident, but your inner beauty can be renewed each day.

“For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.”

2 Corinthians 4:16 KJV

3. Inner beauty radiates outwardly.

Christ changes the heart, not the face. The more sanctified you become, the more beautiful you appear. Sanctification is the state of proper functioning. To be sanctified is to set yourself apart for the proper use intended by God. It’s an inward process which radiates outwardly. Sanctification requires an internal focus, while cosmetics require an external focus.

“Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.”

1 Peter 3:3-4 KJV

4. A righteous woman is restrained by shame.

This doesn’t mean that women should be ashamed of themselves, but rather, they have a deep aversion to whatever God says brings shame. Natural beauty and modesty tend to complement one another. However, striving to be noticed by cosmetic beauty greatly clouds the quiet beauty of good works that should adorn modest woman. Cosmetic beauty and godly character cannot share the same stage of a believer.

“In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array; But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works.”

1 Timothy 2:9-10 KJV

5. Beautiful in God’s sight.

Who doesn’t want to look beautiful in God’s sight? But we need to recognize that God doesn’t judge beauty based appearance. This is because God created us, and there are no flaws in His creation (Ecclesiastes 3:11). Many girls and woman claim to put makeup on to look beautiful, but in reality, are ugly in God’s sight.

“How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, ‘Thy God reigneth!’”

Isaiah 52:7 KJV

Granted, it’s possible to wear so little makeup that it doesn’t look like you’ve put any on. But how much is to much? Where’s the threshold? When applying cosmetics, there’s no finite boundaries to guide you. Each person applies the amount that’s right in their own eyes, without considering what Christ thinks.

However, when you keep away from makeup and other cosmetics, you’ll never cross the boundaries. You’ll never fall down the slippery slope. Take care, my children, and glorify God with your body by not altering its appearance.

With loving care,
Dad

📚 Lesson 2: Makeup Distorts God’s Beauty