Did The Women In Bible Times Wear Makeup?

What does the Bible say almost makeup? Is it wrong to want to alter or raise our appearance through the use of a niggling mascara or chroma? It's been an age-old question that has many women and young girls confused, oppressed, and shamed for wanting to wait beautiful. I view makeup as a tool. And similar whatsoever tool, it depends on how it's used and the intentions within my heart.

I am 100% a girly girl. I've always loved fashion, makeup, and hair. Wearing a certain shade of eyeshadow, a cute top tin accentuate the natural beauty God gave me. I always desire to wait my best simply growing up I was given mixed messages from both men and women about my makeup, fashion, and dress.

One item conversation comes to mind when a pastor's wife pulled me aside equally a new youth coming to church on Wednesday nights told me that makeup is the devil'due south fashion of young girls getting the wrong attending. At the fourth dimension, I had only used concealer and mascara. I was told considering I used makeup and highlighted my hair, I looked similar a prostitute instead of a fresh-faced teenage girl. This was the first of many confusing messages I received equally a immature woman. Either my makeup made me look besides grown upwardly, seductive, or non feminine plenty.

After, when I met my husband, he taught me but how beautiful I am without makeup, cute hair, or fancy wearing apparel. His favorite thing is when I wear makeup with a messy bun and a t-shirt. To brand an effort is a way to testify him I love him. On the flip side, this is the same homo who loves seeing me in my natural art form when we work out, run early on forenoon errands, or go hunting. My husband taught me to view myself through the lens of God who created me with us care and wonder. I learned my identity isn't in the correct shade of foundation, but my identity is firmly found in my Creator God.

The point? No matter how women apply makeup or wear clothes, we live in a civilization that criticizes women. Gendered expectations around advent vary drastically from church to church or community to community depending on the culture. But the data shows that, regardless of the surround, women face up more scrutiny than men virtually how they look and what they habiliment. One study found that on average women spend about 3276 on training whereas men will spend one,092. The boosted corporeality of fourth dimension equates to ten full working days. That's a lot of actress time and energy to put into something that is supposed to make us feel better almost ourselves. But it tin often lead us astray.

Is it a Sin to Wear Makeup?

Some Christians believe it is wrong for women to wearable makeup, citing passages that seem to prohibit it. These people also believe a woman shouldn't braid their hair nor wear anything but skirts or dresses. While we want to live our lives in a fashion that respects and honors God, we must exist careful our views and opinions that do not get beyond the Word of God actuallysays. It is a sin to teach man-made ideas as commands from God (Mark vii:7).

A glance equally the nearest magazine rack is likely all the prove y'all need to know our culture values dazzler, seduction, and a charm over godliness. But it's not just our culture. Women have been altering their appearance since the beginning of fourth dimension when Eve forth with her hubby covered their bodies with leaves.

In fact, the first use of makeup can be traced back to 7,000 years ago with the ancient Egyptians. Archeologists have fifty-fifty found canisters of makeup in tombs. Researchers retrieve Cleopatra used lip color created from ground cherry beetles for hue.

Photo Credit: © Getty Images/jacoblund

What Does the Bible Say about Makeup?

Biblically speaking, we can find a few passages near beauty rituals and makeup. When Esther entered the palace, she went through a year-long beauty ritual for purification and cosmetics.

Each young woman'due south turn came to go in to King Ahasuerus later she had completed twelve months' training, according to the regulations for the women, for thus were the days of their preparation apportioned: vi months with oil of myrrh, and six months with perfumes and preparations for beautifying women (Esther two:12, NKJV).

The NIV translates the passage as:

Before a young woman'due south turn came to go in to Rex Xerxes, she had to complete twelve months of dazzler treatments prescribed for the women, vi months with oil of myrrh and half-dozen with perfumes and cosmetics.

When it comes to how women beautify themselves, there are few verses about makeup or cosmetics. The passages we do find are warnings and words of wisdom to remind the states God doesn't care about our outward advent just what is within our hearts. Nosotros would exercise well to remember Proverbs 31:xx, "Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised."

The passages we do find (1 Timothy 2:nine-ten, Jeremiah 4:30, 1 Peter 3:3-4) have one common thread, it's the intent of why we adorn ourselves in the first place. We find that God isn't opposed to women looking beautiful. We find God is opposed to women looking seductive and worldly.

Having the Correct Intentions

To answer the question 'what does the Bible say about makeup,' we need to address the intention behind the use of makeup. What intentions do you take when you go dressed for church, the gym, or work? What thoughts run through your heed when you're planning a night out with your friends? Are you dressing to impress others or is your identity found in God? We must remember where our true identity lies. Our worth is found in Christ. When we forget, we get out ourselves open to believing the lies of the world: "I'm ugly without makeup." "I'm not pretty enough." "I'thou non equally pretty equally her." God besides crafted our heart in His likeness. He wants our identity, confidence, and security to come from the foundation as His daughter—not how nosotros enhance our looks. Equally the scripture states, God "looks at the hidden person of the heart", and that is "very precious in the sight of God."

Equally platitude as it sounds, God does care well-nigh your outward appearance, but He cares near your center more. He carefully crafted and wove you lot together in your mother's womb. He took care to create your heart color, the hue of your hair, and even planned how you would wait right downwardly to the very placement of your freckles.

When we put on makeup, nosotros need to careful that it doesn't get an idol. Scripture warns us that we should never focus so much on the outside appearance at the cost of neglecting our insides. When nosotros exercise—it leads to more believe more lies, creates self-worth issues, and more sin.

ane Peter 3:three-iv "Your beauty should not come up from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine apparel. Rather, information technology should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and tranquility spirit, which is of cracking worth in God'southward sight."

1 Corinthians six:12 "I accept the right to do anything," you say–but not everything is beneficial. "I accept the correct to do annihilation"–just I will not be mastered past anything."

Ephesians 3:17-19: "I pray that yous, beingness rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord's holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the beloved of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses noesis—that you may be filled to the measure out of all the fullness of God."

As daughters of God, nosotros are free to wear makeup so long as nosotros do and so with pure motives. Always remember God cares so much near the beauty of your soul. He wants the states to wearing apparel ourselves in His dearest and character so that nosotros reverberate Him. Ultimately, we are His masterpieces—His creations. He is the ultimate artist who fashioned us and chosen us, "very good."

Heather Riggleman is a laic, wife, mom, author, social media consultant, and full-fourth dimension writer. She lives in Minden, Nebraska with her kids, high school sweetheart, and three cats who are her entourage effectually the homestead. She is a quondam award-winning journalist with over 2,000 manufactures published. She is full of grace and grit, raw honesty, and truly believes tacos can solve just about any state of affairs. You can find her on GodUpdates, iBelieve, Crosswalk, Hello Darling, Focus On The Family unit, and in Brio Magazine. Connect with her at world wide web.HeatherRiggleman.com or on Facebook.