The Lipstick Effect: Why wearing makeup can help boost your confidence

Have you ever felt like everyone was living their best life – except you? The constant stream of holiday snaps, date nights, shopping hauls and coffee breaks can give us serious FOMO. Here’s how to break the cycle.

‘How can they afford another trip to Ibiza?’ ‘Is that a real tan?’ ‘Why do they have so much annual leave?’ ‘How did she get her eyeliner to flick like that?’ are just some of the questions we ask on a daily basis as we scroll through our social media feeds.

But what we need to stop and remember, is that social media only gives snippets of the life a person wants you to see. Instagram feeds and Facebook albums are often carefully curated to show the best parts of people’s day. It’s not that that girl you used to know from school didn’t spill coffee on herself this morning, or that that work colleague didn’t have five attempts at curling her hair before she got that wave. They just didn’t post about it, because those photos don’t feed into the #deserved culture social media has created.

How can we stop the FOMO, and get our mojo back?

Simple! It’s time to invest in yourself, and forget the rest.

Margot Robbie goes for a natural makeup look on the red carpet 

Over at IMAGE HQ, we know beauty isn’t only skin deep. But a little confidence booster goes a long way to helping you fulfil your day-to-day tasks and, dare we say it, live your best life!

So when we discovered a study that showed how makeup can even make a woman smarter, we were straight to the beauty aisle.

The ‘Lipstick Effect’ study, by Harvard Medical School, concluded that wearing makeup resulted in women achieving higher grades than those who wore no makeup. 

In 2017, 86 female students were chosen to take part in a simulated university exam. Participants were randomly assigned to three groups: wearing make-up; listening to positive music; and face colouring. Results showed that the students who wore makeup received higher grades compared to those who did not.

The makeup-wearing students also outperformed students from the positive music group, as well as students who were engaged in a control activity.

Overall, it was concluded that wearing cosmetics had a positive effect on the women’s cognitives, making them feel a sense of overall enhancement in self-esteem, attitude, and personality.

Feeling good about yourself on the outside and the inside? That’s the ultimate self-esteem booster we can all like and share. 

Gwyneth Paltrow opts for a ‘kick-ass’ lipstick to boost confidence

Taking pride in your appearance tells the outside world ‘I’ve made an effort today because I am worth it’. Makeup can empower a woman to present herself in a way that she chooses to be seen – whether that’s to conceal a blemish, give the illusion of a sun-kissed cheek, or a brighter smile.

As Gwyneth Paltrow said: ‘Beauty, to me, is about being comfortable in your own skin. That, or a kick-ass lipstick.’

Here are the IMAGE team’s top makeup picks for living your best life.

L’Oréal Paris Pure Clay Blemish Rescue Mask to smooth out any imperfections before you apply your makeup

L’Oréal Paris True Match foundation – lather it on for full coverage or just use a small amount for that natural look

L’Oréal Paris Super Liner eye liner for the slickest flick

Complete your makeup look with L’Oréal Paris Colour Riche Matte Addiction Lipstick for the ultimate confidence booster 

So that dress you feel great in? Wear it.

That lipstick that makes you feel like a movie star? Lash it on.

Those heels you know elongate your legs? Pretend you can walk in them.

That highlighter that defines your cheekbones? Lather it on.

And make sure to take a selfie, even if it doesn’t end up on the ’gram.