Is makeup against modesty?

[jim111]

I have not read any recent church condemnations of make up, but I don't understand how for unmarried women makeup is not sinful.

My reasoning is based on these things
1. I have been told that in the not so distant past wearing makeup in public was seen as a form of immodesty.

2. Though I understand women are to be beautiful when looking for a mate. I feel that makeup crosses the line of looking beautiful to looking sexy. I feel that makeup is not an appeal to ordered beauty and the intellect like a beautiful dress, but it entices the sexual desires of the men who see them.

3.There was a saint, can't remember her name but she had a beautiful face and men listed after her so she put acid or something on her face to prevent people from lusting after her. Now I'm not saying women should do that, nor am I aginst them using makeup to cover imperfections like scars and such. However I am feel it is wrong when Unmarried girls use makeup to appeal to the sensual desires of the ones they wish to marry, should they not be appaing to moreimportant features,Iike there holiness.

4. I grew up wanting to have a girl friend, not cause I was looking for a wife but because I wanted the emotional pleasures of having a girlfriend. Though I did not want a premiscuous girl, I was in it for my sensual gratification. When girls wear makeup it enforces the idea that part of the reason for relationships is to please the senses. From what I have read, the sensual desire toward a girl should be repressed, and the focuse should be on there soul and faith.

[Archer]

Jim, the short answer to your question is that wearing make up is definitely NOT a sin for women.  I'm due in training in a few minutes but I'll try to respond later if I can.   

[Mono no aware]

Jim, you may find as you read through the Early Church Fathers that some of them sternly condemned the wearing of makeup as immodest and vainglorious.  To our modern sensibilities, it might sound strange to hear them rail against it so harshly.  But it's important to put these kinds of things into the proper context. 

In those days, the wearing of makeup was viewed differently than it is today.  In our time, getting glammed up and looking pretty is very much okay, because it's pleasing to the modern eye, and a woman (whether she is single or married) certainly does not sin in wanting to please her spouse or a prospective husband.  As Catholics we are not called to despise the world or scorn creation like a Gnostic or a Puritan.  Not at all.  We believe creation is good, and God wants us to participate in his created order.  When a woman wears makeup, she improves her looks, and therefore (in a sense) she continues God's handiwork where he left off.

[Ancilla Domini]

Another thread on what women are doing! Oh, let's face it. Women today are just whores, especially American women. You men who are still single should just count yourselves lucky and focus on higher things. Dwelling on the minutiae of feminine depravity cannot be good for the soul. 

[Mithrandylan]

It can be.

Adorning one's body to draw undue attention is a sin against modesty.

The key word here being 'undue.' 

One can draw undue attention by dressing like they came from the 14th century as well.

It is case by case.

[Mithrandylan]

Another thread on what women are doing! Oh, let's face it. Women today are just whores, especially American women. You men who are still single should just count yourselves lucky and focus on higher things. Dwelling on the minutiae of feminine depravity cannot be good for the soul.

Who's dwelling?

Jim asked a question.

In the modern culture, it is 'normal' to see women in lengerie in the most innocent of settings, like on a billboard on the way to mass.  When one is inundated with norms that aren't Catholic, it can be difficult to discern how to act, especially in a culture that is so anti-Catholic.  If you have it 'figured out' then you can share it with others.  Don't need to sarcastically mock them (which is what I took you to be doing-- if you're not I'm sorry, but it looks like you are).

[Mono no aware]

The key word here being 'undue.' 

Indeed.  And what constitutes "undue" varies from age to age.  Basically, Jim, a girl is okay as long as she conforms to the standards of her time, place, and situation.

If make-up didn't improve upon natural looks, there would be no reason in wearing it exception to draw attention to one's self.  But it's worn because a natural face can appear plain, dreary, and unattractive.  We're not Jansenists.  Women like to look good.  No sin in that!

[erin is nice]

I don't think makeup could be sinful in the time we live in. In other times, makeup had a different connotation.

I could go on and on, but I have company coming, so I'm going to go put on my whore-face-paint now.

[Ancilla Domini]

Who's dwelling?

Jim asked a question.

In the modern culture, it is 'normal' to see women in lengerie in the most innocent of settings, like on a billboard on the way to mass.  When one is inundated with norms that aren't Catholic, it can be difficult to discern how to act, especially in a culture that is so anti-Catholic.  If you have it 'figured out' then you can share it with others.  Don't need to sarcastically mock them (which is what I took you to be doing-- if you're not I'm sorry, but it looks like you are).

Hmmm... I don't see any questions, just a lot of statements, statements that fit into a general pattern well established on this forum, of laymen setting up stricter standards for the behavior of women than the Church Herself does. In that sense I'm certainly not the one acting like I've got it all "figured out". But I'll own the sarcasm. 

[piabee]

This questions was thoroughly answered in the "other" thread you started on it.

[Mithrandylan]

I meant the question in the title of the post.

[Mithrandylan]

Jim, to go into a little more detail regarding the substance of your OP.

First, about makeup provoking sexual desires.

I doubt that makeup itself solicits sexual desires.  Makeup *may* accelerate them, but it's all part of the whole package.  A person can be immodest and provoke sexual desires without makeup.  If a woman is dressed provocatively, the makeup may accentuate the general message she is sending with her dress (of looking to 'hook up') but the makeup isn't the primary concern here.

There's actually a time and a place for a woman to be alluring to a man, and it's within marriage.  Don't fall into the error of thinking of man and woman relations being robotic and merely 'necessary' but not good.  If you become a married guy, guess what, you're gonna have sex with your wife and you're going to want her to look good.  For you.  Because you are one flesh, and she is yours as well as you being hers. 

Of course, it's a lot more tricky as a single guy looking for a potential wife. 

Anyways, thank God that you're a red-blooded man that gets turned on by women instead of a limp-wristed sodomite that wants to get his nails done and gossip about Glee.  And while you're thanking Him, pray earnestly for the graces to act according to your station in life, and to discipline yourself so as to not sin against purity. 

[erin is nice]

Has makeup, all by itself, ever encouraged lust? If you took the typical trad girl in the blouse and very long skirt, and put a full face of makeup on her, would she suddenly become provocative?

[Kaesekopf]

Has makeup, all by itself, ever encouraged lust? If you took the typical trad girl in the blouse and very long skirt, and put a full face of makeup on her, would she suddenly become provocative?

She would probably become the sauciest of whores.

[Gleipnir104]

I think the issue of make up has more to do with vanity than modesty, not that putting on make up to look one's best is bad at all.