Relationships. They can be messy or tidy, dysfunctional or thriving, turbulent or consistent.

With any relationship, we learn to cope as we push on, striving to make “this one” work. But it’s not just people relationships that are critical to our happiness: your relationship with your makeup is every bit as important to your feeling of well-being and your sense of self. You and your makeup. The relationship is reliable, controllable, and simple because it is based on one, straightforward formula: you + makeup + choice = bliss. It might even be the perfect relationship.

So many struggle with whether or not they should wear makeup, that struggle charged with fears of what others might think – it’s enough to stoke the inner embers of one’s insecurity.

We are here to deconstruct the struggle, because the truth of the matter is, the choice is yours, and yours alone. If you decide to wake up in the morning and spend 20 minutes with your makeup, that’s great! Makeup will love you for it. If you get up and skip it entirely, totally fine too. Makeup will not be offended. Don’t believe us? Here are five reasons that you should wear makeup and five reasons you shouldn’t. In the end, we’re pretty sure that you’ll see why whatever choice you make for yourself is the best choice of all.

1. Show the world every version of YOU!

Different days bring different energies. Monday mornings, your face may be vibing with more of a Lauren Conrad look - top liner and some bronzer for a summery-glow. Friday nights may have you feeling more of an edgy, rock look, like Demi Lovato. One of makeup’s best qualities is its ability to transform from Lauren to Demi and from day to night, reflecting your mood and show the world every version of YOU.

2. Wearing makeup is an act of self-care.

Sitting down for 15, even 10 minutes to apply makeup is a gesture of self-care, love, and personal nourishment. Sometimes, stopping to put on your makeup in the morning is the only YOU time you can get. So, taking the time to gloss your lips and precisely fill your brows is 100% necessary to take on the day.

3. For the sake of creation!

It’s easy to fall into a routine that quickly becomes stagnant, making you feel like your weekdays are on repeat. But, routine and structure are the key to success, right? To an extent. Sometimes, you just need a little something different, new, and experimental to get your gears going. Makeup can do that for you! Take the colors and textures to make something that’ll add a pep in your step.

4. Confidence

This one is pretty self-explanatory. We are drawn to some facial features more than others, and when we are able to highlight those parts, we really feel like we are putting our best foot

forward. Into your lashes? Coat them in color to make them pop. Love your cheek bones? Highlight them! Literally. Use makeup to show the world what YOU want them to see, as if we haven’t stressed that enough.

5. Someone shamed you about wearing makeup... rude.

Not wearing makeup because someone shamed you about wearing makeup is not a good reason to go au naturel. With hashtags like #NoMakeupMonday and #GirlYouDontNeedMakeup floating around, it’s hard to not feel like you’re going against a good cause. Just keep this in mind: #IDontNeedMakeup, #ButIWantMakeup.

You shouldn’t wear makeup if…

1. You wear it to impress someone other than YOURSELF.

It’s about YOU! Remember? Whether you are wearing it or not, the subject matter is between you and makeup only. The relationship is exclusive, and opinions of third wheels aren’t welcome. If your friends prefer blush and your man prefers bronzer but you prefer neither, throw it in the corner (gently).

2. You’re running from something.

If you wear makeup because you are running from a deeper issue, like skin blemishes or acne, then the easy way out is NOT the best way out. In life and in cosmetics, running from the problem is not the answer. As much as we want you to feel great, applying makeup to skin that needs to receive some TLC is like slapping a bandaid on without addressing what’s underneath. If makeup is your go to for covering up issues, put the foundation brush down and back away from the mirror.

3. You’re using it to be something different than who YOU are.

Knowing who you are sounds easy, until you open Instagram and see that every celebrity and influencer is into a trend you haven’t tried and you’re not sure that you like. FOMO is real. We get it. But, if you’re only putting lip gloss on because Kylie Jenner is doing it, then just don’t. Unless it’s Halloween, and you need to be a vampire. In that case, we recommend Urban Decay’s Vice Lipstick.

4. Ain’t got time for that.

Prioritizing is key. If your makeup routine is severely cutting into other goals, other schedules, and your priorities, you may need to be sans makeup until you find a way to cut down the application time. We know, the truth can hurt.

5. YOU FORGET TO TAKE IT OFF AT NIGHT!

This is just not okay on so many levels. Your skin NEEDS to breathe. And, to be cleaned. And, your pillow cases? They enjoy going all natural. If you don’t make it home with enough energy to rid your face of the day’s makeup, then NO MAKEUP for you. It really hurts us to say that, but we have your best interest at heart. Promise!

Remember, it isn’t this: makeup >>>. And, it isn’t this <<< no makeup. It’s a bit more like this:

makeup = no makeup. It’s your life. Wear the makeup. It’s your life. DON’T wear the makeup. As long as you are 100% behind the decision you make, you’ll be able to brag to people about your perfect relationship. If they tell you that such a thing doesn’t exist, send them this article.