By Margarita Artoglou

Hi, my name is Margarita and I am a makeup hoarder.

Here is an example: I own at least 40 different types of lipstick. I wear lipstick very infrequently, and yet I feel an intrinsic urge to buy more.

Listen, I know there are people with a bigger problem than mine. There are people who own hundreds of products, people who feel the need to buy out an entire line of products when a brand launches a new collection. Still, I understand what it is like to have a makeup addiction; I am just inhibited by my college-student budget.

I am a fan not only of makeup itself, but of the entire beauty community. I love the makeup artists on YouTube who film tutorials, the bloggers who review the new releases and the Instagrammers who post close-up shots of their eyelids after creating masterpieces with eyeshadow.

But I feel like I cannot fully embrace my love of makeup, at least not without a little guilt. After all, the beauty industry was built by exploiting women’s insecurities and turning them into profit. How can I support such an industry with a clear conscience?

Makeup itself can be empowering, which is why so many people are passionate about it. Anything that boosts people’s confidence has my support. But the makeup industry often uses their advertisements to knock people down, then offers their products to bring them back up. That’s not a confidence boost; it’s a marketing strategy.

Even walking down the beauty aisle at the drugstore can bring out insecurities. All the new products that promise to perfect your face can seem aggressive after a while. Just the fact that these products exist is enough to make me second-guess my natural face. I did not realize there was so much that could be fixed! The products seem to scream out at me: “Cover those bags under your eyes! Lengthen those lashes! And for the love of God, can someone please contour that nose?”

Then I remind myself that wearing makeup is not required for me to be a fully-functioning member of society. I have black circles under my eyes, but so what? If concealing them makes me feel more confident, then I will, but if I wake up in no mood to put products on my face, then I will not.

Wearing makeup (or not wearing makeup) is supposed to be a choice one makes in order to feel confident and empowered. The media and the makeup industry can make it seem like beautifying yourself every morning is the key to happiness, but that is not necessarily true. Remember that they are trying to sell you a product and will use any means possible to do so. This does not mean you should shy away from makeup alltogether. Just remember that this is about you, not the model on the display.

Advertisements will try to tell you that your skin is not clear enough unless you buy a particular exfoliator, or they will try to sell you a glamorous lifestyle that can be attained if you buy just one more lipstick. But it never ends there.

The goal of the beauty industry is to hook you in and make you spend money, but you can resist temptation.

Think critically before buying: are you purchasing a product because you are excited about how it will look, or are you purchasing because the media told you that you have a flaw and a cosmetics company told you this product will fix it?

Buy and wear things that make you happy. The beauty industry will try to get you to buy as many products as possible, but you ultimately get to decide how much (or how little) actually gets the honor of being applied to your beautiful face.