I once saw an ad for makeup that handled “acne, freckles, and other skin conditions.” Since when did freckles become a skin condition? I’ve always been fond of my freckles. I guess these companies need to make women feel insecure about their own appearances to get them to buy more cosmetics. In India they have whitening cream, in America they have tanning lotion; wrinkles and grey hair are old and ugly; lips must be red, eyes kohled, cheeks blushing, armpits and legs smooth. You get used to seeing beautiful women smothered in makeup, and become dissatisfied with the natural, normal human beings we are. But truly we’re just as good without additives. If not better.

“I would not enjoy touching vermilion as much as your own skin and I do not enjoy looking at flesh colour as much as your own and I would not enjoy seeing your eyes covered with make-up as in good health.”

— Xenophon’s Oeconomicus, 10.3