Are we Puritans or Catholics? A little subtle makeup on a woman, say 16 and up is fine if it enhances her appearance but doesn’t make her stick out or look like she’s in disguise or going on the stage or TV broadcast.
100% “natural” is not an indication of morality as some extremists like to suggest. Should a person never cut, style or trim his or hair? Should men not shave at all and allow their hair and beards to grow at will? What about a woman with hair down to her ankles or a big shaggy unibrow and chin hairs? How does a woman with a mustaches, nose, and ear hairs look to you gentlemen? Ladies, do you like a man who resembles a gorilla?
There is no good reason for anyone to be accused having a demonic spirit for wearing a little makeup and being well groomed. In fact, if you look at Scripture, it’s the opposite. How did the demoniac in the tombs appear? Aside from being naked, he was unwashed and unkempt. Once delivered, he reappeared clothed and appropriately groomed. Nebuchadnezzar lost his mind due to pride, and looked most frightful, all hairy like an animal in looks and behavior until God released him from his punishment.
The other extreme, too much makeup, too lavish, too much attention to one’s appearance and it becomes idolatry. Look at Jezebel or Delilah, or Lot’s wife who was so enamored of the ways of Sodom she looked back in longing as God was destroying it and she was stuck, petrified into a pillar of salt.
The use of makeup to conceal scars, discolorations, wigs, for women especially, to conceal hair loss, is not wrong. Is it sinful for a man or woman to remove superfluous hairs, like those growing from nose, ears, in eyebrows, or for a woman to remove chin, lip, and mole hairs?
The same holds for jewelry. Should Catholics not wear any jewelry? No wedding rings, no wristwatches, for the ladies, no bracelet, necklace, or earrings? What about holy medals around the neck? Must they be hidden beneath clothes and no Rosaries doubling as jewelry? If your clothing lacks pockets, what better way to always have your Rosary than to wear it? Again, jewelry can be overdone to the point of being gaudy, showing off one’s wealth, or just plain tacky, in poor taste. A Miraculous Medal on a gold chain makes a nice finishing touch to many women. A man who wears a St. Christopher or St. Benedict medal on a more masculine looking chain is fine, a way to let the world know he/she is not ashamed to publicly affirm his/her Catholicism. One covers him/herself in all manner of jewelry is one who shows off. It is unfitting for a Catholic to have earrings all over his/her body. Some locations are just not suitable for earrings. It is not healthy, physically or psychologically to have a tongue rod, pierced nipples, pierced septum, private parts, damaged ear and nose cartilage. It shows disrespect for the body. But the wearing of a tasteful set of earrings, bracelet, and necklace is complimentary. Heaping one’s body with chains and holes or negatively affecting physical function is not of God. Women may wear more jewelry than men to reflect their femininity. A man wearing women’s jewelry is not masculine. Many “body modifications” are associated with paganism and are unhealthy. Japanese footbinding is crippling. Wearing a huge clay plate in one’s lower lip requires loss of lower teeth and affects eating and speech. Wearing golden bands around the neck so as to stretch the neck to the point where it cannot support the head if they are removed, is dangerous to the point of death. Designs in the skin made by cutting and burning can easily result in infection leading to sepsis. Catholics should not imitate these practices.
Find a balance between Bigfoot and Bozo! Moderation in all things, people!