Catholic Info
Traditional Catholic Faith => Catholic Living in the Modern World => Topic started by: AnthonyPadua on December 14, 2025, 08:16:49 PM
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Is it a sin to wear makeup? I recall reading a Saint saying that women wearing heavy makeup is a sin as it's deceptive. I personally don't think women should wear makeup and heavy makeup is indeed fraudulent.
I don't remember the saint who said it.
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https://www.cathinfo.com/catholic-living-in-the-modern-world/makeup-is-a-work-of-the-devil/
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There was a huge thread on the subject. Linked above is a more recent revisitation of the question, but there was a thread some years ago that went on for an extremely long time.
It was one or another of the Church Fathers who denounced make up on account of "deception", but I suspect that it had to do with heavier amounts of make up. With the lighter amounts of makeup, there's a very fine line between what qualifies more as grooming and/or just covering up something that might be unsightly. If I had an open wound on my face, even if it wasn't infectious or messy, but just kindof gross, it wouldn't be "deception" in any kind of formal sense, just to cover it up. But then what if you have some acne or splotchy skin ... there's a gray line between not being unsighly and trying to be attractive.
But then what if I put on nice clothes, a nice suit, or a nice dress. Isn't that intended to create a sense of dignity for your "temple of the Holy Ghost", as St. Paul says about dressing? So, is putting in a bit of make up to look a bit nicer or more dignified, less gross, less like you just rolled out of bed. Is coming your hair or putting in some hair spray or styling gel, is that deception, or is it an attempt to look "nice", or civilized. How about shaving? Isn't that "deceptive", since the natural state of a man would be to have facial hair?
Bottom line is that there's a fine line between just trying to make yourself look presentable, civilized, etc. and attempting to deceive, such as if an unmarried young lady significantly altered her appearance to the point that she didn't really look like herself, but some other person.
There's a story about St. Therese where she famously did up her hair, put some earrings in, etc. ... to make herself seem older, since she was trying to get permission to enter the convent at a younger age than was normally permitted. That was a type of "deception", in a way, right?
But if you think about the formal notion of deception, it has to do with defrauding someone of the truth ... IF the individual has a right to it. Not every random person has a right to know everything about you. Does a random person on the street have some kind of right to know that you have some skin problem or some acne, or to see every single blemish on your skin? Of course not. So not sharing that information with them ... by covering up with makeup, how is that different from not sharing information about yourself by, say, putting on long-sleeve shirt if you have some skin condition on your arms?
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Is it a sin to wear makeup? For males...absolutely!
There's a big difference between concealer and makeup.
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If anyone plans on online dating not only will you have to dodge ai robots but the real women now use a/i makeup.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Bhx-4PF3y-0&pp=ygUYVWdseSB3b21lbiB1c2luZyBmaWx0ZXJz
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The Book of Enoch say devils taught women how to "paint" their faces.
The Constitutions of the Apostles say it isn't modest too.
I bet you won't find much in the Moral Theology books though...
I will just put the info here - I don't want to get into a cat fight about it.
(https://i.imgur.com/sFXC2Wd.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/1u3algK.png)
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(https://i.imgur.com/ZkqY2Pv.png)
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:laugh1: As they say, "A picture is worth a thousand words" - thanks!
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Is it a sin to wear makeup? For males...absolutely!
There's a big difference between concealer and makeup.
Concealer is make-up ( I wear it so don't trash me)
I think what people are talking about here is more glamour make-up that doesn't just improve the natural but replaces it.
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(https://i.imgur.com/ZkqY2Pv.png)
So I guess the moral of the story is that women shouldn't bathe- lol
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So I guess the moral of the story is that women shouldn't bathe- lol
On the contrary, she looks better without makeup.:laugh1:
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Is it a sin to wear makeup? I recall reading a Saint saying that women wearing heavy makeup is a sin as it's deceptive. I personally don't think women should wear makeup and heavy makeup is indeed fraudulent.
I don't remember the saint who said it.
Fr Paul Morgan (as he then was) a number of years ago (around 2012..?!) when he was still with SSPX told a friend of mine make up was perfectly acceptable to ‘get or keep a husband’ 😊😊😀😀 personally I think some women shouldn’t go out without it 🤪🤪🤪 I do think excessive vanity is a sin eg lip fillers, Botox, plastic surgery unless you are deformed or correcting something really hideous…those women who are completely obsessed with their appearance…
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I have mandatory video calls for my job and without makeup I appear sick and older than my true age. Like it or not, people judge your age and even intelligence by your appearance. I added light makeup for dark circles, redness, and eyebrows (I'm naturally light blonde) so that I don't look sick, old, or weird. I've discussed at length with a priest and I'm morally certain I'm not sinning. I might wear it for special occasions, especially if I will be photographed. My goal is to look healthy and fresh, not alluring or seductive.
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I have mandatory video calls for my job and without makeup I appear sick and older than my true age. Like it or not, people judge your age and even intelligence by your appearance. I added light makeup for dark circles, redness, and eyebrows (I'm naturally light blonde) so that I don't look sick, old, or weird. I've discussed at length with a priest and I'm morally certain I'm not sinning. I might wear it for special occasions, especially if I will be photographed. My goal is to look healthy and fresh, not alluring or seductive.
Ah but you see looking healthy and fresh is attractive both for men and for women.
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I have mandatory video calls for my job and without makeup I appear sick and older than my true age. Like it or not, people judge your age and even intelligence by your appearance. I added light makeup for dark circles, redness, and eyebrows (I'm naturally light blonde) so that I don't look sick, old, or weird. I've discussed at length with a priest and I'm morally certain I'm not sinning. I might wear it for special occasions, especially if I will be photographed. My goal is to look healthy and fresh, not alluring or seductive.
Catholics don’t have any issues with women wearing make up or men wearing makeup if it’s for the stage or performances. Puritans are the ones against make up and adornment. In fact centuries ago it was the fashion for men and women to wear very white make up and powdered wigs but I wouldn’t go for that look 😀 it’s only a problem if you’re obsessed with your appearance and vanity. I think this thread may have an element of rage bait about it 😉😉
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Catholics don’t have any issues with women wearing make up or men wearing makeup if it’s for the stage or performances. Puritans are the ones against make up and adornment. In fact centuries ago it was the fashion for men and women to wear very white make up and powdered wigs but I wouldn’t go for that look 😀 it’s only a problem if you’re obsessed with your appearance and vanity. I think this thread may have an element of rage bait about it 😉😉
Lukewarm* Catholics. A few centuries ago was the evil 'enlightenment', I am not surprised seeing you make such a stupid and ignorant statement considering you think it's ok for your daughters to do ballet which is immodest and has immodest dress.
It's amazing how fake trad feminists will immediately label Catholic doctrine as "puritan". The other thread linked in this one has many quotes from Saints, you would do well to read and obey them.
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Is it a sin to wear makeup? For males...absolutely!
There's a big difference between concealer and makeup.
Ladislaus will have to stop with the mascara then I guess.
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The Book of Enoch say devils taught women how to "paint" their faces.
Indeed.
It has been some years since I read anything about it, but I recall something about Enoch returning toward the end, so to speak. If a legit scenario, perhaps the prophecy is actually about the Book of Enoch and what it teaches and not about the man himself...or maybe both. It is a fact that the Book of Enoch is being noticed and discussed, etc., in a way that hasn't happened for a very, very long time.
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Lukewarm* Catholics. A few centuries ago was the evil 'enlightenment', I am not surprised seeing you make such a stupid and ignorant statement considering you think it's ok for your daughters to do ballet which is immodest and has immodest dress.
It's amazing how fake trad feminists will immediately label Catholic doctrine as "puritan". The other thread linked in this one has many quotes from Saints, you would do well to read and obey them.
I have noticed a minority of traditional Catholics become so extreme they actually become like puritanical Protestants. Your comment illustrates this. Ballet, ballroom dancing, the arts, fine art, make up, alcohol, literature on a wide range of subjects, theatre, beautiful costumes, parties, celebrations are ALL in keeping with Catholicism. 😀😀🌺🌺🎄💃💃💃
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Indeed.
It has been some years since I read anything about it, but I recall something about Enoch returning toward the end, so to speak. If a legit scenario, perhaps the prophecy is actually about the Book of Enoch and what it teaches and not about the man himself...or maybe both. It is a fact that the Book of Enoch is being noticed and discussed, etc., in a way that hasn't happened for a very, very long time.
Is there a particular English translation you would recommend?
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Indeed.
It has been some years since I read anything about it, but I recall something about Enoch returning toward the end, so to speak. If a legit scenario, perhaps the prophecy is actually about the Book of Enoch and what it teaches and not about the man himself...or maybe both. It is a fact that the Book of Enoch is being noticed and discussed, etc., in a way that hasn't happened for a very, very long time.
So, Enoch and Elijah are supposed to come back as the two "Witnessses" mentioned in Apocalypse because those two are not known to have died, where they had both been taken up to Heaven directly, awaiting their time to come back.
But, yes, the Book of Enoch says that the fallen quasi-angelic / demonic nephilim entities taught women how to use makeup for seduction. Again, the distinction there is ... makeup can be used lightly, to give a natural look, to cover up blemishes, in ways that fall FAR short of being seductive. That and deception are generally cited as the moral considerations. There's obviously nothing intrinsically evil about putting some substance on your face ... say if you wanted to put some lotion on dry skin you have on your face, or were putting make up to pay a part in a play, perhaps that of a clown, etc. So even the "deception" generally requires an intent to withhold information or communicate wrong information to someone who has a right to know. I can use deception to hide my identity on purpose, for legitimate reasons ... if I'm fleeing from unjust persecution, for instance. Does an average person walking down the street or even someone in church ... have some right to see that some young lady has acne, or is it OK for her to cover that up. That's "deception"?
I think that some people struggle with differentiating between the notion that putting something on your face to change your appearance is intrinsically neutral, and that it all depends on the formal intent, the reasons for it. Yeah, if some lady is a "2" and uses masterful makeup work to make herself appear to be a "9" (I hate those numbers, but just for the sake or argument), to get attention and/or even incite lust. That's a problem. Or to deceive some potential suitor. But just to make youreself look more presentable where you still look natural (and not like a painted clown) ... I'm not really seeing a huge issue with that, nothing that has been argued wich would render it sinful IMO.
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Book of Enoch, BTW, is a borderline work. Some Church Fathers considered it to be part of Sacred Scripture, and the Epistle of St. Jude appears to quote it directly.
But, since the Church did not ultimately accept it as part of the Canon of Sacred Scripture, there's often a false dichotomy engaged where people conclude that it's fraudulent, some kind of fictional gnostic fabrication, like some things were.
People need to keep in mind, however, that just because something is not INSPIRED by the Holy Ghost, this does not mean it cannot be authentic, real, and genuine. It could in fact have been written even by Enoch himself, at least in substance ... just that he wasn't inspired when he wrote it. I'm sure St. Paul wrote other stuff than what appears in the New Testament that wasn't inspired, and the mere fact that St. Paul wrote something doesn't make it inspired. Inspiration is not some kind of habitual gift where once an author is inspired, everything that comes off his pen is written by the Holy Ghost.
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Book of Enoch, BTW, is a borderline work. Some Church Fathers considered it to be part of Sacred Scripture, and the Epistle of St. Jude appears to quote it directly.
But, since the Church did not ultimately accept it as part of the Canon of Sacred Scripture, there's often a false dichotomy engaged where people conclude that it's fraudulent, some kind of fictional gnostic fabrication, like some things were.
People need to keep in mind, however, that just because something is not INSPIRED by the Holy Ghost, this does not mean it cannot be authentic, real, and genuine. It could in fact have been written even by Enoch himself, at least in substance ... just that he wasn't inspired when he wrote it. I'm sure St. Paul wrote other stuff than what appears in the New Testament that wasn't inspired, and the mere fact that St. Paul wrote something doesn't make it inspired. Inspiration is not some kind of habitual gift where once an author is inspired, everything that comes off his pen is written by the Holy Ghost.
Right. The Shepard of Hermas is another (it was actually read as Scripture in some churches early on).
Just curious, what do you think about what Enoch (supposedly) says about the shape of the earth? It fits better with FE no?
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Before this new topic gets discussed, because it will probably be very interesting, is it possible to start a new thread on the book of Enoch and FE. :cowboy:
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I have noticed a minority of traditional Catholics become so extreme they actually become like puritanical Protestants. Your comment illustrates this. Ballet, ballroom dancing, the arts, fine art, make up, alcohol, literature on a wide range of subjects, theatre, beautiful costumes, parties, celebrations are ALL in keeping with Catholicism. 😀😀🌺🌺🎄💃💃💃
You are a modernist.
Ballet is immodest, ballroom dancing is immodest, most modern arts are gαy and jeiwsh. Makeup isn't good for the skin and most people overuse it,. alcohol is mostly misused nowadays, most modern literature is satantic garbage, St Alphonsus says to never let your children wear masks, most modern parties and celebrations are debauched with sinful behaviour.
But anyone who puts out the corruption of the modern world is Puritan. Get your head out of your ass.
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You are a modernist.
Ballet is immodest, ballroom dancing is immodest, most modern arts are gαy and jeiwsh. Makeup isn't good for the skin and most people overuse it,. alcohol is mostly misused nowadays, most modern literature is satantic garbage, St Alphonsus says to never let your children wear masks, most modern parties and celebrations are debauched with sinful behaviour.
But anyone who puts out the corruption of the modern world is Puritan. Get your head out of your ass.
Points out*
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Before this new topic gets discussed, because it will probably be very interesting, is it possible to start a new thread on the book of Enoch and FE. :cowboy:
I would be really interested in learning more about the Book of Enoch. I believe it’s not included in the books of the Bibke approved by the Catholic Church but that doesn’t mean it isn’t important.
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You are a modernist.
Ballet is immodest, ballroom dancing is immodest, most modern arts are gαy and jeiwsh. Makeup isn't good for the skin and most people overuse it,. alcohol is mostly misused nowadays, most modern literature is satantic garbage, St Alphonsus says to never let your children wear masks, most modern parties and celebrations are debauched with sinful behaviour.
But anyone who puts out the corruption of the modern world is Puritan. Get your head out of your ass.
Absolutely no traditional Catholic (including priests) I’ve ever met have an issue with dancing, literature, art, alcohol… obviously sins can be committed involving all these things eg alcohol in excess but in themselves they’re not sinful. I do agree with you about masks… we avoided them during the Covid shenanigans. Unnecessary dirty rags and won’t stop the spread of any viruses.
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My thoughts on this topic.
(In regards to women)
If your dad lets you wear makeup, or your husband likes you in makeup, then wear makeup.
If your dad says no to make up, or your husband says no to makeup, then don't wear makeup.
If you have no one, then ask a spiritual director.
If they do not care, then do what is modest.
(In regards to men trying to find some women)
If you are looking at girl, but you think she wears too much makeup, casually say what you like, if she adjusts, then maybe see if she is worth dating (courting, I don't know what people want to call it.) If she doesn't, move on to someone else.
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My thoughts on this topic.
(In regards to women)
If your dad lets you wear makeup, or your husband likes you in makeup, then wear makeup.
If your dad says no to make up, or your husband says no to makeup, then don't wear makeup.
If you have no one, then ask a spiritual director.
If they do not care, then do what is modest.
(In regards to men trying to find some women)
If you are looking at girl, but you think she wears too much makeup, casually say what you like, if she adjusts, then maybe see if she is worth dating (courting, I don't know what people want to call it.) If she doesn't, move on to someone else.
That sounds like wise advice. If you move in to a new house you might do a luck of paint on a few walls, you’ll want to make sure your clothes aren’t getting raggedy, you’ll want to keep clean and wear perfume or aftershave, I see make up as being like this. Some women cake it on and some brands contain toxic chemicals, there are more natural brands. It’s not a sin though, unless you’re obsessed with vanity.
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Lick of paint!
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If you are looking at girl, but you think she wears too much makeup, casually say what you like, if she adjusts, then maybe see if she is worth dating (courting, I don't know what people want to call it.) If she doesn't, move on to someone else.
Yeah, just because someone has it on ... who knows what her motivation was? Perhaps she just thought she needed to put it on so as not to be ignored, but in reality hated having to wear it. That's the kind of thing to be careful about judging. You might end up ruling out someone who would have made a terrific wife, due to some snap mistaken judgment.
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Absolutely no traditional Catholic (including priests) I’ve ever met have an issue with dancing, literature, art, alcohol… obviously sins can be committed involving all these things eg alcohol in excess but in themselves they’re not sinful. I do agree with you about masks… we avoided them during the Covid shenanigans. Unnecessary dirty rags and won’t stop the spread of any viruses.
It should be obvious that ballet is immodest from the clothes they wear to the movements they make. Any man can ask themselves if they think it's okay if their wife did that and allowed other men to watch. Same with ballroom dancing, the close proximity and touching is not okay. Really think about whether or not you would like your husband being close around other woman and holding them (as the dance requires) or if you doing so would make your own husband jealous.
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It should be obvious that ballet is immodest from the clothes they wear to the movements they make. Any man can ask themselves if they think it's okay if their wife did that and allowed other men to watch. Same with ballroom dancing, the close proximity and touching is not okay. Really think about whether or not you would like your husband being close around other woman and holding them (as the dance requires) or if you doing so would make your own husband jealous.
I have never met any Catholic who objects to ballet. In fact it’s considered very high class in some Latin Mass circles in England to attend the ballet and opera. Public dances have historically been social occasions and perfectly acceptable to dance with other people…Celidh dances in particular often happen in Catholic parishes. Of course anyone looking to be unfaithful to their spouse can use this to their advantage, but those people will use anything to their advantage if they have that in mind…If dancing is an occasion of sin for you, of course avoid it, but that is not the case for most people.
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Yeah, just because someone has it on ... who knows what her motivation was? Perhaps she just thought she needed to put it on so as not to be ignored, but in reality hated having to wear it. That's the kind of thing to be careful about judging. You might end up ruling out someone who would have made a terrific wife, due to some snap mistaken judgment.
That’s a really good point, you can’t judge what someone is like before finding out more information, motivations etc. I’m not a particular fan of caked on make up, especially fake eyelashes and thick foundation, I just don’t think it’s a sin and some women, especially younger ones as you say can put it on to be like their friends or because they’re insecure or because they have a few spots!!