Robin Muchetu, Senior Reporter
I HAVE never been too keen on make-up, maybe because I don’t know how to wear it or I feel I look too artificial when I cover my face up with foundations and all layers that come with it.
Maybe also because I am just a “plain Jane” after all. When I do a little bit of lipstick, the whole nation notices because I am hardly counted in that league of make-upers!
The outbreak of the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic, however, came with interesting developments that are blurring the beauty of those who require buckets of cosmetics to enhance their beauty. The mandatory wearing of a face mask for everyone, easily gets one thinking, how will the #makeupgang make it through the day with a face mask with all the artwork that will be on their faces?
Some women feel “naked” when they do not wear make-up and the new restrictions are a cause for concern for them, they would have to come out of their makeup “masks” and wear their faces clean just as if they are high school girls. For the average routine in no particular order, women use foundations, powders, concealers, mascara, eye shadows, bronzers, lip liners, lipstick and even setting sprays for the make up to hold firm. These have helped create a totally different face from the real one as some use make-up to conceal their weathered facial looks. Take note-the basic colour of most of these products is a dusty brown hue. Imagine wearing a white face mask on top of all that! Messy.
Sunday News hunted for the city’s most sought after make-up artiste, Mrs Praise Ncube-Mashaba or simply Praise as she is commonly known in her circles who explained what make up meant to today’s woman.
“Make-up is not all about changing someone’s face but to enhance someone’s beauty. That is my concept, they should still be recognised even when they are wearing make-up,” she said.
Now with this coronavirus compelling everyone to cover up their nose and mouths, what does this mean to those who live and breathe make-up?
“I understand it’s difficult to go out there bare faced for some ladies but one can still do their eyebrows and still look good. Our faces are covered and I don’t think there is a need for things like lipstick because no one will see it anyway,” she said.
She said there was no need to use foundations during this time too.
“I personally don’t see the need for putting foundations because it is going to make the masks dirty and no one wants to spend the day with a dirty mask all in the name of trying to look beautiful,” emphasised Mrs Ncube-Mashaba.
She said women must now go very light and just moisturise their faces, lips and do their eyebrows only as they are basically the only things that would be visible when one wears a mask. Since the make-up industry is booming and more and more women are making efforts to look good as they go and face the world each day, Mrs Ncube-Mashaba said business was on the down side for her.
“It’s challenging for people who used to go out to get clients. We can’t go out and we cannot get clients. People are taking it seriously to stay home and we are respecting Government regulations too,” she said.
Weddings, parties, anniversaries, photoshoots and graduations were the highlights of her business but that has all been put on hold until the virus is contained. However, Mrs Ncube-Mashaba has come up with an innovative way to keep the #makeupgang upbeat and learning how to wear make-up via social media.
“Last week I did one side of my face and left the other side without make-up just to make people appreciate on my Instagram. People appreciated and said it was an art and it’s powerful. Even when someone is beautiful without make-up, they are enhanced with makeup, they are changed in a beautiful way. I also did a tutorial on eyebrows and put it on Instagram when the lockdown started. People were happy and appreciated it because some people actually can’t do their eyebrows. So, the videos taught them a lot” she said.
