Behind the glam: Good makeup can’t cover up bad character

Feb 26

By Tracee Long // Spiritual Principles // EEW Magazine Online

I went to cosmetology school and learned a lot about beauty. My training enhanced my natural ability to beautify women with hair and makeup techniques. By working with several women, I learned quickly that you can be glammed up outside and torn up inside, beautiful outwardly and ugly inwardly, totally fabulous in public and a complete mess in private.

No amount of any product can heal what is broken within. Regardless of how glamorous you appear to people, God is more concerned with what’s going on behind the glam, because good makeup can’t cover up bad character. Expensive concealer cannot hide what’s going on in your heart—at least not from God.

There is a battle going on between your flesh and your spirit. Your flesh wants to do what it wants to do, and those things are usually destructive and run counter to what Scripture prescribes for a blessed, purposeful, and God-pleasing life. If you focus mostly on your flesh and starve your spirit, character deficiencies, bad habits, and self-indulgent traits will worsen and derail your purpose. Galatians 6:8 CEV explains, “If you follow your selfish desires, you will harvest destruction, but if you follow the Spirit, you will harvest eternal life.” Are you nurturing your spirit? If not, you’re headed down a crash course toward destruction.

Avoid the outward beauty trap.

Society emphasizes outward beauty, as if that’s the most important thing. It’s no wonder why the beauty industry is worth billions of dollars! Early on, women are taught to play up their attractiveness, look for validation based on external features, and crave attention from strangers as a sign of their worthiness.

Those who fall into the outward beauty trap spend lots of time and money to fit into a manmade mold of perfection, however unattainable. They cover up their visible blemishes, while the blemishes on their souls go unaddressed. Deep inside, in places people cannot see, they are longing for something more. Their spirits are shattered, their self-esteem is low, and their character is under-developed.

Vanity leads to emptiness, which is why Scripture deemphasizes outward beauty and emphasizes Godly character, integrity, wisdom, and obedience to God. 1 Peter 3:3-4 teaches that your beauty should not come from outward adornment but from the inner disposition of your heart. Proverbs 31:30 tells us that beauty is vain and fleeting, but a woman who honors God is praiseworthy.

Does that mean the glam squad is permanently canceled?

Not to worry. There is no need to turn against the glam squad or condemn the enhancement of natural beauty with makeup, jewelry and the latest fashions. “Beating” your face—an expression often used to mean doing a stellar job applying makeup—is perfectly fine. As long as your natural appearance does not take precedence over your spiritual development, get as dolled up as you like!

However, while you’re glowing up on the outside, ask God to help you grow up on the inside. Seek the Lord in prayer. Take time to read your Bible. Surround yourself with others who sharpen you and make you better. And never be afraid to wipe all the makeup off, and be honest about where you truly are spiritually.

This is the most important thing.

Above all, remember and apply what Romans 12:2 says: “Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.”

Letting God transform you rather than letting the world conform you is the most important thing. When you submit to God, your inward beauty will match your outward beauty. God will be glorified through you, and your life will be filled with joy and purpose.