This past year made me realize that beauty is not just for everyone, it also applies to everything. 

Related: Beauty Skills You Should Learn During the Quarantine

Can you believe it’s been a year since we went on lockdown? Although now it feels like the year has passed by so quickly, in retrospect, it was arguably one of the toughest and longest years we’ve experienced. 

While the lockdown is unfortunately far from over, we have a year of experience under our belt to guide us as we continue going through it. Now, if experience really is the best teacher, then it is wise to latch on to whatever it is that helped us cope throughout the previous year. For me, it’s beauty. 

Beauty, getting the job done 

When I lost my job because of the pandemic, I was worried about whether I would find another one right away. I knew I have bills to pay and I was aware that my mom is counting on me to help her send my brother to school, so I instantly started job hunting. 

Throughout the process, beauty turned into my war paint. While I was being profiled for the positions I applied for, I profiled the companies and decided on makeup looks that fit their industries. Doing so really helped me with the anxiety of losing my job and pressure to find another one. Thankfully, I was able to find one right away. 

From being war paint, beauty has now become my second cup of coffee. It’s what helps me wake up in the morning and gets me through the work day. As a matter of fact, part of my morning routine is choosing the beauty products I’ll be wearing for the day. Depending on my mood, I can go from just a lipstick and hydrating mist to a full face! Either way, it works for whenever I have to turn on my camera for online meetings. 

Forging friendships and strengthening relationships 

Speaking of online meetings, I have done countless with my friends. The lockdown has made us turn to technology and social media to stay connected. Although it’s nothing new, really, what’s different this time, to me at least, is how I’ve connected with many strangers who are now good friends. 

What used to be direct responses to beauty questions I’d get online are now accompanied with well wishes that more often than not turn into conversations, which over time turn into friendships. They say that we’re all in the same ocean but not in the same boat, and if talking about beauty can be a life jacket, then I’m definitely putting one on.     

Also because of the lockdown, we have spent and continue to spend more time than we’ve ever had with our family members or significant others. In the past year, I’ve bonded so much with my younger brother, and for the very first time, we did so over beauty. We would have skincare nights and he finally started wearing lip balm, which is big step. 

As for my boyfriend, who only wears tinted moisturizer, he agreed to do my makeup as a challenge and was such a sport when I asked him if I could apply makeup on him. While beauty sparked curiosity for my brother and boyfriend, it sparked joy for me. 

The beauty of it all

Unfortunately, some people are spending the lockdown alone, which can get lonely because of the circumstances. I should know because I’ve recently spent a month living by myself. Being alone with the voices inside your head can be really uneasy, so you have to find or do something that will silence them.

Since no one would see me, I became more adventurous with makeup and tried more creative and editorial looks every now and then. If it was good, I took a picture and posted it. If it was bad, I still took a picture but kept it to myself. Either way, it was a good distraction and a form of practice. 

Another thing that helped was online shopping. Okay, maybe I’m trying to justify myself here, but buying something online and having it shipped means waiting for it to arrive, which can take your mind off of things. Also, when it arrived, it felt like a receiving gift. Okay, I’ll try to justify my purchases again by saying that it’s my way of supporting the beauty industry.  

This past year has been tough. Sadly, we are likely going to experience another tough one, which is why we have to be tougher. We are so fortunate to be able to live day after day, so while we are staying alive, let’s find something that will give us the feeling of being alive. 

As a guy who loves beauty, I’ve always been an advocate of its universality. Little did I know that beauty being universal goes beyond just gender. This past year made me realize that beauty is not just for everyone, it also applies to everything.