Makeup helps me feel more safe as a queer black man

Grows up in the south as black, Queer Was not always easy, but I was blessed with something that many others did not have – a mother who accepted me unconditionally. Her Beauty routine Be simple but memorable: an Imari deep violet redness and burgundy lipstick reserved only for Sunday church. But in these moments she looked completely etheric, teaches me that makeup was not about quantity but finding what makes you feel divine.

While her support was always my foundation, it wasn’t until a devastating division into college that I really began to understand the transformative power of self -expression through makeup. At my lowest moment I went into a Mac shop, sat at the makeup counter and, with tears barely held back, asked them to make me beautiful.

On these days, the Mac calculator was more than just a makeup shop – it was a sanctuary where everyone went to discover themselves. The Mac makeup artists Be known for their ability to produce the baddie from within and transform not just faces but self -confidence.

The makeup artist who helped me that day not only applied products – she helped me see myself through new eyes. Like so many others before and after me, I was into the magic that Mac artists seemed to have. As she worked and explained every step and choice, I began to understand beauty as a form of self -care rather than a mask. What started as a desperate attempt to feel better developed into a deep journey with self -love and acceptance.

The early days at the Mac calculator were a ritual of passage: Everyone knew that was where you went when you needed to find yourself, when you needed a transformation in addition to makeup. Witnessing my mother’s minimalist attitude towards beauty had taught me about grace, but the Mac calculator taught me about power and opportunity. Both lessons merged into something unique in the middle of my own Experiment with products And techniques that finally lead to my career in the industry and later I became a beauty journalist.

Being black in the south sometimes meant to fight to find the right shades, but it also meant discovering creative ways to celebrate my skin tone rather than trying to adapt to the expectations of others. The challenge of finding products that worked for me was transformed into an opportunity to develop my own unique style, one that honored both my skin and my identity as a queer individual.

Some days, a bold lip color feels like armor against a world that is not always kind to black queer people. On other days, a subtle blow of Patrick take blusher becomes a silent celebration of my glow. Each look is an opportunity to tell my story on my terms. My first Mac makeover, which began as an attempt to heal a broken heart, became the beginning of a beautiful journey towards self-discovery and empowerment.

Being visible as a black queer person wearing makeup sometimes feels like a radical action. Every time I go out with a look that I love, I hope it helps another young person feel more comfortable in the skin. Representation casesAnd I have learned that the most powerful statement is unapologetically to be yourself. When younger people in my community tell me to see me embrace my identity give them courage, I am reminded of how my mother’s simple grace gave me the strength to be myself.

Even all these years later, when I put on my makeup, I come alive – there is no one else in the world except me. In these moments I am the protagonist, the star of my show, and I can trace this feeling back to the life -changing experience at the beauty bench. That day not only taught me makeup-it taught me about the power of self-love and authenticity. Every sweep of redness and mascara stroke reminds me of the journey I have taken, from seeking validation to celebrating my unique beauty. In my reflection I not only see my face but the culmination of years of growth, self -discovery and the beautiful even though I am unpologetically myself.

Stixx Mathews Is a New York City-based freelance beauty writer with 11 years of experience that is passionate about telling stories that merge beauty and pop culture. He enjoys sharing his expert insights on the latest trends and must-have products, with a special focus on lipstick and scent.