Fake-It-Till-You-Make-It Principle

So lately I've been on this lipstick binge. I've been wearing it nearly every time I go out. It's the most miraculous thing ever. It's a small investment that makes me feel like a million bucks whenever I put a color on my lips. I know this may seem superficial, but it's actually a thing that economists have seen to be true.

It's a beast of many names. I've heard the Lipstick, Manicure, or Salon Principle. Basically what it is is that people (here mostly women) will pay for small indulgences that improve their outward appearance (like getting a new lipstick or a manicure or a salon trip) when they are in tougher financial situations to make them feel better about themselves. This means in lieu of Jimmy Choos or Louboutins, we go to the Wet N' Wild display and fill our carts with $.99 lipsticks and nail polishes.

One time I was watching a documentary (let's be honest, it was probably an E! Special) about people who made it big in the "pamper business," and there was a story about a man who did manicures for celebrities. This was the first time I heard about this "Manicure Principle." I don't know the specifics, but I think he got laid off from a job doing art of some sort, and a relative of convinced him to pick up the nail polish brush. But he said something along the lines of, "No matter how bad the economy is, people will still pay to look good." People will pay to look good, to feel good about themselves, no matter how bad their economic situations are. Especially if it's immediate gratification. That's why the "diet" industry is a billion dollar construct.

But it's not even specifically when the economy is bad, it's in any type of distress. A lot of our knee-jerk reactions are to look good, even if we're not doing so good. One time I asked my mother if she could bring anything to a desert island (provided she had enough food and water) what it would be, and she responded with "red lipstick." Because even though no one would ever see her, that red lipstick would make her feel okay and normal and pretty and confident like she could conquer that island.Even in Sex and the City, the all powerful Carrie Bradshaw used a makeover to mend her broken heart. Like a new look, a new life. It's why we make New Year's resolutions, buy new wardrobes, change hairstyles, get makeovers. It's more like a Fake-It-Till-You-Make-It Principle.

It's kind of weird how our outward appearances effect how we feel on the inside. A great hair day can make you feel like you can conquer the world, but a pimple can make you cower in the presence of someone attractive.

It's not a bad thing to make yourself feel pretty. I mean sometimes, especially when times are tough, putting on a little lipstick can make you feel great about yourself. And there's nothing wrong with decorating your body however you see fit. However, it's not what's on the outside that gives your life meaning, it's what you put out into the world. If you put out great stuff into the world, you'll get great stuff back. But if you want to put out great stuff while wearing hot lipstick and killer shoes, go ahead. It's all about how you feel about yourself. Moral of the story: wear your red lipstick on your desert island if it makes you feel good about yourself and gives you the confidence to survive.

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