101 MakeUp Quotes For All Beautiful People

By Danielle Dahl

Writer, Ph.D Candidate and Inspirational quote curator

Published December 13, 2022

These makeup quotes will empower and make you feel beautiful every day.

Looking for insightful thoughts about the art of makeup?

Makeup enthusiasts come in all shapes, sizes, colors, and genders.

Confidence, power, and sexiness are inclusive; makeup enables people to express themselves.

How important is makeup?

Makeup has been used as a tool of expression since Ancient Egypt, and the industry continues to grow, with nearly everyone having an opinion on makeup!

I will admit that I am not a fan of makeup myself, in part because I don’t really know what I am doing!

However, after reading these quotes about makeup, I might be inclined to throw a little gloss on today and tackle the day!

Below is our collection of funny, inspiring, and empowering makeup quotes and sayings collected from a variety of sources over the years.

Makeup quotes on the power of a little lipstick

1.) “Beauty, to me, is about being comfortable in your own skin. That, or a kick-ass red lipstick.” – Gwyneth Paltrow

‎2.) “Joy is the best makeup. But a little lipstick is a close runner-up.” – Anne Lamott

3.) “If you’re sad, add more lipstick and attack.” – Coco Chanel

4.) “Sometimes you just have to put on lipgloss and pretend to be psyched.” – Mindy Kaling

5.) “Put on some lipstick and pull yourself together.” – Elizabeth Taylor

6.) “Heels and red lipstick will put the fear of God in people.” – Dita Von Teese

7.) “My dad used to say makeup was a shallow girl’s sport, but it’s not. It’s armor.” – Courtney Summers

8.) “I fought a killer and didn’t even smudge my makeup.” – Rose Pressey

9.) “The best thing is to look natural, but it takes makeup to look natural.” – Calvin Klein

10.) “Makeup is about balance. When the eye makes a statement, the lips should be quiet.” – Francois Nars

Makeup quotes that will inspire you to express yourself

11.) “To me, beauty and makeup and color is like the finishing touch on everything.” – Marc Jacobs

12.) “Creativity is your best makeup skill, don’t be afraid to experiment.” – Pat McGrath

13.) “Black eyeliner. It’s standard. It’s all you need. It just makes the world a better place.” – Marilyn Manson

14.) “Every woman deserves a man to ruin her lipstick, not her mascara.” – Charlotte Tilbury

15.) “I do put on a little makeup every day because it helps me feel put together. Mascara is essential.” – Emma Stone

16.) “Thank god for Redbull and fake eyelashes.” – Jeffree Star

17. “Love of beauty is taste. The creation of beauty is art.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

18. “Makeup can make a woman look more beautiful at every age.”― Francois Nars

Makeup quotes about confidence and success

19. “A smile is the best makeup any girl can wear.”― Marilyn Monroe

20. “Sometimes you just have to put on lip gloss and pretend to be psyched.” – Mindy Kaling

21. “The right tools are just as important as the makeup itself.”― Bobbi Brown

22.) “I love the confidence that makeup gives me.” – Tyra Banks

23.) “Makeup can contribute to our success.” – Sahara Sanders

24. “I feel good in makeup, and it helps create a character.” – Josephine Langford

25. “I feel more confident if my makeup looks good.” – Ellie Goulding

26.) “I feel beautiful without makeup on, but when I do put makeup on, it just gives me this extra pop.” – Cardi B

27.) “I believe all women are pretty without makeup – but with the right makeup can be pretty powerful.” – Bobbi Brown

28. “Beneath the makeup and behind the smile I am just a girl who wishes for the world.” ― Marilyn Monroe

29. “The most beautiful makeup of a woman is passion. But cosmetics are easier to buy.” ― Yves Saint Laurent

30.) “I will not retire while I’ve still got my legs and my make-up box.” – Bette Davis

31.) “Makeup is part of my daily routine. It’s the time in my mornings when I can concentrate on me, and me alone. Giving yourself the kind of attention is so important – and is something that is definitely glossed over by too many women.” – Kat Von D

32.) “Makeup is no different than clothes and accessories – it’s embellishments for your face. And it also gives you creative freedom. You get to have that moment in front of the mirror every morning and give yourself self-love. You’re making yourself up beautiful, which is essentially self-love.” – Michelle Phan

Profound makeup quotes to empower you

33.) “I believe in manicures, I believe in overdressing, I believe in primping at leisure and wearing lipstick.” – Audrey Hepburn

34.) “The only way I’d be caught without makeup is if my radio fell in the bathtub while I was taking a bath and electrocuted me and I was in between makeup at home. I hope my husband would slap a little lipstick on me before he took me to the morgue.” – Dolly Parton

35.) “Calliope leaned forward on the vanity, which was littered with gleaming silver beauty wands and powders and a fresh mani color mitt—all of it arrayed carefully before her like weapons polished and laid out for battle. Her own lethal tools, which had always made her so dangerously beautiful.” – Katharine McGee

36.) “Makeup is not a mask that covers up your beauty; it’s a weapon that helps you express who you are from the inside.” – Michelle Phan

37.) “I came. I saw. I contoured.” – Unknown

Quotes about the art of makeup

38.) “Makeup should be just a frame for the eyes. When you lay on all the bright-colored goop and slather white under the brows the eyes themselves are lost in camouflage. Just accent whatever God has given you with a subtle hand.” – Joan Crawford

39.) “Remember that true beauty comes from within – from within bottles, jars, compacts, and lipstick tubes.” – Jeffree Star

40.) “Lipstick is really magical. It holds more than a waxy bit of color – it holds the promise of a brilliant smile, a brilliant day, both literally and figuratively.” – Roberta Gately

41.) “Boys will never understand the struggle of long hair and lip gloss on a windy day.” – Unknown

42.) “That’s why I began doing makeup in the first place: I was hoping that through helping people see the beauty in themselves, I could try and find it in me.” – Kevyn Aucoin

43.) “Color is key to making your makeup pop and have your unique look stand out amongst the rest.” – Jeffree Star

44.) “But if you want to know who the scariest person in the group is, look for the one who’s been fighting zombies without smearing her eyeliner.” – Mira Grant

45.) “And who’s to say a little mascara doesn’t make you feel more confident when you pop it on and look in the mirror?” – Christina Aguilera

Makeup quotes from Queens, Princesses and a Lady

46.) “You can be a woman who wants to look good and still stand up for the equality of women.” – Meghan Markle

47.) “An artist is the only thing I want to be. I only want my freedom and my creativity. It’s all that I live for. I reject the idea that I have to take all the costumes and makeup off to be f – king authentic.” – Lady Gaga

48.) “That’s one of the things I love about makeup. You can change your whole attitude by just doing your eyeliner or lipstick differently.” – Beyonce

49.) “The notion that wearing makeup is anti-feminist is silly. Cleopatra pretty much invented the eyeliner, and she ruled a kingdom!” – Natasha Scripture

50.) “I don’t think I could live without hair, makeup, and styling, let alone be the performer I am. I am a glamour girl through and through. I believe in the glamorous life and I live one.” – Lady Gaga

Makeup quotes to brighten your day

51.) “Makeup, lipstick, nail polish, high heels, sexy lingerie are all some of the tools that can help keep the portal of sensual into your relationship opened.” – Lebo Grand

52. “Treat your makeup like jewelry for the face. Play with colors, shapes, structure—it can transform you.” – François Nars

53. “Make-up can only make you look pretty on the outside but it doesn’t help if you’re ugly on the inside. Unless you eat the make-up.”― Audrey Hepburn

54. “I just like playing with makeup and clothes–so I really don’t feel like there are rules, and if there are rules, then I think it’s up to you to break them.” – Kesha

55. “Any woman can look her best if she feels good in her skin. It’s not a question of clothes or makeup. It’s how she sparkles.”― Sophia Loren

56.) “Life is short. Your lashes shouldn’t be.” – Unknown

57.) “To be honest I’m just winging it. My life. My eyeliner. Everything.” – Unknown

58.) “Makeup is part of my daily routine. It’s the time in my mornings when I can concentrate on me, and me alone. Giving yourself the kind of attention is so important – and is something that is definitely glossed over by too many women.” – Kat Von D

59.) “I don’t wear makeup for others the same way I don’t decorate my house for others. This is my home and everything I do is for me.” – Amanda Lovelace

60. “We’re just so lucky as women to be able to wear [makeup]. If you’re having a bad day, you can change that.” – Gwen Stefani

More makeup quotes and sayings

61. “Makeup is an art form for me. It’s a form of expression, and it’s such a cool way to get my creative juices flowing.” – James Charles

62. “I do mascara, I do lipstick, I do eyeliner and a little powder, and I fill in my eyebrows because mine are a little thin… I love makeup.” – Tori Bowie

63. “Makeup does a lot for your confidence. When I put makeup on, I walk taller. I smile more. I feel good. I know I look prettier. Even if I just put day makeup on.” – Maye Musk

64. “The biggest beauty myth is that everyone looks better without makeup. That’s not true. Makeup is important.” – Aerin Lauder

65. “I love playing with makeup. Makeup has become a thing where it’s an art form. It’s not a thing where you use it because you need to feel beautiful or because you don’t like the way you look.” – Zendaya

66. “On stage, you can get away with more, so I definitely use that to my advantage and go bolder with fashion, hair, and makeup. I love a smoky eye and long lashes.” – Kelsea Ballerini

67.) “Makeup can be used to express yourself as well. Those experiences should not be limited to women. Everyone should be free to be as colorful as they want to be.” – Ian Thomas Malone

68.) “When I put on makeup, I’m not doing it to pander to antiquated patriarchal ideals of feminine beauty. I’m doing it because it makes me feel good.” – Sophia Amoruso

69. “As soon as the makeup comes on, I transform myself. I like being an entertainer and putting on a show.” – Hunx

70. “I don’t really have the patience to do my hair, which is why it’s always parted down the middle, slicked, in a low ponytail or a messy high bun. I’m too lazy to do my own hair, but I like doing my makeup.” – Gigi Hadid

Makeup quotes that will make you smile

71.) “I’m very proud of my skin and face, and I have no problem not wearing makeup. I don’t wear makeup because I feel like I need to cover myself up or because I don’t feel confident. I wear makeup because it’s fun; it’s like painting on my face.” – Zendaya

72.) “I don’t understand how a woman can leave the house without fixing herself up a little – if only out of politeness. And then, you never know, maybe that’s the day she has a date with destiny. And it’s best to be as pretty as possible for destiny.” – Coco Chanel

73. “Consider the fact that maybe…just maybe…beauty and worth aren’t found in a makeup bottle, or a salon-fresh hairstyle, or a fabulous outfit. Maybe our sparkle comes from somewhere deeper inside, somewhere so pure and authentic and REAL, it doesn’t need gloss or polish or glitter to shine.” ― Mandy Hale

74. “She’s not wearing makeup so her face just looks like skin.” ― Chuck Palahniuk

75. “How obvious can it be? … The purpose of makeup is to defy the degradations of time, and time is just a synonym for death.” ― Dean Koontz

76. “Smile, it’s natural makeup.” ― Khalid Masood

77. “The makeup is simply an extension of the personality and colors, clothing, makeup all express something.” ― Gene Simmons

78. “There are no rules when it comes to makeup!” ― Kevyn Aucoin

79. “All the makeup in this world can never cover up an empty brain.” ― Edmond Mbiaka

80. “There are no rules in makeup. If there were, I’d break them anyways.” ― Jaclyn Hill

MakeUp Quotes To Make You Feel Confident

81. “A little makeup, a touch of rouge, a dash of henna – and you are an angel.” ― Richard Le Gallienne

82. “Makeup is a way for a woman to look and feel like herself, only prettier and more confident.” ― Bobbi Brown

83. “If the magic’s in the makeup, then who am I?” ― Gwen Stefani

84. “Whether I’m wearing lots of makeup or no makeup, I’m always the same person inside.” ― Lady Gaga

85. “I want to be a guy, but I want to wear a lot of makeup.” ― Gwen Stefani

86. “It’s not your makeup but how you are made up.” ― Tapan Ghosh

87. “Makeup can help you capture a moment.” ― Carine Roitfeld

88. “To me, being beautiful is just accepting myself. I feel beautiful when I’m wearing makeup; I feel beautiful when I’m not wearing makeup.” ― Manny MUA

89. “Just because you want to be glamorous, don’t be a sheep about your eye makeup.” ― Loretta Young

90. “I’m enjoying trying all different shades. Makeup isn’t something I’ve worn a lot of in my life.” ― Lupita Nyong’o

Makeup Quotes To Make You Stand Out

91. “Lots of women buy just as many wigs and makeup things as I do … They just don’t wear them all at the same time.” — Dolly Parton

92. “It’s all about makeup.” — Joe Torre

93. “It’s cold out. It’s even cold in Florida. So cold today that Katherine Harris put on a third layer of makeup.” — Jay Leno

94. “When you put your costume on and you get your hair and your makeup done [for a role] and you stare in the mirror you feel like a different person.” — Michael Shannon

95. “I realize as you age the less makeup you wear the younger you look.” — Halle Berry

96. “All my makeup tricks are from modeling jobs! It’s my favorite part of the job – learning new tricks!” — Erin Heatherton

97. “Makeup is such a weird concept. I’ll wake up in the morning and look in the mirror. ‘Gee, I really don’t look so good. Maybe if my eyelids were blue, I’d be more attractive.” — Cathy Ladman

98. “While at first it seemed like a depressing realization, I soon realized that makeup is powerful – it’s every woman’s secret weapon.” — Charlotte Tilbury

99. “It’s never boring in makeup.” — Dave Bautista

100. “Makeup can give you the confidence to…change your job, move abroad, get a pay raise.” — Charlotte Tilbury

101. “Go and fix your makeup, girl; it’s just a breakup. Run and hide your crazy and start actin’ like a lady.” — Miranda Lambert