Every individual drawn to the art of makeup has a unique beginning and perspective on beauty. These viewpoints take shape under the influence of their society, surroundings, and life’s experiences. The broader the spectrum of backgrounds, the richer they are. In today’s episode of Sound of Youth, we’re having a chat with three teenage girls who come from different provinces. We’ll dive into their experiences with makeup, their own ideas about beauty, and how they effortlessly blend their looks with the vibrant pace of urban living.
“It might have been during my early high school years when I felt like I wanted to look prettier. When I saw the older students doing their makeup at school, I thought, ‘Why do they look so beautiful? What makeup are they using?' I wanted to use the same things so I could look as pretty as they did.”
พิมนภา “Yokk” ใบสันต์, a fashionista from Hat Yai currently pursuing her undergraduate studies in Bangkok
“Back in kindergarten and all through primary school, I was into learning Thai dance at my school. That’s when I first got a taste of makeup, although I wasn’t really doing it myself back then, and the whole technique was a bit of a mystery. You know, the makeup for Thai dance is quite something – they go all out with strong eyebrows, sharp eyes, and bold lips. So, as a kid, I’d goof around with my mom’s makeup for fun. It wasn’t until middle school, when I had my own group of friends, that I noticed everyone using blush-ons and those pink lip balms. Whenever we hit the mall, checking out lipsticks became a ritual. So, I sort of eased into playing with makeup, although I had no clue about eye makeup at that point. Lipstick and a touch of cheek powder were my go-tos. By the time I hit high school, the internet was becoming huge. I’d learn eyeliner tricks and mascara hacks from Facebook and Hi5. That’s when I started getting a bit better at this makeup thing.”
“I started with tinted lip balm in 9th grade, but I skipped powder as I wasn’t into it personally. I got into makeup seriously around 12th grade – using lipstick, lip gloss, and occasionally filling in my eyebrows. I was careful not to overdo it, fearing teachers might spot it. As more friends began trying makeup, I joined in to see how it’d turn out for me.”
What was your first makeup item?
Dream: Probably a lipstick. There’s a saying that goes something like, ‘No red lips, no power.’ Back then, I just got it from regular stores because I couldn’t really afford fancy lipstick brands. I’d hit up those general makeup stores with all sorts of options in terms of brands and prices. I pretty much relied on the store folks to help me figure out what to pick.
Yok: It’s probably a lipstick. I remember walking through Watson’s and decided to buy it. When it came to putting on makeup, the first thing that popped into my head was lipstick. On school days, if I didn’t do a full face, I’d still have my lipstick on. As a kid, I only knew that regular stores in malls or 7-Elevens sold lipsticks, but I didn’t really know much about those brand counters.
Praifah: It was a color-changing lip balm for me. I’m not entirely sure if I bought them from dedicated makeup stores or not. But nowadays, I prefer buying from Watson’s because it’s more reliable, and I don’t have to worry as much about whether the makeup might contain unsafe ingredients.
What’s your definition of ‘beauty’?
Dream: For me, beauty isn’t something that can be measured. I can’t simply say someone is very beautiful, someone is not that beautiful, or define the kind of beauty someone has. I can’t give a score to anyone’s beauty because beauty encompasses both the internal and individual uniqueness, being true to oneself, and having distinctive qualities. As for makeup, it’s a way to boost my self-confidence. I don’t put on makeup because I want to be prettier than others, but to feel confident in my everyday life.
Yok: Beauty is about putting on makeup that complements your own look, so it appears attractive and natural. The reality is that each person can style themselves in various ways, whether it’s the Korean style or a smoky look. We need to consider our personality and see which makeup style suits us best. If it aligns with our personality, everything will look great. Let’s say today we feel confident about our eye makeup and outfit, and they blend well together – that’s perfect.
Praifah: Back when I was in high school in Songkhla, I thought a certain look was beautiful because it was how those around me perceived it. This made me believe that beauty was tied to having that particular appearance. Personally, I didn't feel like I fit the beauty standard, which in my view was having a small, delicate face. People in my social circle deemed this as beautiful and favored those who had this look, offering them more opportunities. But I eventually realized that beauty isn’t confined to just one appearance. Society conditions us to think that beauty conforms to a single template. Once I stepped outside that limited perspective, I came to understand that everyone possesses their own unique beauty.
Have you changed up your beauty routine to match city life?
Dream: I feel like I’ve made some adjustments to fit into society, sort of like that “when in Rome, do as the Romans do” vibe. During high school, maybe it was just me putting on lipstick, but once I got to university, pretty much everyone around me was going all out with makeup. If I didn’t, I’d catch myself thinking, “Why does my face look so bare? It’s like there's nothing there.” When people walked by, their attention would go to those who were already wearing makeup. So, I ended up changing my routine and started putting on makeup every day for classes. Another reason for this makeup thing is about my image. I’m part of the cheerleading team, and there’s this specific image people associate with cheerleaders. To fit that, you need a certain look or personality. That’s why I’ve had to change things up and take care of myself all the time, because looking good every day is about building my own self-worth.
Yok: The makeup part hasn’t changed that much, but my approach to hairstyling has changed quite a bit. Back in Hat Yai, I didn’t do much with my hair, just left it as is. But when I moved to Bangkok, I started experimenting more — braiding it and curling it just to make it look a bit better. Friends were doing it, so I thought, why not? Before starting university, I even dyed my hair because I didn’t want to look too childish. When it comes to dressing up, I kind of switched things up to look more relaxed. But at the start, when I didn't really know anyone, I wasn't too keen on standing out with my outfits or expressing myself through clothing. Except for those times hanging out with my close buddies or going somewhere, that’s when I'd really go all out with my outfit. It’s because someone once said my style was a bit too out there, and I got some not-so-great comments too. So, I figured if I had friends who got my style, I’d feel way more comfortable and easygoing about it.
Praifah: As I mentioned, during my time in Songkhla, the beauty standards seemed quite limited. If someone didn’t fit the conventional beauty mold, they would often be labeled as having a “distinctive face,” and I wasn’t entirely sure if that was meant as a compliment. The stringent school regulations regarding hairstyles didn’t make things any easier. When I moved to Bangkok, my perspective shifted as I realized that beauty encompasses a wide range of looks. It was then that I made the decision not to conform to others’ standards but rather focus on feeling confident in my own way.
I began to explore makeup and even got the haircut I had always wanted, which significantly boosted my self-assurance. This change in hairstyle had a profound impact on how I viewed myself, altering my self-perception in a truly positive manner.