When you’ve spent years being diminished and made to feel invisible, you want to take up space. Thicker eyebrows symbolize confidence, control, and presence—a direct contrast to the years when the narcissist dictated how you should present yourself.
By defining their eyebrows, survivors are saying: “I am here. I am in control of my image.”
2. Heavy Makeup: An Armor Against the World
Some survivors go the complete opposite route, wearing dramatic, heavy makeup—almost like putting on a mask, but not in the way a narcissist does.
Sharp contour, bold lips, and theatrical eyeshadow serve as a coping mechanism. It’s a way to control their image, create a new identity, and protect themselves from feeling vulnerable.
During the abuse, the narcissist chipped away at their self-worth. Now, survivors try on different versions of themselves to rediscover who they truly are.
Heavy makeup is not about vanity—it’s about rebuilding a sense of belonging and regaining control.
3. No Makeup Look: A Trauma Response
On the flip side, some survivors opt for an ultra-natural look, barely using makeup at all.
Why? It’s a trauma response.
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