Narcissists hate it when you look good. Their jealousy oozes out when you put effort into yourself because they despise the fact that they cannot match your beauty, looks, and standards. At first, they may ridicule your makeup by convincing you that you look good quite naturally and do not need to do anything extra. They may also blindly accuse you of cheating when you look good and blame you, saying you are doing all these things to impress someone at your workplace. Because of their controlling behavior, you slowly start to underdress, stop doing makeup, and, unfortunately, eventually stop looking in the mirror.
Number one: bushy or overly defined eyebrows.
Why? Because you try to reclaim your strength. One of the first things survivors do after breaking free is go for bold, thick, or sharply defined eyebrows. This isn’t just a beauty trend; it’s a psychological shift. After spending years being diminished and made to feel invisible, you want to take up space, don’t you? Thicker eyebrows give a more dominant and assertive look. They symbolize confidence, control, and presence. For years, the narcissist controlled how you presented yourself, but now you are defining yourself. This is why many survivors get obsessed with shaping, filling, and ensuring their eyebrows stand out. It’s their way of saying, “I am here, and I am in control of my image.”
Number two: heavy or uncanny makeup.
It’s armor against the world. A lot of survivors go the complete opposite route. They overdo their makeup almost like they are putting on a mask, but not like that narcissist. Dramatic eyeshadow, sharp contour, bold lips—it all looks almost theatrical, but it’s not just for show. It is a coping mechanism to positively control their image and create a new identity to protect themselves from feeling vulnerable. During the abuse, the narcissist chipped away at their self-worth. Now, as a survivor, you try on different versions of yourself to see what feels right. It is a search for identity. The heavy makeup is not about vanity; it’s about rebuilding a sense of belonging.
Number three: the no-makeup look.
10 Weird Signs of Narcissistic Abuse in Body Language
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