“Mauve,” by Zoe S., is a real and unique piece. The narrator covers her face with eye shadow, eyeliner, mascara, blush, and foundation to “blend in.” She does not think this enhances her beauty in any way, and promises to someday stop wearing makeup. As she notices in the mirror that her lips are bare, the speaker “sinks to the level of mauve” when she applies her mother’s deep colored lipstick. This piece is very well written, and the slow pace as the narrator reaches for the lipstick, places the reader in the vivid scene.
This piece is also very relatable. In my opinion, almost every girl has been in this position. We all promise to one day stop wearing makeup, but this day never seems to come because of a strong desire to fit it. We are all hopeless and lost in the crowd, and we’ve all, at least once, “sunken down to the level of mauve.” Overall, “Mauve” is a very truthful, inspirational, and thought-provoking piece to (especially) female readers.