Holy or High-Maintenance? Where Faith Meets Vanity in a Beauty-Obsessed World
Can I Love Jesus and Still Get Botox? Let’s Talk About Where Confidence Ends and Idolatry Begins.
There’s a photo of me at age 26, fresh-faced and wide-eyed. No lines. No creases. No forehead that folds when I laugh. I didn't think much of it then.
Fast forward to now—I catch myself studying my reflection with surgical focus.
Is that a wrinkle?
Do I look tired—or just old?
Maybe just a little Botox between the brows?
And then comes the guilt: Should a Christian woman even care this much about her face?
Is it vanity? Or is it stewardship?
Am I glorifying God… or just glorifying my appearance?
This is the tightrope we walk in a beauty-obsessed culture. And honestly? It’s complicated.
The Lie Beneath the Lipstick
We can joke about Botox and Sephora points and self-care Sundays, but if we’re being honest, some days it feels like we’re all just trying to keep up. Keep up with the moms who never age. Keep up with the influencers who "just woke up like this." Keep up with who we used to be—or wish we were.
And the deeper issue isn’t the makeup bag or the filler appointment.
The deeper issue is the fear of not being enough.
Not pretty enough.
Not youthful enough.
Not “put-together” enough for the Bible study group, the Zoom call, the grocery aisle.
But here’s what I’m learning: when your worth is built on how you look, you will always be exhausted. Because no amount of moisturizer or mascara can heal a soul that’s chasing worth in the mirror instead of the Messiah.
Confidence vs. Idolatry: The Heart Check
So can you love Jesus and still get Botox? I think yes—with a but. The question isn’t just can I do it—but why am I doing it?
Here’s the heart check I use before I make any beauty-related decision (and trust me, I still make them):
Is this coming from a place of insecurity or stewardship?
Am I fixing a flaw—or feeding a fear?
Would I feel less valuable if I didn’t do this?
Have I asked God about it—or just my esthetician?
We are called to steward our bodies, not worship them. And there’s a very fine line between the two.
When “Self-Care” Becomes Self-Focus
I love a good facial and a fresh set of nails. I also know I’ve used them more than once to avoid the deeper work of healing my heart.
Because it’s easier to treat your face than face your wounds.
It’s easier to hide the fatigue than admit you're burnt out.
Easier to smooth over your exterior than confront what’s unraveling inside.
I’m not saying beauty treatments are bad. But when “self-care” becomes our go-to savior, we start to worship at the altar of self instead of surrendering to the God who made us.
What the Bible Actually Says About Beauty
Let’s set the record straight: God is not anti-beauty. He created color, design, detail. Look at a sunflower. A peacock feather. The intricate lines in your own fingerprint.
But Scripture does warn us about obsessing over outward appearance. Not because it’s evil—but because it’s empty.
“Your beauty should not come from outward adornment… Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit…” — 1 Peter 3:3–4
Notice it doesn’t say “don’t wear makeup” or “never do your hair.” It says, don’t let that be your source. Because beauty fades. But character doesn’t crack or wrinkle.
Can Beauty and Holiness Coexist?
Absolutely. But they have to know who’s in charge.
You can be a woman who loves Jesus and also wears lashes, books facials, and yes—maybe even gets Botox. But if any of those things start to define you, rather than enhance who you already are in Christ, it might be time for a spiritual mirror check.
Confidence is good.
Taking care of yourself is good.
But when you’re chasing beauty to fix something only God can heal—that’s when it shifts into idolatry.
The Real Glow-Up Is Spiritual
At the end of the day, no one gets to define your worth but Jesus. Not the algorithm. Not your age. Not your reflection. Not your past.
You are already loved, chosen, and called beautiful—before any serum, filter, or filler.
So take care of yourself, yes.
But also sit with yourself.
Ask God to show you where your true value lies.
Spoiler alert: it’s deeper than your skin.
Beauty Isn’t the Problem—Amnesia Is
We forget who we are. That’s the real issue.
We forget we’re fearfully and wonderfully made.
We forget we’re already enough in Christ.
We forget that a radiant heart will always outshine a wrinkle-free forehead.
So here’s what I remind myself:
✨ Jesus died for me—not for my smooth skin.
✨ I can be both high-maintenance and holy if my heart is submitted to Him.
✨ I can steward my body without worshiping it.
✨ I don’t have to choose between beauty and faith. I just have to remember who made me beautiful in the first place.
Your Turn:
Have you wrestled with this too? What helps you stay grounded in your identity while living in a beauty-driven world? Share your story. This conversation isn’t about judgment—it’s about honesty and freedom.