Touch Up

Mother Mother's song 'Touch Up' delves into the societal pressures and personal struggles associated with beauty standards. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of someone who feels the constant need to maintain and enhance their appearance through various cosmetic means. The repeated line 'My makeup, it has washed off, I need a touch up' underscores the relentless cycle of applying and reapplying makeup, symbolizing the never-ending pursuit of an idealized version of oneself.

The song's references to 'mascara all up in my eyes,' 'chemical hair dyes and highlights,' and 'tenderize my thighs' highlight the often extreme and sometimes painful measures people take to conform to beauty norms. The mention of 'nuclear bath balm' and 'tanner for skin tone' adds a layer of irony, suggesting that these beauty rituals can be as toxic and harmful as they are beautifying. The lyrics also touch on the commodification of beauty, with phrases like 'avon ladies singing wholesale,' pointing to the commercialization and pervasive nature of beauty products in everyday life.

In a poignant turn, the song reflects on a simpler, more innocent time in the narrator's life, 'when I was young climbing up fences, scraping my knees, dirt on my cheeks.' This nostalgic memory contrasts sharply with the current obsession with appearance, highlighting a loss of authenticity and carefree spirit. The transformation from a 'makeover queen' to an 'ugly duckling' drowning in makeup serves as a metaphor for the internal conflict and identity crisis that can arise from trying to meet unrealistic beauty standards. Ultimately, 'Touch Up' is a critique of the societal pressures that dictate how we should look and a call to remember and embrace our true, unadorned selves.