We are going to get up close and personal.
I went make-up free in the month of September, and while that was a few months ago I've continued to build make-up free days into my week. The experience was eye-opening, despite the fact that my eyes, by most beauty standards are considered on the smaller side. In fact, if we are being real, then my eyebrows are considered too thin, my cheeks too plump, and I'm sure there are a host of other things that could be said about the face I present to the world. But, hey it's my face, 100% natural.
Below are the 10 lessons I learned about my face, myself, and the world...too much? It's funny how such a topic 'going makeup free' seems like a surface issue, but the lessons I learned go a bit deeper, puns are intended and do ensue.
1. WHEN YOU SAY YOU'RE TIRED, PEOPLE BELIEVE YOU.
Well, duh. There is no place for those dark circles to hide! Most people, including myself, don't look as tired as they feel, when they have concealer, foundation, and a plethora of other make-up products on their face.
And, if you tend to look tired anyway like me, that means you're really really tired.
2. YOU GET TO A CERTAIN AGE WHERE THAT MYTH THAT MAKE-UP MAKES YOU LOOK OLDER ISN'T TRUE ANYMORE :(
Before going make-up free, I was constantly mistaken as a younger person. Let me rephrase, younger than I am--person. This happened basically all the time. But, I think I was mistaken less for a younger person when I didn't wear make-up. Quel Dommage!
3. YOU COME TO TERMS WITH THE FACT THAT PUSH-UP BRAS AND MAKE-UP CAN FALL INTO THE SAME CATEGORY.
Okay, so at times make-up and push-up bras can accentuate your features, but then you see the flip side and how it's also false advertising. Make-up can completely alter your face until it really doesn't even look like your face anymore. I'm not taking a stand here and saying that that's a good thing or a bad, it's just false and not reality.
4. YOU BECOME FRUSTRATED WITH THE IDEA OF A MAN'S MORNING ROUTINE.
Granted, I am only going by what I've heard from my guy friends, and watching my boyfriend get ready, but you become frustrated. I questioned why do men get to just get up out of bed and go to work? Why can't I do that? Why is part of my "uniform" for work to wear make-up. Which brought me to the understanding that I felt like to be presentable, marketable even, I had to do my make-up everyday.
5. YOU WONDER IF MAKE-UP IS A REQUIREMENT FOR SUCCESS.
Thoughts of, I'm being unprofessional showing up looking so tired, and without make-up were constantly on my mind. You know that saying, 'never let them see you sweat'? I think I had developed my own inner mantra for work that was 'never let them know you can't handle it all'. Make-up was a part of hiding that fact. If I looked refreshed, dewy skinned, and awake, then who would question me, or my always can-do attitude, professionalism. Also, I think I always had the mentality that make-up was a part of always looking put together.
6. YOU FEEL STRANGE AT CERTAIN EVENTS, MEETINGS, LIFE-MOMENTS SANS MAKE-UP.
Without even realizing it, society requires women to wear make-up. Proms, weddings, life-events, NYFW, I honestly felt weird going to certain events, meetings, sans make-up. I was nervous people would think I just rolled out of bed, or wasn't prepared for my day which is kind of ridiculous.
7. VASELINE IS LIFE.
Vaseline was my number one go to. Accentuate your eyebrows, eyelashes, dewy skin- use vaseline. It doesn't clog your skin either, which surprised me! I would put it on my face after the shower let it soak in and wipe off any excess, and in the morning my skin looked more plump, like I had collagen plumped in. I also let myself wear chapstick but, when I used vaseline on my lips before bed at night, it made even chapstick unnecessary.
8. YOU MISS PLAYING WITH IT.
Sometimes you're just feeling artistic, and instead of wanting to paint a picture, or draw something you just want to paint your face!
9. WHEN SOMEONE TELLS YOU 'YOU'RE BEAUTIFUL', YOU'RE MORE LIKELY TO BELIEVE THEM, OR BE UTTERLY SHOCKED.
'Thanks', and 'you're so right' is not your first instinct. At least not for me. My response would normally be some type of brush-off. But having someone tell you you're beautiful, when not wearing make-up was shocking to me. I'm not talking family or close friends, but random people telling you this. My face, with nothing else going on, I tended to believe the compliment, or at least it meant more to me.
10. YOU'RE SKIN WILL THANK YOU.
My skin has thanked me for this experience, not that I was a heavy make-up wearer to begin with, but I was more aware of grooming, since my skin and only my skin, was what I was putting forward day in and day out. I drank more water, and was more adamant about my skin care routine.
I think this experience on a whole was enlightening for me. It brought about thoughts, issues I had never considered. It was really interesting for me to figure out that I tied make-up with my professional career more than anything else. It wasn't like I was worried about date night--which I think just shows how career oriented I am.
I think it also changed the way I look at make-up and the types of products I'll buy now. I don't want anything heavy, or that is going to change my face, because ultimately I want my face to be seen by the world not some uber glam, contoured, highlighted, masked version of myself. But, that doesn't mean I won't want to play with it every once in a while. Overall, I think women have to learn to be comfortable in their own skin and it's hard when you have so many voices telling you so many different opinions on what is beautiful.
Food for thought.
Stay Lovely,
D.R.
Editor and Curator of
Dusk & Rubies Blog
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