Day 3:
I went out and took a picture with my best guy friend for his birthday. I was bare faced and I remember thinking holy shit I’m going to look like I’m dying in this picture. To my surprise, I actually looked fine. The really cool thing about this night was that I was with all my friends from when I never wore any make-up and it was kind of like I was transported back to a time where I felt good about myself, overall. I was surrounded by positive energy and people who are way past looking at me in a physical, superficial sense.
Lesson learned:
The people who matter value you, not your face.
Day 4:
That weekend I went out one night in the city with my friends and contemplated caving in for just one night. But guess what? I didn’t. I kept faith in myself that I would make it the whole night – I wouldn’t hide from looking anyone in the face.
Go me!
I struck up a full conversation with a guy I used to hook up with and to be honest – it was easier without anything on my face. He was attentive and talkative. Weird, but I felt like everything was out there – I didn’t need to cover up, I didn’t need to put on an act. I was being raw and authentic. For whatever reason, I felt a calm. I felt like hey – this is me, love it or leave it.
Lesson learned:
My make-up was not what was keeping guys interested in having conversations or flirting with me.
Day 5:
On the fifth day, I had a revelation. I preferred my bare, pale, face at 8 a.m. and felt like I looked happier and maybe even more approachable.
Day 6:
I was working the bar at my job and I realized that so many times I’m worried throughout the day of what my makeup looks like when coming face to face with all these people. Is my face getting greasy? Is my lipstick smudged? Should I go to the bathroom and make sure my mascara didn’t rub under my eye? I didn’t have to think about any of this. I had to focus on my customers and talking and bullshitting with them like I usually do.
This isn’t just at work, but in day-to-day life like having lunch with friends – we do this too.
Lesson learned:
Make-up can be a distraction from what we’re really trying to do or accomplish.
Day 7:
By my last day, I woke up and was so used to not putting on any make-up that I realized I had honestly forgotten about my appearance in general. Not that I looked like a slob or anything like that, but I didn’t think about it when face to face with someone or leaving the house. The one thing I thought I noticed was that my skin felt smoother and looked a little brighter. But again – I wouldn’t believe it without validation. (I’m still working on that).
But, lucky me! I was at dinner with my best friend when she said to me – “your skin looks really good and clear.” I pretty much jumped out of my seat and said: “ITS BECAUSE I’M NOT WEARING ANY MAKEUP THIS WEEK!” I had noticed the change and felt so awesome in the fact that someone else did too.
I remember feeling like my skin looked really dull the first few days, but according to my friend and even my own personal reflection when I looked in the mirror – I was now glowing. I felt like this was what I needed. Not just the validation of others – but the validation from myself.
Although I always swear I don’t care what people think, I realized – I really did this past year. I realized dropping the make-up wasn’t hard on me, it was harder on my ego of what people thought of me. I feel like in the last week I have had more conversations and met a few more random people than I usually do. I realized that friends love you, people will appreciate your words and conversation, and the most important love you can ask for is the love of you, by you, regardless of your face.
I realize make-up should be used for you to just switch up your looks or appear “presentable” in a situation, not to better you or to enhance you.
I’m going to stick to this, at least for my day-to-day. As for when I go out – I’ll be sure to keep my more natural face and only do it up for occasions. The only thing I might add back in is my regular routine is eyebrow gel because I have OCD-like tendencies when it comes to the hairs in my brows being out of line. Other than that, I realized this week that I rediscovered my self-worth as a human, not just as a “pretty face.” If you’re having self-esteem issues and feel like you’ve been using makeup as a crutch (or just want to check out the amazing effects it has on your skin), I honestly challenge you to drop it cold and focus on making you shine more than your cheekbones.