I haven't worn makeup in about two weeks. The typical reaction I get from other women is, "Oh, I could never do that," or "I don't set foot outside the door without makeup." That response is basically the exact reason I chose to stop wearing make up.
Make up can be a fun thing--it can transform a person's look in so many different ways. However, for a long time, I've felt like I was getting close to having a dangerous relationship with it. I started to feel reliant on it--as if I couldn't be as beautiful without it. It became almost a crutch. I started becoming self conscious about my makeup-less face.
It didn't occur to me that this was an issue for me until I had a conversation with some friends about that moment when you start dating someone, and you don't want them to see you without make up yet, so you end up going to bed wearing make up (even though you normally take it off every night), and wake up early to refresh it so you just "somehow" look good all the time. Some girls seemed to know this all too well, while others had never heard about this and thought it sounded ridiculous. After giving it some thought, I realized it was a bit silly, and that's when I realized that I was scared that a guy wouldn't think of me as beautiful if I didn't have my usual makeup on. That's an intense realization.
I would consider myself a relatively confident person, so I was almost shocked when I realized I prefer how I look with makeup to how I look without. How is anyone supposed to feel good about themselves when they are taught to constantly question their appearances? I have smaller eyes, almost no eyelashes, and freckles painted across my cheeks. These are all things I've had hang ups about throughout my life, and have never really understood why.
The media has set up an unrealistic expectation for women. Many women have bought into this, constantly being told that what they look like naturally isn't good enough. Most men don't wear makeup--why should I feel like I have to? I want to believe I'm beautiful as I am. Some days I do, some days I don't. This is something I'm determined to change. I don't want to feel like my worth is based on how "pretty" I am, so I'm not going to.
Last night I was telling a friend about my decision to stop wearing make up, when she stumbled upon this article supporting my decision.
Read more here:
http://m.huffpost.com/us/entry/3652968?ncid=edlinkusaolp00000009