I've been insecure about what my face looks like since the 6th grade. In the summer between 5th and 6th grade, my face had developed an annoying oily base that created a shine, and zits weren't that far behind. Add that to an already awkward stage of life, and, well, I got insecurities out the wazoo. So I developed this habit of wearing makeup every day.

I know, I know. Now it's like this given thing that if you don't wear makeup it'll help reduce breakouts, blah blah blah. But back then, I didn't know that.

I started out small with the makeup dabbling and that gradually grew over time. Flash forward to high school (where I was just as insecure about my looks, go figure, the shine hadn't died and the zits had barely stopped and I have this super high forehead that I didn't like at all, and dang it, BOYS were around!) and pretty much every one I talked to wore, like, a layer of foundation and super sharp eyeliner wings every day and had FLAWLESS skin. So when I got to college I was like: "wow, I need to wear makeup every day because I need to impress these people, dang it."

And do you know what I realized? No one cared.

It didn't matter if you wore a face full o' makeup or no makeup or natural makeup. No one cared. And gradually, I adopted that mindset as well. For the first time this past semester, I left my apartment and went to class and I didn't have anything on my face, and I actually felt okay.

This was a big step, fam. A big honkin' step. Was my skin flawless? No. Were my eyebrows on point? Nah. BUT I DID IT. Because here's what I had realized:

My face is not your face, and you shouldn't care what's on it. My body is not your body, and you shouldn't care how tall I am or how skinny I am or vice versa. You don't have to wear it around. I do. And if you think I'm the ugliest mug on this planet- great! At least I made a splash in your memories somehow.

I guess the point I'm trying to get at - the moral of this painful backstory, I suppose - is that what's important is that you be comfortable with yourself. This is the body you have for the rest of your days, and at some point, you have to accept that. If getting tattoos or piercings or dyeing your hair is what makes you feel the most comfortable, then I say go for it.

But you won't make yourself happy by staring in the mirror and obsessing over your insecurites, no matter where they are. If it's something you can change, and you want to, than change it. You have the power, even if you think you don't.

For me, it was the action of stepping out of that daily routine and trying something new.

Maybe it'll be the same for you.