With celebrities such as Kylie Jenner dropping over $1000 on makeup, it slowly becomes apparent the emphasis that is put onto makeup in this day and time. Beauty and lifestyle gurus post videos daily about the latest makeup trends and hottest new applicators to buy. I love wearing makeup; there’s something about it that gives me a little boost of confidence when I need it. However, I began to realize that I was far too dependent on makeup to make me feel better about myself. This is how I achieved my perfect beauty look.
Take a look at your bare face in the mirror. Look over your facial features that you are about to conceal or emphasize or highlight. Take a second to simply tell yourself, “I AM MY OWN BEAUTIFUL.” Whether you believe it or not, say these five simple words as you look at your reflection.
Begin to acknowledge your imperfections. Look them over with care and accept that they are a part of you. A part of you that will still be there when you take a makeup wipe to your face at the end of the day. To say that there is an individual out there without a single imperfection would be a lie. We all have blemishes or undesirable features that we try to wish away. The sooner we acknowledge our imperfections, the sooner we can appreciate them.
Now, go out. Enjoy your night on the town. Hit up that new cafe for brunch. Go to a festival near you. Do so without makeup. Even if it’s just for an hour. Feel the air brush over your pores freely. Just simply step outside without makeup once a day. Slowly become accustomed to viewing the world through eyes that aren’t emphasized by eyeliner and eyeshadow.
It may take one day, it may take years, but participating in everyday life without makeup will help you slowly become more and more comfortable doing so. Loving your face before the makeup goes on is just as important as loving it afterwards. By loving what’s underneath the makeup, you will develop a whole new confidence that is uncomparable to anything else.
Confidence empowers us beyond all compare. In my opinion, there is nothing more beautiful than a woman who confidentially walks with her head held high. Dita Von Teese said that, “You could be the ripest, juiciest peach in the world, and there’s still going to be someone who hates peaches.” There will always be someone out there who doesn’t like how you look with makeup on. There will always be someone out there who doesn’t like how you look with makeup off. Just as there will always be someone out there who loves how you look with makeup on and/or off. If you love how you look without makeup on, you will love yourself at all times of the day. When you can confidently love yourself at all times, then your radiant beauty will shine through no matter your outwards appearance.
I love makeup, really, I do. I use it when I need that extra confidence boost or even if I just want to add a little something extra to my outfit. But at the end of the day, the makeup comes off and you’re left with what’s underneath. I encourage women to wear their makeup in whatever way impels them to feel more confident. But once we learn to truly love what’s underneath the foundation, concealer, and highlight, we develop a look that can’t be topped by even the most expensive of makeup.
