As a child, I was always confident about my body and my appearance. This lasted for a very long time, up until about halfway through high school. Around Junior year, I was just starting out at a new school again and wanted to make myself stand out. As my school was one that utilized uniforms, this would be through the path of wearing more makeup.
It was fun starting out because I got to learn something new and train myself to get good at it. Little did I know that this would become my vice later on as I got older. Soon wearing makeup got to be the norm and it began to feel strange if I went without my trusty eyeliner or my gold sparkly eyeshadow. I remember one day specifically, where I slept through most of my alarm and woke up near time when I had to leave for school. I ran through the shower and got my things together, but I distinctly remember taking the time to put on my makeup. Sure, I left and dried my hair with my heat on full blast during the ride there, but I prioritized my makeup.
Jump forward to today, April 22 of 2016, where I went the whole day with a bare face for the first time I can remember. As high school ended and college started, I surely went along with less makeup as the pajama style to class is a social norm, but I never went completely without. I don't feel alone when I say that I don't think I'm the only one who has this fear, however confused I am as to why I cannot bring myself to go without. Whether it be a force of habit or my constant criticalness of myself, I know others feel this way too.
So take this as a word of advice. Feel comfortable in your own skin no matter what you look like. Who knows, you may have freckles, or acne, or maybe you think your eyes are too small or your lips are too thin. Those things really don't matter though. Ask around, ask people to describe your face for you, and you'll see that they don't see what you do. They don't see what you think are dark circles under your eyes, and they don't see how naturally red you think you are. All they see is your beauty and individuality and what makes you, you.
After you think this through, act on it. While I was not wearing makeup today, I forced myself look at my reflection every time I came in contact with a mirror. As surprising as it was, the more and more I saw glimpses of myself, the more I began to think that I didn't look half bad.
Also, surround yourself with people you know love you. I couldn't have gotten through today without my roommates who were constantly telling me that my bare face was beautiful and my boyfriend who wouldn't allow me to think any less of myself, and who would go so far as to verbally tell me every time I began to say something derogatory of myself.
Overall, today was an adventure. I definitely want to go without makeup again because I don't see it as such a big deal anymore. Sure, it will take a lot more getting used to, but it makes me feel genuine and real when I do. If you have this same issue, I recommend you to try a day like mine, it truly has rewarding outcomes (and you get to rub your eyes as much as you want).
