Something I have always struggled with as a girl is whether I feel pretty without makeup on. It is hard when I watch tv, go online, or even go on social media to see girls who seem so pretty they could just be fake. But it's true, it is fake. With contouring becoming a more known makeup practice and the natural-yet-full face of makeup being the "thing" these days, it can be scary to go anywhere without makeup on.

I know this personally just from being on a college campus. As a college student, I have to walk to the dining hall to get my breakfast every morning, instead of my kitchen downstairs. Being on a small campus, I see everyone that I know within the time it takes to walk to the dining hall, grab a muffin to go, and walk the 20 feet back to bed. And yes, I even see my crush. I mean, if God has a plan for me, why does social suicide need to be included??? Welp, ever since that little incidence, I haven't felt comfortable just waking up and throwing sweats on without a dash of eyeliner here, and some cover up there. But why can't I just feel comfortable enough to go in my natural beauty? That's the question.

Going to college, I gained some awesome roommates who love makeup and do it so well on themselves. And as I was watching them do their makeup, I felt that maybe if I did the same, I would look just as good; maybe even better. So I tried the whole shebang- I got the NYX contouring stick, Kylie lip kit, Kylie brown gel eyeliner, eyeshadow, and put on my normal routine of mascara, cover up, concealer, blush, and bronzer. Well...this was the end result.

My face says it all... YIKES!

I have always felt comfortable in my own skin, I just always thought makeup added the last touch of beauty. But when you add a few too many touches, it can really ruin your natural beauty all together.

After taking off my makeup, I decided to take a selfie and see what the difference between the two would be like. Here I am without makeup.

Easy, breezy, beautiful, covergirl.

Jk, but I realized I really don't look that bad! I honestly felt I looked worse with all that crap on my face than I did with just a drop of moisturizer! Now, I am not saying that I will forever not wear makeup, I do think a bit of volumizing brown mascara (more natural than black), a brown eyeliner, some concealer and coverup can go far on a natural beauty. I am just saying that you don't need makeup necessarily to be beautiful.

Here I am embracing my natural look, with just a little mascara, eyeliner, and chapstick. And I feel more beautiful than ever.

I know this is cliche to write about, but many of us have this problem. We go with what the media tells us to be and we don't just believe in what God gave us.

But girls, we have to embrace ourselves and love ourselves, because no one can love you till you truly love yourself. And that self is beautiful.

PS: Natural lighting and a smile are the best makeup a girl could ever have.