I am obsessed with how Alicia Keys is doing the no makeup movement. It's so inspiring to see someone that famous, willing to come out of their shell and not do one single thing to their face in front of millions of people. In a society where people like Kim Kardashian are running the beauty industry, it's hard not to want to go out and buy every single product she has to make yourself look flawless. But I like what Alicia is doing better.

I can't say that I'm not guilty of looking up makeup tutorials, or going into Sephora for an hour at a time to see all the products that I wish I could afford. To be honest, it's sort of a scary sight to watch me get ready. My whole counter is filled with products, end to end. I am a makeup junkie and not going to deny it. I can't imagine going out on a weekend, or in a very public place, with absolutely nothing on my face, it terrifies me. One of the best parts of going out is taking an hour to get ready!

(I really wasn't kidding when I said end to end)

So, why is it that women have this stigma around them to look "perfect" every time they go out in public? Why do we feel the need to cover up that pimple, when everyone gets acne? Why are we held to such a high standard in comparison to everyone else?

It's because we're women and we have to try to prove to society, that we are in fact good enough. It doesn't matter how much education you have, or the skills you obtain, sometimes if you don't have the right looks to go along with it, it won't matter. A couple weeks ago in class we were talking about PR companies in Sioux Falls. We got on the topic of a certain one, and you could tell our teacher had a bitter taste in her mouth. Her explanation for it was, they have a reputation for only hiring people who are "pretty". How is that fair in any way? Who is to say you're "pretty" or not? Personally, I think anyone confident enough to go out and make something of themselves is someone to look up to.

Another reason we strive for that "perfect" look, is social media. I know sometimes I will scroll through my feed and get so down on myself because I don't have this one girl's nose, or another girls perfect complexion, or someone else's body type. Why do I even care? It shouldn't matter to me, but I can't help but compare. Filters and editing apps don't help either. Anyone can be truly perfect in that retouched photo they post on Instagram, but I still can't get past the fact that they have something I wish I did. I couldn't even imagine putting a picture of myself on social media with absolutely no makeup on my face.

Then something wonderful happened. After leaving my barre class the other day, our instructor handed us each quotes for the week that she wanted us to meditate on. "Admire someone else's beauty without questioning your own." At first I didn't think much of it, but then it occurred to me, I am always comparing myself to others instead of appreciating myself. The more I look back on it, the more I realize that I have done that for as long as I can remember.

So ladies, appreciate yourselves! You are truly one of a kind and perfect in your own way, and if someone tells you differently, you don't need them in your life.