Make up for women has been a norm for baseline beauty for as long as anyone can remember. The ideals of make up for a long time have been understood to mean insecurity or need for approval. In this day and age some women who have gone without make up have been considered unprofessional or unkempt. What many people(men, whatever) don't understand is that women don't wear make up or dress or do anything for me at all. Make up is a form of art for many, and self expression for many.

I began a month without makeup on August eleventh and recently concluded. I thought that because I didn't wear make up regularly in the first place that this would be no problem for me. I didn't know how this could be challenging for any confident person who doesn't care for others opinions on any occasion. I was strongly mistaken.

At first there was no difference, I wasn't wearing make up anyways. A few days in was just the same, but by the end of the month I would have just about killed to put some concealer on my underage bags. A few formal events later, I was feeling insecure at times but ultimately confident that I actually didn't need make up.

A few realizations here and there made me wonder, why do I wear make up in the first place? Was it to feel like other people thought I looked good? To surprise those who usually saw me bare faced? Or actually for my self? My motivation before this challenge was definitely not selfish. I wore make up so I could feel like others thought of me, not because I thought of myself as feeling better or more attractive.

The confines of what women are supposed to do can be broken down by ideas such as not wearing make up, not being in skin tight clothing and not seeking mens approval. But a woman who does all of those things can break just as many barriers for herself and others.