I'm a girl who loves makeup. Makeup for me is a way of expression; it's a way that I get to explore my beauty and get to have fun doing whatever it is I want to my face. But today, I decided to not do that. Today I decided that I was going to wake up, take a shower, and go about my day as is. I was scared at first, terrified actually, but as soon as I stepped out the door, all those fears went away.
My day without makeup actually taught me a couple of things.
1. It's really not that scary.
I was terrified that someone or something was going to happen because I wasn't wearing makeup. I thought that someone would make fun of me for it. I thought that my face was so gross I wouldn't be able to sit in my class today. But I did. I sat through my class, I talked to my friends, I even talked to complete strangers. I was fine with wearing no makeup. It was freeing, and I even gained more self-confidence.
2. People didn't look at me differently.
I had this scenario playing in my head that everyone would point out that I don't have makeup. I thought people would find me ugly and treat me differently. I thought that people were going to roll their eyes and would think I was trying to make some feminist point. But they didn't -- it was quite the opposite, actually. People treated me with more respect, probably because I was more confident without makeup. No one pointed out that I wasn't wearing makeup; someone even said that my face looked clean and I looked happier. It was amazing.
3. My face doesn't define me.
Yes, the first thing people see of me usually is my face, but my face isn't what makes me, me. There is so much more to me than the mascara or bombshell-red lipstick that I can pull off. Too many times I get stuck thinking that if my makeup looks just right, it can make up for my personality. But that's so false. My personality isn't for everyone, nor is it perfect all the time, but my personality is who I am. I'm kind, expressive, sarcastic, and I love passionately. I don't understand my personality 100 percent, but I do know that I am great no matter what my face has on it or what it doesn't.
4. I have imperfections... and that's OK.
My skin tone isn't completely even and I have acne, and that's OK. I have grown up being ashamed of my acne, so I thought it would make it look like I don't take care of myself or wash my face, but it doesn't. I'm a 20-year-old in college, and acne is completely normal. I'm going to stress out, I'm going to eat junk food from time to time, I'm not going to get the amount of sleep that I probably should, so what? I find my acne and the scars a sign that I have lived and I continue to live. I'm human.
5. I love makeup.
I know you were probably expecting something like "I'll never wear make up again!" But I think this experience taught me things I needed to learn about myself, including the fact that I do love makeup. I don't need makeup like I thought I did, and I may not wear makeup every day now, but I will always love it. I love the way that it makes me feel; it gives me the chance to highlight my favorite aspects of myself. I love the fact that I have the self-confidence to do whatever I want with it. I love the smell, the colors, and just the pure fun I get to have with it. I won't use make up to cover what I am ashamed of, but I will use it to work what my momma gave me!
