It’s the same routine, day in and day out. You start with your face: foundation, bronzer, eyebrows, curl lashes, mascara. You then move to your hair: curl, straighten, ponytail, bun. Since this has become your daily routine you fail to realize just how much time and energy it all takes, but the thought of going out all natural is unthinkable, ridiculous, and embarrassing. I was this way for as long as I can remember. Never letting anyone see me without makeup or my hair done, but then college hit me hard and I realized just how much work being a “female” can be.

In high school, I never went a day without my makeup done and hair presentable. I felt naked and bare without something to cover up my blemishes, make my eyebrows more pronounced, and my eyelashes thicker and longer. I had the notion that I always had to look perfect for everyone else, but I failed to realize that I am just as beautiful without the help of a fake tan and darker lashes. Now I am not saying I never wear makeup or do not enjoy it, I will be the first to tell you that I love doing my makeup. I could spend an hour doing my hair and another on my face, but in reality, who has this much time on a day to day basis? Life hits you and sleep begins to take precedence. My first bare faced day was a mixture of emotions. Embarrassment, discomfort, and awkwardness bubbled inside me. It felt like everyone was looking at me and how different and “ugly” I looked. As days went by, I quickly became much more comfortable and confident in my own skin.

As a woman, my world is filled with images of beautiful models, makeup tutorial videos, and advertisements for “beauty improving” products. While there is nothing wrong with a little beauty help from these products, there is something special about displaying your true beauty. A face bearing natural freckles, blemishes, and skin tone stands out to reveal confidence, femininity, and beauty of its own accord. A fresh face reveals the real you, insecurities and all, to show the world the strength in these insecurities. It takes a strong person to fully show yourself to the world, not covering all of the scars you so desperately want to hide. These freckles, scars, and blemishes tell a story of the real you, the special you, the unique you. Beauty is not these enhancements that have become a social norm but the unique qualities about you that you take the time to enhance, to make more obvious to the world.

Whether or not you like your fresh-faced beauty, I dare you to bare it confidently, to go out of your comfort zone and make your true self the new social norm. Present your insecurities to the world with an air of confidence and a smile. In the words of the beauty icon Marilyn Monroe, “a smile is the best makeup a girl can wear”.