Makeup is everywhere. There’s even a “no-makeup” look you achieve with – you guessed it – makeup!
But if you’re thinking of going for a makeup-free life, you might feel insecure. Is it possible to go sans makeup and still look pretty? Especially when everyone wears so much product these days? The answer is yes, but it’s not without its drawbacks. Here’s why.
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How to give up makeup
Maybe you don’t have as much time to apply makeup anymore. Or, maybe cosmetic products cost you too much. Another reason why makeup has lost its appeal is that you’ve heard about the nasty chemicals hidden within the clever packaging and marketing campaigns.
Whatever your motivation for giving up makeup, there are a couple ways to go about it.
You can either quit cold turkey, or you might want to ease your way out of it. Depending on your job and lifestyle, giving up makeup all at once may be difficult and quite a shock to both you and your colleagues.
If that’s the case, you might want to gradually cut back. First, you could eliminate mascara and eyeshadows. Then, you could cut back on bronzing, blushing, contouring, etc. Finally, you could start going without foundations and lip colors. This might be an easier way to remove makeup from your daily routine, especially if you’re used to wearing it all day, every day.
Is it acceptable to go makeup-free in modern society?
Even though makeup is sacrosanct when it comes to feminine appearance, that setting powder isn’t set in stone. The truth is, it’s quite popular to create a makeup-free look with cosmetic products. Women are already leaning towards a fresher, more natural look.
So, when you ask yourself if no makeup is acceptable in modern society, there are a couple things to remember:
• People are accustomed to seeing made-up faces everywhere, and so they may be surprised to see your natural face.
• Some people actually believe you owe it to other people to wear makeup, but do you agree with that?
Can you still look beautiful without wearing any makeup?
Before you can answer that question, you have to ask yourself what beauty means to you. If you define beauty as a perfectly made-up face, then you probably won’t think you’re beautiful without makeup on.
And if you accept society’s beauty standard, then you probably won’t think you’re beautiful without makeup either.
But what if you redefined what beauty means to you? What if beauty was who you are, just as you are? What if beauty was the true you, instead of the person covered up in concealer?
If that’s what beauty means to you, then beauty is more than skin-deep appearance and you can be absolutely beautiful without any makeup on.
So, now let’s look at some pros and cons of going without makeup.
No-makeup pro’s:
• Natural is sexy
Some celebrities share their makeup-free moments and it’s encouraging to see that natural is becoming more acceptable. Cult beauty brand, Glossier, is all about the no-makeup look. And even though they sell makeup products, they focus on skincare first. For Glossier, beautiful skin is more important than all the stuff you use to cover it up.
• No more expiration dates
The majority of cosmetic products contain preservatives and fillers, and after a while, these go bad.
This means an expired product can be the breeding ground for nasty germs and bacteria. If you’re not careful, you can apply that to your face and end up with irritation and breakouts.
• Save money
In America, most women spend up to $15,000 on beauty products throughout their entire life. And if you like high-end makeup brands, you probably spend even more than that.
• Better skincare
Now that you’re not using makeup, you can’t cover up your skin anymore. This might make you panic, but there’s a solution: better skincare. Now’s the time to step up your skincare routine and invest in high-quality facial cleansers and creams.
It’s also an incentive to sleep well, eat better and exercise frequently – all of these lifestyle changes will improve the health of your skin.
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• Uncover the “real” you
Lots of women wear makeup due to peer pressure and societal expectations. What’s more, they wear makeup to cover up flaws and imperfections.
When you choose to stop wearing makeup, you stop seeing your flaws and imperfections as “problems”. Instead, you start to accept and embrace them as part of what makes you, you.
• More time for you
You can spend anywhere from 10 minutes to an hour applying makeup. Imagine your morning routine with all of that time just for you. You could enjoy a rejuvenating yoga practice. You could prepare a nutritious breakfast. You could even sleep in, too!
• No more chemicals
, which are both harmful and potentially carcinogenic. What’s more, your skin is like your second stomach, and it literally “eats” whatever you put on your face. So, your body absorbs the toxins within your makeup.
What’s more, your pores can get clogged with daily makeup. It traps bacteria and sweat, and then you have to purchase more products to deal with that problem.
By not wearing makeup every day, you can give your pores a chance to breathe. You can also prevent infection, irritation and unnecessary chemical absorption.
• You set your own rules
Sure, society promotes and expects makeup on every woman’s face, but you can set your own rules. You don’t have to wear makeup if you don’t want to. That’s a very liberating and freeing thought, isn’t it?
No-makeup cons:
• No hiding the hormones
Thanks to your menstrual cycle, your skin can break out in hormonal acne and pimples. And when you’re low on sleep or stressed out, you can hide this with makeup. Pimples, dark circles, blemishes and even sunshine will leave their mark on your face for everyone to see. Are you ready for that?
• Feelings of inadequacy
Once you start going makeup-free, you may compare yourself to everyone else who is still dolled up. You can feel inadequate, not good enough and not pretty enough. These are mental blocks that you can overcome with time, but they’re still not very fun to experience.
• Looking different
Without makeup, you will look different from others. There’s really no way to avoid this. It’s a good idea to ask if you’re okay with this.
• No more cheating on skincare and dietary choices
Your skin will give you away. If you’re not eating or sleeping well, or staying on track with your skincare routine, your skin will show it. Going without makeup means making lots of other beneficial lifestyle changes, but make sure you’re ready to do so!
Will you go makeup-free? And do you think it will be difficult to give up cosmetics? Let us know your thoughts!
