Coronavirus hit my hometown seven months ago, and my life screeched to a halt. Hectic school days and adventures around the city were promptly replaced with weeks of confinement in my house. With nowhere to go and no new people to see, over the course of quarantine I’ve inevitably slipped into spending more and more days bare-faced.
For years, I’ve been the type of girl to give myself a full face of glam every day, so the transition to makeup-free life has been surprising. Turns out, skipping cosmetics has loads of perks. My skin is thriving, I’m saving so much time, and most importantly, my natural features are finally getting their turn in the spotlight. I’ve gradually grown used to seeing the imperfections in my skin and the unevenness of my eyebrows, as opposed to the carefully painted-on features that used to greet me in the mirror.
Realizing the benefits of living au naturel has made me question why I was so dependent on cosmetics in the first place. Pre-pandemic, I’d rush through breakfast to give myself at least 30 minutes to do my makeup every day. I had a full routine, from primer to setting spray, that felt like an essential ritual. What was it all for?
If you asked me in February, I’d have told you that my makeup was just a creative outlet and a form of self-care. I love watching beauty gurus on YouTube transform their features with artful sweeps of powders and dabs of creams, and I’ve had a lot of fun experimenting with different looks throughout the years. Moreover, when life gets crazy, I’ve frequently relied on my half-hour of “me time” in the morning to tune out my anxieties and just focus on my look.
Both of these motivations for wearing makeup are totally valid, but I’ve come to realize that they don’t paint the full picture. A huge part of my makeup obsession has been due to insecurities. It takes confidence to embrace your natural features when there’s so much pressure to always look your best. Women, especially, are constantly told by the media about the importance of maintaining their appearance, and these influences really affected my self-image. There is nothing wrong with enjoying popping on a red lip for the occasional confidence boost, but makeup doesn’t have to feel like a nonnegotiable prerequisite to leaving the house. When I recall the times I’ve put on makeup before working out or going to the airport, it’s clear to me that my makeup wearing crossed that line.
Quarantine has given me the space to recognize and conquer my usage of makeup as a crutch for my insecurities. Now, when I venture outside to run essential errands, I feel confident to do so without all the makeup. My mask covers half of my face anyway; there’s really no need! My natural features no longer seem foreign to me, and I’ve grown spoiled by no longer having to scrub off stubborn mascara before going to bed. This time at home has truly served as a reality check as far as my self-confidence goes.
Though I have no intention of throwing out my collection of highlighters, and I still get a rush of joy when I perfect my eyeliner, I feel like I’m entering a new relationship with makeup. As the world opens back up, I will no longer rely on using makeup as a mask.