A few years back, I wrote this article, where I talked about the joys behind going barefaced. I loved the freedom behind not having a 20-minute makeup routine, but not enough to keep it going. So recently, while rushing to get ready for class, I decided to give it another try, with some modifications. However, current me has something that old me did not: an eyebrow routine she has perfected. So, instead of going completely makeup-free, I decided to try doing the bare minimum, at least when it came to my face.
I avoided using any form of eye makeup, specifically eyeliner and mascara. I chose three makeup products: eyebrow gel, concealer and blush. I can definitely start by stating the obvious: being low maintenance means that your morning routine is significantly shorter, which means you get a little bit of leeway. Turns out having my makeup done in two minutes meant that I could take my time drinking my coffee and checking the weather outside before getting dressed (something I really needed to be better about doing anyway).
This was obvious from the beginning. What I really wanted to talk about was the effects it had on my skin. A little bit of backstory: I’ve always been proud of my skin. It was honestly one of the only things that people complimented me on my entire life, and therefore the one thing that I was confident in, even when my overall confidence was low. Unfortunately, when I got to college, my previously perfect skin encountered a couple of problems. It turns out my skin isn’t invincible, and consequently, when I got stressed enough, I could almost guarantee a zit or two on my otherwise “perfect” face.
Sure, this is natural. But it also turns out that when you layer makeup over said zit in an effort to hide it from the rest of the world, it tends to hang around a little bit longer. Recently, I had noticed that my skin had become more dry and oily. As someone who had never been embarrassed of my skin, I was horrified.
Now here’s the kicker: Whenever I mentioned this type of thing to my mom, her answer would always be, “Let your skin breathe!”
Guys. Listen to your moms.
A week or so after I changed up my makeup routine, I not only noticed that I hadn’t had an intense zit in a super long time (knock on wood), but that my face felt better overall. Before, my face would sometimes feel stiff or dried out after I removed my makeup at the end of the day. However, since makeup hadn’t really been a priority, this stopped being an issue. Not only that, but I figured out that you can achieve that glowy, dewy look that all those beauty vloggers rave about – except it costs nothing and all it takes is a little moisturizer in the mornings.
Maybe you wear makeup as a confidence booster, and that’s okay. I do. But if you have the same problem that I did, it sometimes ends up being a vicious cycle: the worse your skin gets, the more you will want to cover it up, but the more you cover it, the worse your skin may get. I’m not saying this is the 100% foolproof way of improving your skin, but I promise it definitely helps.
Along the way, you may even start loving the look of your natural face. After all, makeup doesn’t make the person.