Acceptance. An action that since a few months ago has really resonated with me. I am who I am, I look the way I look, and I act the way I act because all those components make me the unique individual that I am.
With acceptance comes revelation. The revelation that every action I put forth has to be for myself rather than for others. Walking into this new semester, I have noticed that there are things that need to be changed. Small subconscious things we do that are for the benefit of others rather than for our ourselves. The one that I have found I do the most often is the following:
Wearing makeup to establish “an image.”
Over the summer, I had to attend an interview regarding an on-campus job. I had gone all summer long without putting on a single drop of makeup on my face. It felt fantastic not worrying about how I looked with or without it on.
However, when it came time to get ready for the interview, I broke my streak and applied makeup for the first time in months.
Subconsciously I was thinking, “If I wear makeup I’ll come across as more professional.” Was this true? Celebrities such as Alicia Keys have taken a stand to say no girl, you absolutely do not have to wear makeup in order to enhance your image.
Alicia Keys with no makeup via BBC
On the same note, I struggled on whether I should wear makeup to my first day of classes. I will admit that in the past I have worn it thinking, “Maybe there will be a cute guy in class, so I have to wear makeup to give off a good impression.”
The more I think about it, I would say that I am a girl who does not wear makeup often. I only wear it when I have to go somewhere new, or I know I will be around new people.
Even if there were to be a cute guy in a class, I shouldn’t have to wear makeup to make a good impression. I would say that my poppin personality alone could lock it in. *laughs to self*
Now, did I wear makeup to the first day of school? Yes, but I did it for myself. Did I wear it on the second day? No. To be honest, waking up early to blend my foundation and concealer for 10 minutes is not a priority of mine. I would rather sleep in for the extra 45 minutes that it would take me to apply a full face. Instead, I wore a naked face and let my natural glow shine through.
For the first time in a very longtime, I posted a selfie to my Instagram without any makeup on, which is something I would say I probably never do. I was looking at my Instagram feed the other day and I thought to myself, “Is this the best representation of myself?” All the pictures I had posted in the past were pictures of me when I wore makeup.
The other day when I was out shopping with my friends I snapped some selfies of myself without makeup on. To my surprise, I liked them! So much so that I posted a photo that same day. I felt confident in the way I looked and decided I need to do it more often going forward.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying I’m never wearing makeup again. Because I will admit, I like the way I look with it on. But, I also love my bare face.
If you love to wear makeup everyday, that’s also perfectly okay! Take pride in your blending skills, girl!
Just please, don’t stop yourself from running into Target real quick or starting your day because you haven’t applied your makeup. Embrace your natural beauty! No one can stop you or judge you for not concealing that blemish or having the perfect cateye applied. Confidence can be found in a naked face.
You are beautiful with or without makeup. Wear that contour and red lip with pride if it is your thing, but do it for yourself, not for the purpose of impressing others.