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This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at VCU chapter.

For many, applying makeup is just a part of their normal morning routine: wakeup, apply makeup, eat breakfast, etc. But for me, makeup has been exiled from my morning routine, and here’s why:

I have loved makeup for so many years. I started wearing it in the eighth grade – just mascara, of course. Then to freshman year of high school, I stepped it up with a little BB cream and some eye shadow. This obviously progressed until I began wearing a full face of makeup to school every single day by the beginning of my sophomore year of high school.

At this point, I was not wearing makeup to enhance my beauty, but rather to hide it. I looked like a completely different person without makeup on, and that was kind of scary. Not that I looked different, but that I was so embarrassed and insecure to show my real face without makeup.

Eventually, due to lack of time, I began wearing less and less makeup until I finally felt comfortable enough to wear none. Wearing no makeup takes a lot of courage, but it shouldn’t. Everyone should feel as if they can show their natural face without thinking any less of themselves. 

Now that you have my entire makeup history back-story, here are the reasons that I don’t like to wear makeup:

Time

Makeup takes so much time, time that I need (yes, I’m talking about you, sleep!). I don’t know about you, but I would much rather sleep in an extra 30 minutes or so than wake up just to put on makeup. If it takes more than five minutes tops, count me out. Now, a swipe of mascara here and there doesn’t take more than a few seconds, but applying more than one or two makeup products becomes so time consuming. If you’re going on a first date or have a special night planned, I can understand the want to take a little longer than usual to get ready and apply a full face of makeup, but on an everyday basis, makeup, to me, is just a waste of time.

Feel

I touch my face more than the average person does through out the day, and I really don’t like the greasy-ness that comes off on my fingers when I touch my face if I have on foundation or BB cream. I also don’t like the mask-like feeling when I have a layer of makeup on. To me, it feels very heavy, like my face cannot breathe. I love being able to touch my face and not be afraid of messing up or moving my makeup. And don’t get me started on sweating with makeup on.

Less is more

Less is really more. Some girls have the ability to spend an hour on their makeup using 50 different products and honestly not look a tad bit different from their no-makeup self, but for most, makeup makes them look like, well – that they are wearing makeup. I know not everyone thinks like me, but I really don’t like the whole makeup look. I like makeup to look natural and not cover any of my face. That’s why I try to go by the philosophy, “less is more.” People just look better with little to no makeup. They look real.

Money

My last reason for not wanting to wear makeup is the monetary aspect of it. The makeup industry is a $445 billion dollar industry, according to Forbes Magazine. Think about all the makeup you own – how much money would you have saved if you never bought it? Personally, I would have a check for a few thousand dollars in my pocket right now if I had never bought all the makeup I have owned in my lifetime. Makeup is pricey – even drugstore varieties can add up quickly.

My final thoughts on makeup are although I may not ever be able to fully get rid of all of the makeup I currently own, I do believe that makeup is not always necessary, and I want to challenge you to show how confident you are without any makeup, because no makeup is beautiful. 

Image Credits: Cover photo, 1, 2, 3

Meagan is a Junior at Virginia Commonwealth University obtaining a degree in bachelor of Science (B.S) with a concentration in Health Science. Meagan would describe herself as a free spirit whose goal in life is to be happy. She is interested in natural and organic beauty products and enjoys fashion and makeup. Although she does not label herself as vegan, she tries to eat mostly plant-based. Meagan's career goal is to be a health and wellness writer for a company. She will be graduation in the year 2020. Currently, Meagan is an active She enjoys all things natural beauty and sustainability. She was born and raised in Northern Virginia where she lived with her Mom, Dad, and older brother who attends Virginia Tech.
Keziah is a writer for Her Campus. She is majoring in Fashion Design with a minor in Fashion Merchandising. HCXO!