Hey Everyone!
I completely apologize for my lack of posts lately. I have so many things lined up to post about about and haven't gotten to any of them. These past couple of weeks my schedule has been a little off whack - but it should be getting back to normal now.
These past couple of weeks I actually have probably only worn makeup 3 or 4 times and I haven't done my hair at all. Which is completely strange for me, but at the end of February - start of January I had a massive breakout on various spots of my face. I'm really not sure what did it, because I use different products all of the time - but I've been spending less time wearing makeup so I can let my skin breathe a little bit and just focus on healing my skin. My breakouts are gone, but I'm left with lots of blemish scars that will probably take till the end of the month to go away. So I guess because of that, I took a complete vacation of doing my hair, self tanning, etc. Ha!!
I've been seeing more emphasis lately on embracing yourself as you are and I think it's such an inspiration. Lately I stumbled across a couple of blogs where the blogger was doing something called the "Dare to Bare Challenge", where the blogger posts a photo makeup free and writes about how they feel about posting their bare face on the web for everyone to see. I think it's a really great challenge and many bloggers have been inspired to join the challenge. So I figured, since I haven't been wearing any makeup lately - I may as well snap a few photos. :)
So here's what I look like in all of my blemish glory. I had just washed my face, applied Estee Lauder Time Zone Moisturizer to my whole face, Lancome Renergie Lift Volumetry Eye Cream under my eyes and Smith's Rosebud Salve on my lips. Hence, why I'm looking really shiny. Also, I have self tanner on my neck - but my face is pretty much 90% self tanner free. Haha, I'm thinking 10% may still be lingering around as I don't think I look that pale.
I don't see the point in the endless criticism of how one looks in their natural state. Lately, I've come across blogs, forums and websites that are actually dedicated to ridiculing beauty bloggers and youtube beauty gurus. Someone sent me a link to forum where someone posted an enormous list of each and every youtube guru and popular beauty blogger without any makeup on in alphabetical order. They went as far as to capture screen shots from youtube videos of moments in the video where the guru is bare faced. The purpose of the post was based on pure negativity, so others can comment about how homely or awful these girls look without any makeup on, and how they look like a different person when they are all made up. Some people like to say that they are "hiding who they really are" when they wear makeup. Well, I don't know about you but, I don't gain another personality when I'm not wearing my makeup. When I'm wearing makeup, I am myself - and myself only. Nothing changes when I wash my face. Sorry if you feel "mislead" and lied to, but I don't look exactly the same without my makeup. Nobody does.
The truth is, when people out there are envious or jealous of the way you look, it makes them feel better about themselves when they see you have a "bad day". It makes them feel more content with the way they look. But the truth is, makeup does not alter your face. Makeup isn't plastic surgery. If you take 10 women and apply the same makeup (let's say heavy makeup) to every one of them - they aren't going to be instant clones. If I purchase everything Kim Kardashian has on her face - I'm not going to look like Kim Kardashian. I am going to look like myself. You are the only one on this earth that has each and every one of your own unique features and a little makeup is not going to change a thing. You're still beautiful.
I have seen people post comments about me saying "I wear too much makeup" or "I'm too heavily made up" and I've seen comments when I posted what my face looks like prior to foundation and I've seen comments like "Shes pretty... but not so much without makeup" and "She's plain - nothing special". All I can say is, you can never bargain with "haters". So, I'm ugly without makeup and when I wear makeup, I'm wearing too much... Well, "hater" please tell me how you would like to look, so I can make you happy. HA!
Why do I wear makeup? Well, it's been a passion of mine every since I was a very young girl. I'm a very "girly" girl and I've always been that way. Makeup is something I've always loved and always will love. When I wear my makeup, I feel so feminine and put together, and of course, the better you feel you look, the more confident you will be. I am more confident when I am wearing my makeup.
The key to being confident and content with yourself, is accepting yourself as you are. Don't listen to anyone's negative opinion of the way you look - because there is nothing wrong with the way you look. There is only one you in this world, and you shouldn't feel like you have to look like somebody else in order to be beautiful. No one is perfect. Everyone has their flaws. It's okay to go natural once in a while.. you're still the same amazing person you are everyday.
Who inspired me to do this challenge was Will Work for Makeup's blog. You can check out her "Dare to Bare" post here. She is so beautiful and had some great things to say. If you aren't familiar with her blog, I urge you to follow her!
Also, have you guys heard about Make Up Forever's "Not retouched" Ad Campaign? Meaning, the photos of their models are completely Photoshop free. Like many have already stated, yes the models already have great skin and none of them are older than 30, but still.. It's a nice approach, and nice to see skin that looks like skin. You can read more about it on their website here.
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| Make Up Forever Not retouched Ad Campaign. (Image Credit: http://makeupforever.com) |
