I remember being a little girl, backstage at various dance recitals, filled with excitement the moment that I got to pop that bright red lipstick on and prance around in my tap shoes. I have always loved makeup. There’s something exciting about being able to tap into different parts of my personality and express that through my makeup, clothes, hair, etc.
I don’t hate “makeup” per se; I just hate the way that I feel about myself without it. I have sat here wondering when the hell the idea of not wearing makeup began to make me feel less beautiful. I hate the way makeup can be presented with an underlying subtext that tells women they are less beautiful without it. Every woman should feel beautiful and confident with or without makeup.
It felt incredibly liberating to spend an entire day without makeup for this photo series. To be honest, I was amazed at how quickly I forgot that I wasn’t wearing makeup. I’ve begun wearing less and less makeup in my day-to-day life as a result and have felt more and more comfortable and confident in my own skin. It feels so refreshing to be unapologetically myself and to embrace my “flaws.” I have also gained a whole new appreciation for the art of makeup and feel more excited to apply it rather than feeling that it’s something I HAVE to do.