Barenaked Face Challenge: A week without make up

In times of commercial media & hollywood films, many girls develope complexes about their looks without realizing it themselves. They start to put make up on their face and make believe they look prettier & better. Many agree that they look like "a whole different person" without make-up. But why is it that some of us hide their faces behind another one? Are we really that mislead by the media? I asked myself these questions lately and found out that I myself was one of those. It was impossible for me to leave the house without at least foundation and mascara on my face. I would feel naked & ugly without it. I never went to school without anything on my face and knowing that I'm not alone with that makes me sad.

Looking into the bathroom mirror one night, without my make up on, after having a really great day made me look at myself & think "Well I don't even look that bad without anything on. Why am I even putting all this stuff into my face?" I played with the thought first and then decided to challenge myself. I decided that for a whole week I'm going to overcome my inner complex about my face and make a new step into the direction of accepting myself just the way that I am.

The first day sure was a challenge. I stood in front of the mirror with nothign but a bit of chapstick in my face wondering if I really wanted to do this. I had this huge sense of uncomfort inside of me. Keeping questioning myself over and over if this was the right thing or people are going to mock me all day I left the house. Sitting in the tram I suddenly realized how stupid this was. Why would people mock me when there are at least 10 others who never wear make up to school?At the end it turned out that all of my fears were counting for nothing. To the contrary, people were approaching me in a nicer way. It seems that being finally me gave a more natural hue to my personality. I was easygoing & never had anxiety about the way I looked because I just didn't care.

Doing this for a week. I found myself being closer to my classmates and deepening my friendship with them. I was carefree and had a lot more time in the mornings. I think I really changed to the positive. And I don't really think it's the missing make up that changed me to the better. It's the attitude I developed towards myself that it is perfectly okay to accept myself the way I am and expect naturally that people take me for who I am. I believe that such an attitude towards yourself attracts people more than all the make up in the world because it makes you radiate your inner beauty inside out and show the world that you are comfortable being who you are no matter how you look. Those 7 days were really worth it and I recommend it to everyone who may be anxious about their barenaked face. At the end, no matter how you look, you are always what you emit. And as long as you carry this anxiety inside of you you will always emit that in a way. So if you want to free yourself of it go for it and always keep in mind that you are great and amazing just the way you are :)

xo Cory