Can you think back to what age you discovered makeup? I don’t just mean the blue eyeshadow you put on your Barbie, but when you understood the routine of it all? Did you think it was just another part of growing up and being a woman or were you confused by the face paint? We all have a memory of the moment that world intrigued us, or so I thought.
Motherly Advice
I come from a family where makeup was never a part of the morning routine, so that moment never really happened for me. I don’t think my mother bought foundation for herself until I was in my teens (and was constantly begging her to let me have it). Frankly, had it not been a requirement for dance team, I’m not sure at what age I would’ve even been allowed to buy it. She encouraged me instead, to focus on keeping my skin healthy, especially during my ongoing battle with acne. Ultimately, I didn’t take my mom’s advice. I wanted to be like all my friends so, once I got to college I decided to add a “natural makeup” routine to my mornings. I had never been confident in my skin and everyone else was hiding it with makeup, so why couldn’t I give it a try?
Back To Basics
Honestly, after a few weeks, I went back to basics because I got lazy. It started to feel like I was wasting precious moments of sleep (something we all don’t get enough of) to spend extra time just adding to my natural look. Not to mention, at some point in the day it would inevitably smear on someone’s shirt when I hugged them, irritate my eyes, or need a touch-up. It started to feel like a chore and I couldn’t do it anymore. I instead remembered the wise words of my mom and started to reserve makeup for special occasions. I stopped being tied to a little powder and mascara the same way most of my friends were. I could roll out of bed and be out the door in less than 30 mins if I needed, and that felt good.
Just Be You Boo
Don’t get me wrong, I’m not here to pull an Alicia Keys and tell you to throw it all away. I own makeup and I do use it, I just choose to go without it more often than not. I realize that in this age of creatives, makeup has grown to be more than about hiding imperfections. It’s a beautiful art form and the industry is rapidly growing. I sit here writing this so you can take a second to reflect and think about why you wear it. Your natural beauty is just that, beautiful. Nothing can change that as long as you believe it, and you should. There’s a lot of people in this world that are going to judge you, so don’t add to the bunch.
Makeup, no makeup, you’re a stunner.
xoxo,
Ashantis
@iamashantis
