No Makeup Week: Day One
I’m a bit of a latecomer to Rabbit Write’s No Makeup Week project but as soon as I started reading about it, I knew I had to join in.
The challenge: go a week without makeup, upload a makeup-free photo (see, I can’t cheat!) and explore my relationship with makeup in writing.
Like lots of you, I’m sure, I’m funny with makeup. I can do dates and job interviews without makeup but never a big night out – it’s part of the ritual. I’ll go months bare-faced then suddenly hit a fortnight where I won’t go out without putting my face on. The phrase ‘putting my face on’ creeps me out. I’m unsure of how my relationship with makeup fits with my (as yet nebulous) ideas about feminism and being a woman.
I recently started a new job and I’ve noticed that I’ve taken to wearing makeup every day since. Not sure why. Rabbit Write quotes a study claiming that 8 out of 10 women prefer female colleagues to wear makeup and would rather employ a makeup-wearing woman – but I currently work in the environment/development NGO sector which is hardly full of sleek office bitches. One week without makeup to figure this stuff out…
Here’s what I’ll be scrubbing my face of this week:
under-eye concealer – almost essential (like most writers, I don’t sleep much)
powder/mineral foundation (keeps the magpies off my face)
bronzer (aka cheekbone implants)
sometimes eyeshadow/eyeliner/mascara (mainly to stop all the other crap I just put on my face from looking too weird)
and for big nights out – the whole shebang
(Yes, I did still agonise over good lighting and camera angle…)
My thoughts after day one: God, I look tired. I’m sure this week will be good for my skin if nothing else – I’ve been drinking loads of water and hoping to get an early night for tomorrow, seeing as my skin’s all I’ve got to work with now! I looked so ashen that I almost cracked and smeared some pink Vaseline on my cheeks as emergency blusher… But I resisted.
More thoughts to come tomorrow…
Honey you are GORGEOUS! You do not look tired in that photo.
HAPPY NO MAKEUP WEEK!
This is such an interesting idea, I’m following doing it as well now! I realised earlier that it’s much needed – I’m working tomorrow and planning to go into a bakery in the afternoon to see if they still need staff (obviously a place that doesn’t allow makeup…) and my first thought was ‘I won’t have time to stop off home and grab makeup, what if they reject me?!’ I rarely wear makeup, but sometimes it just feels as though I really, really cannot go without. I’m almost embarrassed by how much more confident I feel when my skin is that little bit smoother and whiter, and my eyelashes that bit thicker. And I’m hardly a shrinking violet! I don’t even (like some women I know) think I’m ugly. Actually think I’m pretty fit, even first thing in the morning with a hangover…
Can’t wait for the rest of the week! Also love the proximity of this post to the Hillary and the hair…
You ARE fit
Yes why not give it a go and update us on your progress in the comments! I’m definitely like you, very erratic in makeup use so I think it’ll be interesting to think about why we wear it and when…
I think this is a very good project, not sure i’d be able to do it this week….normally i’d be like stuff it but i’m pale as heck at the moment after recovering from the cold, so a touch of blusher will be needed if nothing else….but i def think it’s interesting to look at why and when we wear make up….for me it’s pretty erratic, except like you hannah, i always have to wear it on a night out!
Yeah not wearing makeup everyday is often nromal for me, but I don’t think I have ever ever ever gone on a night out or to a party sans makeup! I guess that’ll be something to think about at the party tomorrow night – probs the biggest challenge of my no makeup week…
Brave challenge.
That’s something I must try. You know something…..I think my skin will thank me for it too.
You look naturally attractive.
You are a natural babe! And I totally agree–drinking tonnes of water is seriously nature’s best makeup. LOVED this post, keep it up!