Wake Up and Make Up

No, this isn't about going to bed angry (I actually strongly believe you should never go to bed, or end a phone call, etc. on a bad note but that's just me). Instead it's about *plot twist* makeup and I liked the pun.

Taken at The Bushwick Collective. If you follow me on IG, you know I got very lost but saw murals that set my heart aflutter. 

I know, I know, when it comes to makeup I am very much in the dark. Having extremely sensitive skin, almost anything breaks me out. In fact, just about everything does and I'm currently having a spectacular skin week (read: it's AWFUL). It got to the point that I started feeling like maybe foundation was the way to go. I bought Maybelline's Dream Pure BB Cream. It has salicylic acid and is designed to clear skin while concealing your imperfections. Three days in, I'm pretty happy with it. Not sure how the rest of my face is feeling yet or if it will ultimately break me out but so far I think we're good. Truth be told, I do feel more confident with it on and like I fit in better at work which got me thinking about makeup in general.

When I was in middle school I was all about makeup. In 8th grade I wore eyeshadow and lip gloss almost daily. Mascara got ixnayed the morning when I stabbed myself in the eye with the wand. I think I actually threw the whole thing out LOL. I don't remember if I began ninth grade wearing anything or not but I certainly didn't end the year doing so and Prom and a few events aside, I haven't worn makeup since, save mascara which I got into about a year ago. 

There's no rule that makeup must be worn by adult women, and yet there is. When celebrities are photographed without makeup it's hailed as a monumental thing. #MakeUpFreeMonday has become a mini movement. If you have a date, a special event, and for some people an exercise class, warrants getting made up and not doing so implies that you're not trying or not interested. To me this is absurd. Shouldn't being natural, being yourself be the ultimate goal? Makeup, getting made up, the words themselves imply that it's fake. Yet, maybe that's not a bad thing. If it makes you feel better about yourself, then what's the harm? It reminds me of "Fake it till you make it." If you do something that makes you feel more beautiful, you will internalize that feeling and radiate confidence and happiness which will make you more beautiful to others. (Obviously what's inside plays a huge and more important factor than anything on the outside.) At the same time, there is definitely the message that by not wearing makeup you aren't trying and don't think you're beautiful/worth it- *cough* "Because I'm Worth It" is L'OREAL's trademarked catchphrase. *cough.*

Same girl, same. (Also from The Bushwick Collective.)

The more I think about it all, the more torn I feel. On the one hand, I don't think anyone needs to wear makeup, and personally am not a fan of heavily made up looks. That said, I do feel more confident and beautiful when I have makeup on. Yet, I love taking it off and feeling clean and free. I'm not sure if I'll keep up this new makeup routine, and let's be honest, wearing foundation and mascara is hardly a makeup routine when I think of how so many people I know use contouring sticks, eye brow products (yup I don't even know what these are called), and have a whole bag devoted to makeup, but if I do, it will only be for myself.

What do you think? Are you a makeup wearer? Can you teach me what everything in Sephora is?