I used to be such a tomboy back in the day. Teeshirts, jeans, very little makeup. That was me all day every day. Then in my sophomore year of college, I started wearing skirts and realized I looked good in them. And from there it was a slippery slope to complete and utter girliness. Now, I’m the kind of woman who needs foundation, powder, blush, eyeliner, mascara, lipgloss and sometimes a touch of bronzer and a spritz of finishing spray – just to leave the house. To go grocery shopping. Seriously.

I love makeup. Of course if you’re reading this blog you already know that – but I feel the need to say it again. I love makeup. It’s fun and often relaxing and theraputic for me to put it on. I love playing with different looks and colors. I have gotten to the point where I simply must wear it every day, and there are times when my husband just wants to leave and go out and I realize my need to get all dolled up might be driving him a little crazy.

So when Rachel of RabbitWrite invited me to participate in her No Make-up Week project, I was intrigued and a little freaked out. Wait – I have to post a picture of myself with no makeup on? On my blog? For the world to see? Yikes!

And even in my head when I figured OK, I’ll participate…I was still thinking, I’ll just take the picture and go about my business of putting makeup on when the time came to go out.

Well that isn’t what happened.

I came home after a day of running errands, washed my face with my favorite new soap – Cor Silver soap – there’s crazy scientific explanations behind how it works, but all I know is it makes my skin look and feel amazing! And I cleaned off my eye makeup to the best of my ability, using Visine makeup wipes. So this is me – my face is as makeup free as it can be!

Immediately after this, my husband announced that we were going out to dinner with a friend at our favorite neighborhood bar. “Come on, we’re ready to go NOW!” And in my head I was like – but…wait! I can’t leave the house like this! But I did. I went out for dinner with no makeup on. And I had fun, laughed, drank and had an amazing meal – all without a moment of self consciousness or regret.

Will I go make-up free today? Maybe, maybe not. But either way I now feel empowered to make the decision when the moment arises. I’m loving the photos and posts coming out of this challenge. And finally I don’t feel any kind of way about posting my own, make-up free photos.

How about you? Are you a makeup fiend like me? Or is every week, no makeup week for you?

COMMENTS

SanTara says:

September 23, 2010, 8:28 am

usually my weekdays are minimal to no makeup days. between housekeeping and bouncing around to events for the kiddies, I keep it light but a red lippie is always close if I need it :)

adamson says:

September 23, 2010, 8:28 am

I seem to be only a fan of eyeliner (and mascara, on occasion). I'm too wary of my pores being clogged. My skin is also sensitive to many different things, so I would be afraid of using something that I may be allergic to.

Nikia says:

September 23, 2010, 8:33 am

You look beautiful bare faced! So rosy and glowy...

brooklynshoebabe says:

September 23, 2010, 8:37 am

You look beautiful without make-up. No worries there. I LOVE MAKE-UP! Its therapuetic for me to do my face but most days I don't have time to do it because I have to get my little one to school. I wish I had the tome to do it EVERYDAY.

NikStar says:

September 23, 2010, 8:37 am

You look beautiful doll!! Makeup or no makeup! I like the lesson that you've learned, that you now know you have a choice. :o) ha, I told ya via twitter that I'm pretty much makeup less all the time unless it's a special occasion. And even still, it's just playing up the eyes and cheeks, no foundation. (breaks me out)...I've actually had lots of guy friends tell me they prefer me without makeup. I have one that gets so upset when I do photoshoots and I'm wearing lots of makeup. I thought that was interesting because I think some women wear it for me. The online study statistics on Rachel's page are crazy!

GoNappturale says:

September 23, 2010, 8:49 am

Oh my gosh! This requires absolute bravery. I am addicted to foundation because my skin gets red blotchy marks just from innocently scratching and I can't walk around looking crazy. If I had normal skin, I would so rock it bare because I don't really like makeup..Im a prisoner. waaah! Just started using black soap, for my blotchiness so hopefully it helps.

Happiness says:

September 23, 2010, 9:02 am

Well, some days I go without make-up. When I was a teenager and in my early twenties, I nearly used to wear make-up at all. Looking back at the pictures my skin was so smooth and flawless, until I got acne. Also, depending on what I eat and how healthy it is, my skin changes, if I eat badly, it can look dull, but if I eat well, fresh fruits, veg and so on, the skin looks bright and radiant. If I wear my contact lenses to sleep, I get darkness around my eyes, which goes once I get the contacts out and let them breath. So, all this depends on whether or not I wear make-up as well.

Happiness says:

September 23, 2010, 9:06 am

I must try this cor silver soap. I have been using so many soaps and face washes lately, I have been meaning to do write-ups about them as well. Yeah, most guys say thet like women with no make-up and then go chasing after women who wear tons of make-up, guys can be indecisive. I've only ever met one guy who sticks to the fact that he dislikes make-up on women. He loves natural hair and natural skin, no fakeness he says..LOL

Niki says:

September 23, 2010, 9:07 am

I love to play in makeup occasionally, but I generally save makeup for "special occassions." Say, I'm going out on the weekend, or going to my place of worship. So 5-6 days of the week are makeup free for me. I have friends that spackle on makeup and look like a completely different(not in a good way...) person without it, and I vowed never to be that person. But lately I've gotten into an obsessive makeup buying mood,so I've been wearing it a little more often.BTW I can't believe you aren't wearing makeup! Your skin is fabulous.

Cristine says:

September 23, 2010, 9:50 am

you look beautiful! & your hair is so big!! lol looks great! no makeup week is every week for me - i have no time for make up in school lol :)

Shang says:

September 23, 2010, 10:09 am

I love makeup! I wear it almost everyday but 2 or 3 days out of the week I like to go without foundation. I love to play up my eyes and lips!

Holistic Locs says:

September 23, 2010, 10:50 am

You look gorgeous!!! I ? these types of challenges. I have only started wearing make-up in the last 2 years - experimenting with natural mineral make-up brands. I prefer to wear none, but if I do have dark circles (I'm a night person lol), then I'll cover. Oh yeah, a little colour to the lips always cheers me up when I'm having an off day lol!

Holistic Locs says:

September 23, 2010, 10:51 am

I meant to say... I LOVE these types of challenges (not picking up my heart character lol)

L. Michelle says:

September 23, 2010, 11:02 am

I rarely makeup and usually the only time I do is on Sundays when I am going to church...or on Saturday night if I go out. I just don't have time for all of that. During the week I put on lipgloss and that's good enough for me.

Dine says:

September 23, 2010, 11:39 am

Can I do a wear makeup challenge ? I only wear it on the weekends and would like to wear it more often.

teachermrw says:

September 23, 2010, 11:40 am

It depends... When I go to church, or out with friends, or to a special event, I wear makeup. I'm less consistent re: wearing makeup on a daily basis, e.g. to work. Some days I simply don't have time to put it on; I'd rather use that time to work out and eat a healthy breakfast. Other days, I feel like my face needs a pick-me-up, and so I wear makeup, usually foundation, eye color, lip color, and mascara. I save the eyeliner and blush for special occasions. Regardless, however, I ALWAYS brush up my brows. It's amazing what doing do does to give the entire face a lift.

Living Fly on a Dime says:

September 23, 2010, 11:40 am

I only apply makeup (i.e. foundation) when I'm attending a special event. But every day I have to wear mascara, I feel naked without it. But I think I could go a week mascara-free.

Onyx Rose says:

September 23, 2010, 11:59 am

You are gorgeous without makeup! I rarely wear makeup. 99% of the time all I wear is lipgloss. I love how some people look with makeup, but I'm just not into it.

Khady says:

September 23, 2010, 2:53 pm

You are such a trooper for doing this. I think you look beautiful with or without makeup. I'm the queen of no makeup and earrings unless needed lol.

Lele says:

September 23, 2010, 4:00 pm

You look gorgeous make up free. Since I started wearing make up I can no longer live without my mascara...and eyeliner...and lip gloss (I'm sure these simple little items don't really count).

Rae says:

September 23, 2010, 4:05 pm

First, you're beautiful as is!! I love and your work! Next, I actually had the same epiphany a few months ago. I really had to get myself together and see if I could leave and not where make-up. I did. I have been on occasion and I'm not nearly as afraid to go out into the world as is! But Lord knows, a good moisturizer and some gloss can do wonders!!

bella says:

September 23, 2010, 4:08 pm

thank you!! It took me YEARS to feel this way about my skin!

GLAMOUR says:

September 23, 2010, 4:09 pm

You shouldn't feel any kind of way about posting the photos because you're beautiful! Seriously.

Angela says:

September 23, 2010, 4:11 pm

I usually only wear lipgloss or lipstick every day. Maybe twice a week, I'll wear eyeshadow, liner, and mascara. I like how other people look with foundation and blush, but I haven't really got into it myself on a consistent basis. The last time I wore foundation was on my wedding day, 8 years ago. My husband doesn't like foundation or blush at all. He tolerates the eye makeup, and I think he's cool with the gloss/lipstick. But if I put on a full face of makeup, he says I'm putting on the "warpaint". LOL

Nikole says:

September 23, 2010, 6:17 pm

You look stunning with no makeup! There's lots of dewy goodness going on in those pics! As for me, I love makeup as well. However I don't like wearing it during the day unless I am going to a special event. At night I always wear it; I don't know what I would do if someone told me I had to go fresh-faced for a week. I like the idea though, maybe I may do it once to step out of my comfort zone like you did. Kudos to you!

Nia says:

September 24, 2010, 12:46 am

YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL!! I am sure your husband wonders why you spend so much time putting on makeup when you are so gorgeous. :) Iam guilty! I NEVER leave the house without makeup. Yet, it depends on the event & my mood when accessorizing my face. Makeup artist, Bobbi Brown was on the Today Show talking to teen girls. She said, "Beauty comes from your energy and spirit...Makeup is like an accessory-it expresses your personality... Makeup should make us look like ourselves just better." I totally agree! Well, I am ordering makeup online. So, this is one challenge I wont partake. :)

b. says:

September 24, 2010, 7:34 am

Rae said, "A good moisturizer and some gloss can do wonders!" You ain't lying! 'Bella, you look great and your smile is makeup enough.

MsMelissa! says:

September 24, 2010, 2:48 pm

Hmmm I guess I'm in the middle. I never wear foundation, only a loose mineral powder to get rid of the shine. I always fill in my eyebrows and a little of my fav gloss, plus mascara. SOMETIMES I'lll wear eyshadow during the week. Anything above and beyond that I save for special occasions.

Dasheen Magazine says:

September 24, 2010, 6:41 pm

As I just got into makeup about two years ago---at 30! Yay lol. I feel like I've gone without any make-up for so long that I don't need to prove that to myself. I just love the whole ritual of what can I do with my eyes today or my lips. But I do go out without makeup on. I seem to be obsessive about my brows, cause they frame the face so well when done, but besides that I can let it ride! And as someone said before you are gorgeous with/without. I'm glad you did this and in the process discovered that you could do anything!

Atiya says:

September 24, 2010, 10:32 pm

I love makeup! But there are occassions when I go without or use a minimalists approach. There are days I go over the top with it and days when I throw on blush, lip gloss, and sunglasses and go. Makeup is definitely very relaxing to put on, and it definitely is a fun venue for self expression. And I must say you're still gorgeous makeup free but having the option to rock out with a full face or not shows an awesome confidence!

LBell says:

September 25, 2010, 9:25 am

I wear so little makeup that technically every week is No Makeup Week. But if this is supposed to be an official No Makeup Week, maybe I should try wearing more makeup just to see what happens. :) I will say that recently I went all out for a wedding, including concealer and powder, and the very next day I had a zit on my right cheek...I RARELY get zits. That was my skin telling me, "We're fine with no makeup!" lol

aJwitaFrO says:

September 25, 2010, 2:34 pm

Well, I must say that you look beautiful with no make up on. Your skin is really fresh and clear so I don't think you need to worry about not wearing makeup. I usually don't wear make up on a daily basis because I don't want to feel dependent on it to feel confident or look presentable when I go out of the house. I think as long as you keep you face clean and clear you can go out feeling confident without makeup. I do however wear make-up from time to time and it does give me a confidence boost to know that I "dolled" up a bit more than usual.

pets says:

September 26, 2010, 1:55 pm

Very brave and perhaps sometimes our skin just needs to breathe. Your young skin looks glowing :)

Monica W. says:

September 27, 2010, 10:26 am

I rarely wear make-up because I have sensitive skin. I used to worry about how people would perceive me, because I wasn't "dolled up". But now, I don't care. If someone doesn't like they way I look, screw 'em!

The BLACKswan says:

October 22, 2010, 3:34 pm

Um...I always have on eyeliner, mascara, and gloss..daily. I'm a little apprehensive about leaving the house w/o ANY make-up on...will try one day! BTW, you look amazing.

Rudy says:

November 23, 2010, 5:44 pm

You have very beautiful skin. I love make up too...very much. But I noticed I use it to cover up my not so beautiful skin. But I still love make up lol

Rudy says:

November 23, 2010, 5:45 pm

Thats good!

Alexis says:

November 26, 2010, 1:29 pm

I love this! You have beautiful skin :) Sometimes it's hard for me to put down the makeup but it's important to have great skin and show it!