100 days Make-Up free - What I learnt & gained
This blog will be most relevant to girls and women who are experiencing acne or other skin challenges and are looking for ways to embrace themselves no matter what they look like.
I share the mental and emotional impacts of having acne throughout my adult life and ways I’ve reframed my perceptions of my skin, which has brought more freedom, acceptance and authenticity into my life. I also share the valuable benefits gained from going make-up free for over 100 days and tips if you want to do something like this too.
The Briefest Background
Throughout my 20’s and to date, I’ve had persistent challenges to resolving acne. Although I prefer not to wear make-up, I would wear it to hide my pimples, scars and the redness. Like for many women, make-up helped me to feel more comfortable in my skin. However, over time, it felt like I was rejecting a part of myself.
I also postponed my happiness thinking that when my skin finally clears up, that’s when I’ll wear that pretty dress, and that’s when I’ll live life to the fullest. However, the day when I would have ‘perfect’ skin has never come.
Towards the end of last year, I had enough. I was like EFF it, this is me right now, and I’m not going to wear any make-up and just own who I am.
The Inspiration
Some of my inspiration to go make-up free was that I was drawn to women who did not wear make-up and looked beautiful and at ease in their own skin. On the latter, I was also inspired by women who enjoyed putting on make-up, enhancing their features instead of hiding it. In order to experience both, I knew I was to first accept who I saw in the mirror.
The Make-up Free Journey
In mid-January this year, I made a commitment to no longer wear make-up to work. This continued as I went to Japan in February and carried on, where I was no longer wearing make-up to family and social events, the gym and every other occasion.
It has not been easy. If you’ve had chronic acne, you may have received negative comments about your skin. I still remember someone who I thought was a good friend in high school, continually make harsh comments about my skin. I also remember relatives and customers at my first workplace, call out the state of my skin. However, each time that I was tempted to cover up the acne and scars, I remind myself of how far I’ve gone without wearing make-up, and that it is safe to be me. Now, it’s been well over 100 days of not wearing any make-up!
What did I discover?
Below are some lessons that I learnt from going make-up free:
How my skin looks does not determine my worth.
I am still healthy regardless how my skin looks.
My knowledge and experiences are valuable no matter how I look.
I am still respected for my opinions and advice.
Feeling beautiful is a choice.
Experiencing life to the fullest is a choice.
The only person judging my skin is myself.
It’s ok to not have all the answers.
Being myself is enough.
I can definitely do this.
No one has made any negative comments about my skin since going make-up free.
What were the gains?
Below are the biggest gains from going over 100 days make-up free.
Freedom to be myself
A more authentic identity
Deeper connection to self
Deeper connection to others
Increased confidence- I have nothing to hide!
Relief from the pressure to be someone I’m not
Courage - I thought I could never go out without covering my skin and now I can
More flow and ease in everyday life
More time - I don’t have to spend time putting on make-up and taking it off
Less resistance to who I saw in the mirror.
A more settled skin-My skin feels more acclimatised to my environment. There are less products on my skin so I don’t need to touch, wash and aggravate the skin barrier
A more relaxed nervous system
A happier and content self
5 Tips to Feel more Comfortable in your Skin
If you have acne or skin issues and are wanting to have more make-up free days, below are some tips to get to where I am today.
1.Gradually reduce the amount of make-up.
Instead of ‘going cold turkey’ and not wearing any make-up in public (which can be daunting to those with acne), gradually reduce the amount of make-up you wear to each occasion. This steadier approach may help to ease the nervous system as you shift yourself to a new norm.
Take note and reflect on how you feel each time you wear less makeup.
Do you feel any different?
Did you learn anything about yourself?
2. Look in the Mirror
Take the time to look at yourself in the mirror and smile at yourself, even if you don’t want to, even if it feels awkward. Say a cheery hello, do a cheeky smile, say something nice about yourself. After years of avoiding mirrors, by repeatedly acknowledging myself in the mirror, I found this helped to familiarise myself with my face and heal the sense of rejection I placed on myself. It may feel uneasy, however, each time you see, think, and say something nice to yourself, you are acknowledging that you matter, that you deserve to been seen and loved, and you’re one step closer to a better relationship with yourself.
3. Reframe & Re-write the story behind your skin.
How you interpret your condition and experiences, is what you affirm to yourself is true. This also translates to your body.
For example, when I would wake up with pimples on my face, I used to interpret it as - I did something wrong and I don’t know how to take care of myself. Now, when I see pimples on my face, I reframe the experience as being that my body is doing its best to bring me to balance as I focus on accepting, respecting and nourishing my body. The words you speak are like spells. And I strongly believe that the body listens to what you think and say about yourself.
4. Let IT ALL GO & ACCEPT the now.
Adding onto the previous tip, I can choose to hang on to the stories of how long and hard it’s been to resolve my skin condition, and that I ‘should’ be trying harder and that I ‘need to fix’ myself, OR, I can let it all go and accept the experience right now. This does not mean I’ve given up on myself. Through self-acceptance and owning where I’m at, this is where I have found most relief, freedom and power. This is where I’ve been brought to a more authentic identity and all the blessings and joy that comes with it. At the end of the day, I am the only one holding onto the stories that I’ve attached to my skin.
Consider, what stories are you telling yourself about your skin and body?
Are these stories helpful or unhelpful?
5. Shift your focus.
What you focus on grows. Therefore, instead of constantly magnifying your acne, skin condition and any other perceived flaws, focus on how you can look after and nourish your skin and body. You don’t have to follow a pristine diet nor have to use expensive skin care products. The intention behind this approach is caring for yourself with compassion, respect and love. Adding onto this, I found that by directing my focus to things that energise me, ignite my creativity, take me one step closer to my goals and help others in some way, the less time and energy there is to focus on my perceived flaws.
Conclusion
Having once thought that I could never go out without covering my skin, today, this has now become a reality. To those struggling with acne, I hope my make-up free experiment and tips has inspired you to accept and embrace more of yourself.
The benefits of no longer hiding who you are is truly priceless.
You can give a ♥ or comment below if you enjoyed this blog. If you have any questions or would like any tips elaborated you can also leave a comment below :)