No Makeup?

No Makeup. 

09/22/11

As my boyfriend banters at me asking why do you need to spend this long doing your makeup and getting dressed when you are happily in a relationship and seemingly unworried about other people's opinions? Excellent question. 

Here my boyfriend brings up the age old question…why do women insist on spending time on makeup, hair, and outfits when the truth is YOLO; you only live once? Who really cares if I can fake completely flawless skin with makeup products or perfectly frame my face with my side-swept bangs? Does it matter if my outfit looks like I care? Does it matter if you can tell I am wearing a pair of jeans that hasn't been washing in weeks? 

Truth is I HAVE NO IDEA. No, I do not care about all the seemingly effortless, perfectly styled fashionistas with their judgmental eyes and beautiful clothes. No, I don't care if I turn the head of that random guy walking by with the headphones in. I know deep down that I just don't give a damn what people think about me, but yet it is so important to me that I look good? I am doing it for my boyfriend? Did CoCo really hit it on the nose: I am trying to make him want me later? Or is it some act of vanity left inside of me even after going to the bathroom with the door open is acceptable? Do I really just want to look good so when I catch a glimpse of my reflection in any kind of reflective material I can go, "Yeah, I look good"????

WHAT IS THE DEAL?

Why is it that I can be so comfortable in my own skin laying next to the perfect man with no makeup on, my greasy unwashed hair in disarray, and my somewhat jiggly belly poofing out from too much eaten at dinner, but I can't even stomach the idea of walking outside without makeup on? 

It reminds me of high school when I knew people believed my best friend was the most beautiful of all simply because she did not wear makeup. She was comfortable in her own pure, bare skin without an ounce of makeup, but somehow the mere idea of that leads me to run for my makeup brushes and powder. I don't understand it. I feel confident and lovely in my own skin. Sure, there are things I wouldn't mind changing or small deposits of fat I wouldn't mind getting rid of but I am certainly not uncomfortable in my own skin. 

I think the root of the problem in women's innate nature in wanting to please. I love to be shown off and I never like disappointing anyone. So to me (even though it is something loved by all men, especially my boyfriend) going out without makeup on is just unfathomable. Maybe someday it will be something I can handle, but for know I must fulfill my need for creativity which I can do by simply applying makeup or picking out the perfect outfit that makes ME feel like a million bucks. I know it didn't cost me that, but the seemingly effortless, perfectly styled fashionistas with their judgmental eyes don't know that, but really in the end it DOESN'T EVEN MATTER. Until next time.

xox,

Arae