This is something that I would never be writing; a post recounting 31 days without makeup. It was definitely an eye-opening experience and one that has changed me. There were a few outcomes I wanted from doing this challenge; 1. feel more confident leaving my house without makeup (I used to need a full face just to go to the supermarket), 2. for my skin to be able to breath for the first time (for this many consecutive days) in years, and 3. to pay more attention to my skin. 

For us that wear makeup consistently, the thought of going without it can be quite stressful. Like most of my friends, I started wearing makeup in high school. It started with a tinted moisturiser and clear mascara and since then has moved to foundation, concealer, powder, contour, highlight, blush, brows, eyeshadow, mascara and even the occasional eyeliner. Often times we have no idea how much it impacts our lives and confidence until we are without it. I found that with less makeup, I made less eye contact with people, felt younger and less confident.

Toward the beginning of the month, there were many days/outings where I questioned if not wearing makeup was going to be socially acceptable. It had never crossed my mind that people(girls) leave their houses daily and enter social situations without wearing makeup. I went out to trivia with some friends one night had two thoughts cross my mind: 1. Is it socially acceptable for me to enter a bar without makeup? Should I just make an exception for tonight and wear makeup? And 2. Should I just not go so that I can avoid the situation?

I went out to a few bars/nightclubs and before heading out, I had a very long think about whether or not I was going to wear makeup or not. I ended up deciding that as long as I had my eyebrows filled in, I would feel more confident; so I went out with absolutely no makeup on, aside for filled in eyebrows.

It has, however, encouraged me to get out of the makeup rut that I was in toward the end of last year. I have picked up some awesome new products that I've been dying to try throughout January!! 

XO