Toxic Thursdays: The No-Makeup Experiment

When I started writing this blog, it was a forum to discuss products we use and how they could affect our health and the health of our children. I generally focused on products used for children – see my blogs on safe child cups and shampoo.

However, over the Fourth of July holiday weekend, I got to thinking – what about a blog about not using products?

During the course of a very hot weekend, I found I saved tons of time by not wearing makeup. I would wear my lotion and a sunscreen mixed in since we spent long hours outside, but I skipped the mascara, blush, and foundation that I generally use. I am not a lipstick person – more of a chapstick girl – and I did continue to use that to protect my lips.

When it is hot outside, our makeup can be more of a hassle than it is worth. After cooling down enough after a shower, then taking the time to painstakingly apply foundation, blush, mascara, and whatever else you might use, often it is all lost to sweat.

I know what you are thinking – girls don’t sweat, we glisten!

Well, I don’t know about you, but when I am chasing two kids down the beach, I am doing more than glistening! And, I don’t prefer to end up looking like a zombie from the Dawn of the Dead when I am done having all that beach fun – mascara dripping down to my chin and eyebrow pencil smeared up to my hairline.

So, I stopped doing it. I stopped using makeup for going on two weeks now. And, here’s what I found:

1. I saved, on average, 15 minutes, in the bathroom each morning. This is 15 minutes more to enjoy a cup of coffee or to relish extra snuggles with your children or pets.
2. Initially, I felt a slight loss of confidence. I did often think I looked mousy or not dynamic with my natural eyelashes and pathetic non-penciled brows. However, as time went by, I stopped thinking about it and actually felt more confidence because I wasn’t worried if my mascara had run or smeared!
3. Less time in front a mirror = happier and healthier. No, I did not go down a dress size because I stopped wearing makeup, but I did find that spending less time in front of a mirror meant less time criticizing my own face! When applying makeup, I always second guessed myself (I am not great at makeup to begin with) and by skipping that step, I have more face-confidence!
4. Here’s the kicker – no one really noticed! Of course my husband didn’t notice, but many of my co-workers also didn’t notice (or at least did not mention) the lack of makeup.

Have you ever gone without makeup? Would you consider it, even for a short time?

While I can’t say that I will never wear makeup again, I can say with complete confidence that I don’t feel the need to wear it every day. And, likely my skin will thank me for that in the long run!