Last week I read this post by a fantastic blogger I’ve been following for a while named Agnes, she blogs at Vodka Infused Lemonade and I like her blog because, like me, she’s interested in fashion WITHOUT being a fashion blogger. She’s a mom, she’s a woman, she’s real.
And a few days ago she wrote about going make-up free! Surprisingly enough Agnes has a very supportive husband who tells her she is beautiful without her make up on, and in my humble opinion he is RIGHT!
I AM BEAUTIFUL
Today on her blog you will find a great link-up featuring photographs of real women without there make up on declaring to the world I AM BEAUTIFUL. Please go on over and say hello! I will be “linking up” this photo I took last night sans make-up!
I wear VERY little make up …. now. But once upon a time a few years ago I was in a bad place. My marriage had ended, I was newly single, feeling kind of lost and a little out of control. There was nothing stable, reassuring or positive in my life. I went through a whole string of very strange and often unhealthy relationships and I spent a LOT OF MONEY at the drugstrore.
My self-confidence level was low and I kept thinking that I had to fix myself up, change, improve, get “perfect”. Aside from facials, masks and scrubs I bought I also invested in a machine that I was suppose to use twice DAILY with “crystals” or something that was supposed to “redefine” something about my pores. Or perhaps it was supposed to eliminate my pores…who knows!
In any event it did nothing , but it DID cost a FORTUNE, and those “crystals” didn’t come cheap either.
Aside from all the beauty treatments I was also wearing make up. Like a TON of makeup. My eyes were the smokiest, my skin “flawless” (aka cakey) and my eye lashes voluminous (aka clumpy). I couldn’t even LOOK PEOPLE in the eyes unless I felt “confident” with my appearance, meaning that my hair, make up and clothes were perfect.
It was all very exhausting
Fast Forward a few years and I’m in a completely different place. Not only do I NEVER step inside of a drugstore, but the amount of money I spend of “perfection” is next to zero and my daily beauty routine is much more about vitamins, supplements, drinking water and using argan oil (see this post) than about anything else.
I try to use make up to ENHANCE my natural features not hide them. If you can imagine I used to try and COVER my freckles in the summer (when they are at their most freckly) with foundation. Do you have any idea how much foundation is needed to cover freckles?
Balance
When I started this blog and decided to include the Real Mom Street Style feature I wanted to inspire all moms to look their best. To me, looking your best doesn’t have to be about “perfection” or full make up. It is more about not letting yourself go …. completely!
To the point where you leave the house in pjs and think that’s ok. Because we send a message to the world about how we feel about OURSELVES with how we present ourselves to the world. And I think every now and then reflecting on our real beauty and accepting our flaws is an important part of developing confidence (and if you’re a mom giving confidence to your kids).
I Have Beautiful Friends
I guess I’m now an official “blogger” and with this new aspect of my life I’m developing new friendships both on and offline. I’ve had the pleasure of getting to know some fantastic women who vowed to post make-up free photos of themselves for the whole world to see!
Zaz from Mama and More
Zaz is incredible, not only is she beautiful outside but this lady is genuine, interesting and MOTIVATING. Every Tuesday on her blog you will find women from all over the world posting stories about themselves, it is called #AllAbouYou - The All About you Link and Pin Party, and is aimed to remind us to take a moment for ourselves each week. Nuture our souls, our interests and our minds since, as moms, a lot of our time is spent nurturing others.
When I read her blog I feel like I am really entering into a conversation with her and she has the ability to bring out the “feminist” in me without being overtly so herself. She is the friend that you feel grateful and for and luckily for us she blogs so you can be her friend!
Here she is without make up… don’t you think she’s so pretty? She’s shared some great thoughts on make up here that take an interesting look at the delicate balance that we play as role models for our daughters.
Katie from Pouting in Heels
I just discovered this beautiful mom and needless to say, if I looked like her I probably would never wear make up! She’s written about going make up free here and just try NOT TO CRY when she describes her favorite photo of herself!
Vicki from Mummys Got Style
Vicki posted this picture of her and her son a year ago without her make up on. She is a VERY put together fashion blogger with nice style, so I can imagine that this was actually pretty hard for her to share. She was surprised at the great response she got from her readers at her low-maintenance look, and I have to admit I love her face au natural!
Today is MARTEDI GRASSO “Fat Tuesday”, which is interesting because in internet land everyone is talking about taking their masks OFF and in real life everyone is putting their masks on! Tomorrow I’ll be talking about the history of masks and Carnival and sharing with you one of the most famous Carnivals in the world The Carnevale di Venezia.
Of course if you haven’t gotten your fill of naturally beautiful women I urge you to head on over to the All About You linkup and the I AM BEAUTIFUL link up and don’t be afraid to comment!
Later today I’ll be posting my Real Mom Street Style Feature, but for now I have to go make home make treats for my son’s playgroup since we are having our CARNEVALE FESTA!!!!!
