STITCH Lab, Experiment #1: Going Makeup-Free

Welcome to STITCH Lab, where we put fashion, beatuy, and lifestyle trends to the test--trying things totally out of our comfort zone, one experiment at a time. 

Makeup is my safety blanket. I feel naked without it. I rely heavily on foundation to conceal my never-ending stress acne and on mascara to liven up my sleepy eyes. Yet, I wish this wasn’t the case. I wish that I felt more comfortable in my skin. After watching Alicia Keys walk the red carpet and go on national TV sans makeup, I decided that I could give the natural look a shot—well, for a day at least.

I spent my Monday makeup-free and here’s what happened:

The best part of going makeup-free was waking up a half hour later than usual for my 9 am class. I rolled out of bed, tried on a few outfits, and made my way to breakfast with some friends. While I sat there eating my sugary cereal, I noticed that I was hesitant to make eye contact. I felt like people would only see the black circles under my eyes or the red scars on my cheeks. I spent most of the time with my eyes glued to my phone, in order to avoid conversation. While I scrolled through different apps, I found myself reluctant to use Snapchat. As a self-aware Snapchat addict, this was a big deal. I didn’t like the way I looked; I didn’t feel like myself.

Following breakfast, I spent fifty minutes in my journalism lecture. I didn’t really think about my makeup-free state because I knew that no one was looking at me. After class, however, one of my friends asked to study. This meant one-on-one time completely makeup-free. I knew that she wouldn’t care or maybe not even notice, but I panicked. How could I be present and focus on studying when all I could think about was how exposed I felt? But, of course, I said yes. And as time passed, my fears began to subside and I was able to enjoy our study date.  

Next, I had lunch with a friend and went to my small Hebrew class. I was still thinking about the fact that my acne was exposed, but I began to realize that 1) no one was focusing on the way I looked and 2) it shouldn’t matter what other people think of me. I learned that most of my fear and anxiety surrounding my makeup-free look was in my head. I am still the same person regardless of whether I’m wearing makeup or not, and at the end of day, only I can control my happiness.  

The final part of my day was dinner with a friend in Evanston. This was the moment that took the most self-control. I live for the nights when I can get dressed up, put on a lot of makeup and go to nice dinners with friends. But that night, I went out with a bare face. To my surprise, it was empowering. I was proud of myself for lasting so long and for overcoming my fear. By the time we went to dinner, I had pretty much forgotten that I wasn’t wearing makeup. I made it through the whole day and I actually enjoyed it.

Of course, I still love makeup and will continue to wear it. But I learned that I’m the same person, whether I have a full face of makeup on or I just rolled out of bed. I’m not defined by the amount of concealer or eyeshadow on my face, but rather by the way I choose to act. And, to be honest, it’s quite freeing to not have to worry about smudging my mascara every time I scratch my eyes. I encourage everyone to go makeup-free for a day; see how it makes you feel. I guarantee that you will learn new things about yourself and the way you want to present yourself to the world.