Make-up free Monday

While driving to work a few weeks ago, I was listening to the radio (that only works if it's absolutely freezing or extremely hot outside, not when it's anywhere from 45-70 degrees).

Z100 cracks me up every morning with their silly banter and awesome phone taps. On this particular morning, they were discussing a new movement sweeping the nation- Make-up free Monday's.

At first, I thought it was a ridiculous notion- Who the hell started this and why did they pick Monday? Why not "Make-up free Thursday"? Guess it doesn't have the same ring to it, eh?

Make-up free Monday is a movement for women- to liberate themselves and let their true beauty shine- by not wearing make-up. Whether going to the office or the mall, women are baring it all- leaving the house with their face completely naked.

"Yikes!", I thought. "How long has it been since I left my house with out mascara on?" TOO LONG. It's been too long!

Since Junior High school, I became an avid make-up purchaser. Foundation, cover-up, under eye concealer, eye shadow, blush, tinted moisturizer, bronzer and my all time favorite, mascara- One could never have enough! At 14, I actually started buying "how to" make-up books.

What the hell could I have been trying to hide at 14? I was lucky to have had pretty much perfectly clear skin all through high school and college. It wasn't until after my 21st birthday that my skin started acting up, but by then I had so many years of make-up'ing under my belt that I could hide a blemish the size of California with one magical sweep of my concealer brush.

My sisters and I always joke that we should take before and after pictures when we are getting ready to go out. It's funny, but, not really. Why are we so desperate to look like a made-up version of ourselves? Why isn't the real version good enough???

I started thinking of all of the money I've spent on beauty products. I started thinking of all of the time I've wasted staring in the mirror and painting my face. I started thinking of all of the times I've worn a baseball hat to the grocery store so that no one would see my un-mascara'd eyes.

I felt ashamed and I felt ENRAGED. Why do we do this to ourselves? Should we blame the media who day in and day out present us with completely unrealistic ideas of what beautiful is? Should we blame men, who more often than not judge us immediately on how we look? OR- dare I say- should we blame OURSELVES?

I woke up the next morning and I went through the motions of my daily routine. And as I sat down in front of the mirror with a pile of make-up in front of me, I made a decision- I would no longer be wearing make-up to work.

Every co-worker commented on my appearance. Some said I looked fresh-faced and well rested, while others said I looked tired and stressed. My naked face made it's debut to mixed reviews, but I have to tell you, my attitude was a "two thumbs up". I felt more genuine. I felt younger. I felt liberated! After all, what did I have to hide? Regardless of my make-up or my lack-there-of, I'm still the same person! But without make-up, it seems it's easier for others to see that and easier for myself to accept that.

Make-up free Monday may not be for everyone, but it certainly is for me. And because of that, I am one step closer (or should I say, one blush brush further?), to just being beYOUtiful.