They’re going out nude. Nothing on at all—on their faces that is.
USA Today reports that two women from my hometown of Charlotte, N. C. have gone where few women dare to go—outside their houses without makeup.
I cover makeup trends here at Mind Your Body and I’m impressed with the no makeup look adopted by baby boomer Molly Barker, 51 and Caitlin Boyle, 27. The younger member of the pair also blogs at Operation Beautiful, dedicated to ending “truly toxic negative self-talk…” It’s a noble and important mission: Love thyself.
Free at last from shaving
The two are not only going bare-faced, but they have foregone hair styling, nail polish, high heels and shaving. Their self-imposed asylum from the above de rigueur beauty rituals began Feb. 1 and ends April 1. They’ve picked up plenty of attagirl support from other women, including from 30 other gals who thought the whole effort was worth their try, too.
Boyle told the newspaper that they’re liberated by shaving abstinence and that although self-conscious at first, that feeling wore off. They both say they miss the smoothness of newly shaved legs and underarms: Heck, so do I as that feeling only lasts briefly and then it’s time to de-fuzz again.
Doing her thing
Boyle also admits to being a bit of a rebel who doesn’t like having to do certain things. Underneath it all, she’s still the same person and it’s what’s inside that counts, she says.
The elder Barker calls makeup a “prop” that interferes with her being really “present,” but also leaves the choice of “to wear or not to wear” makeup up to us other women.
No one’s forcing us
My Dad used to tell both my Mom and me that he really liked us without makeup. Those comments came spewing out frequently during my teens, when I experimented with different colors of eye shadow, lipstick and nail polish: That’s what teens do, though, and maybe like you, I grew out of it.
These days, it’s not that I feel really unattractive without my makeup, but when I take the time to artfully apply it, I just look better—and that’s the point, yes? I will always do “something” with my hair. I can’t wear high heels due to foot mistreatment in my teens that resulted in a couple of small bunions. I don’t like the look of a nest under my arms or stubble on my legs, but I applaud both Barker and Boyle for their bravery, determination and their message.
Mirror, mirror on the wall,
Can I leave here with no makeup at all?
No. Now, where’s my darned lip pencil?
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(Photo courtesy: © Max Blain | Dreamstime.com)