I know that these days, there’s a push to promote inner beauty. While the trend is toward a natural look—with “no-makeup” days and photos of celebrities showing off their beauty without a trace of foundation or eyeshadow—I have to admit, I love my makeup. I applaud the trend and the initiative to show future generations the importance of finding beauty in simplicity and nature, but—maybe it’s just because I’m so used to seeing myself this way—I’m not sure I could do without my concealer. I want to make it clear that I’m perfectly capable of leaving the house without makeup—I’ll spend a week at the cabin without my makeup bag—I just like to accentuate my features with a few brushstrokes.
Artists feel good when they’re applying oil paint to a canvas; I, on the other hand, love putting powder on my cheeks. I love practicing my eyeliner or trying to mix new colors while adding a touch of shimmer on nights when I feel more radiant than ever. I love the process—even if it only takes 5–7 minutes in the morning—I love the feeling it gives me, the feeling of taking care of myself while the kids eat their cereal before heading off to school. I love the change I see in myself. I’m always just as impressed by the transformation my makeup brings to my face. I feel more confident, sexier, and better prepared to take on the day.
Some might think it’s sad that I have to “smear” my face with makeup to feel more confident in life, but I don’t feel sorry for myself. I feel good about my choices. And let’s be honest, I turn a lot more heads with my everyday makeup. Without going overboard or looking too made-up, a light application that hides my little flaws and enhances my best features—and I see a difference in the way others look at me.
It’s great to go makeup-free for a day and promote inner beauty and all that, but we shouldn’t disparage makeup either. The important thing is to feel beautiful and confident no matter what. If a woman feels pretty and happy without a trace of makeup on her face, well, I salute her. I applaud her just as much as I give a “high five” to the mom for whom a line of eyeliner and a little mascara make all the difference when she looks in the mirror—and I don’t forget the woman who gets a boost of self-esteem from the 45 minutes she spends pampering herself.
Ultimately, I simply hope that every woman finds the right balance between natural beauty and artifice so that she feels good about herself and confident enough to face the adventures of everyday life.