All right, kids, we’ve got just over three weeks left of this challenge, so it’s time to start getting a little crazy. Time to do stuff no sane person could ever be expected to keep up for a year, time to make some changes that are over-the-top impractical and outrageous, because I’ll never have to do this again! I think I’ll call this the “You’ve Gotta Be Kidding Me” series.
The first installment? No more makeup.
For the boys, and some of the more confident girls out there, this is totally no biggie. But try to understand that I’ve been wearing eyeshadow, eyeliner, concealer and blush almost every single day since I was 15. As you can tell from the occasional photo of me on this site, it’s not as though I wear tons of makeup, but there’s no way I leave the house without it.
Fortunately, I’m working from home this entire month, and by home I mean a friend’s cottage up in Creemore, so basically no one will see me except the guy who comes to plow the driveway and the cleaning lady.
The green reason behind this? Well, to use less product, of course. I realize this negates some previous changes, like buying all-natural eyeshadow, lip stick and bronzer, but at this point in the game, I’m hoping you can forgive the occasional bit of redundancy.
February 5, 2008 at 1:26 pm
3 weeks?? Eek! I’m having separation anxiety already. What will we do without our daily Thistle fix? Wait impatiently for the book, I guess…we’ll all have to make a concerted effort (where feasible) to attend your book-launch party.
I usually go makeup free on my telework days and most weekends, unless I’m going out for dinner or some other special outting…so 4 outta 7 ain’t bad, considering I’m not holed up in a cottage. But I’m such a pale soul, I feel naked without my blush and a swipe of mascara.
February 5, 2008 at 1:51 pm
From one eyeliner fan to another, I know how this feels. I’ve been doing this for a few weeks now. Maybe it’s the winter blahs causing this or maybe it’s laziness. However, I did see a photo of me taken this past weekend and I nearly died when I saw how pastey white I’ve become, I’ve since welcomed bronzer back into my life.
February 5, 2008 at 2:14 pm
Where does lip balm fall here?…You aren’t swearing that off with the make-up, are you?
It is winter…there is snow everywhere…if I gave up lip balm I’d be chapped within a day! And that leads to cracked lips…which could lead to bleeding…and maybe infection…which means medicine to clear up the infection…OOOOOOOOOHHHHHH for the love of all that is holy–do NOT give up lip balm!!!
(I am a lip balm addict…it is hard for me to imagine a world without it…)
February 5, 2008 at 2:17 pm
I know how brave step a step this is, so this is great! I am pale and my eyebrows and lashes are so blond as to be invisible, so I thought at least a small amount was needed. I’ve worn some since I was 13 (I’m 40), and when I worked at an esthetic salon for four years, I was required to wear even more “for first impressions.” I was very insecure without it. I’ve worn no makeup for nearly eight years, and I admit the naked adjustment made me cringe initially. But I’m completely confident without it now and my skin has never been clearer and happier. I’d NEVER go back!
The bonuses? Clearer skin. Less money spent on stuff whose containers wind up in the garbage. No mascara accidentally rubbed into my eye! No worrying if my eyeliner got smudged again. More time for something else (like sleeping in a few more minutes!) More confidence. Less self-obsession. And less time with the lights on hovering in front of a mirror, painting and criticizing myself!
How I did it: I looked at all the girls I knew who didn’t wear it, and asked myself, “Come on! Do I think they look UGLY?? No! So I’M not!” If you want to distract anyone from “flaws” that feel huge to you, smile. It’s the best makeup. Look at how you respond to someone who grins at you! So don’t hide behind a mask; be yourself. Yourself is perfectly good.
PS: if you want, coconut oil can be your lipgloss. You have to apply it frequently, but it cures chapped lips! It’s therapy, not makeup.
February 5, 2008 at 2:49 pm
David Bowie is crying
February 5, 2008 at 2:54 pm
Wow, thats a lot of commitment for a girl who wears makeup regularly.
I recently found that physicians formula has produced an organic line of powder and bronzer. Not only are they the best feeling makeup to wear, they come in nifty cardboard compacts!
February 5, 2008 at 3:14 pm
Girl, you don’t need makeup. It’s a toxic, weird mask that clogs your pores and makes you look more like the freakish female images that the media peddles to make us feel insecure and buy more of their advertisers’ junk. I hope you enjoy the month off, and never go back. You don’t need the phthalates and other garbage seeping into your body anyway.
February 5, 2008 at 3:20 pm
Since you are letting the world know what you have been up to. Why don’t you give them a vote on what they think regarding makeup and no make up. Post two pictures and let the world vote on what you should do for the next year regarding if you should go back to it
February 5, 2008 at 4:49 pm
I gave up the makeup a couple weeks ago while wearing way too much for a performance I was doing. My skin is SOOOO much better, and I feel happier not staring myself down in the mirror in the mornings. I was thinking of switching to organic/mineral brands, but I’m not sure. I’m going makeup-free until then.
There is a little bit of trying to deal with how pale I look… I think that’s more psychological than anything else.
And no, lip gloss is NOT makeup
Good luck!
February 5, 2008 at 5:11 pm
AAAAHAHAHAHAHA…. OK, Bowie crying? That’s gotta be the funniest comment ever left on this site. Labyrinth forever! Anyway, don’t worry Hellcat — the Thistle will continue, somehow, some way, I just have to figure out how. And I’ll try to get my publicist to VIA-Rail you in to Toronto for the book launch as a guest of honour! And CJ — this is a good idea, but NO WAY am I posting a pic of myself sans makeup for all to see. As I said, I don’t wear much of it, but I look damn sickly without the blush and something under my eyes to hide the shadows…
February 5, 2008 at 5:31 pm
I’m a “confident girls” who doesn’t own any makeup. I’ve worn it a couple of times (dares are funny things when people know you’ll shrug off ‘kiss him’ or ’streak’) and, personally, I hated the way it made my skin look all cakey and gross. I don’t even have stellar skin (I have huge pores, for one) but it seems so pointless to me. I value my sleep too much.
That being said, I wish you good luck! And I hope you’ll forgive me for being rather biased when I’m thinking ‘good luck finding you don’t need the stuff!’ because I promise I won’t be disappointed when you go back to it at the end of the challenge. To each their own!
February 5, 2008 at 7:39 pm
Throughout junior high and high school, I’d start out the school year religiously applying makeup to my face and blow drying my hair. A few months in, and my good intentions had all slowly gone to hell and I spent the rest of the year sans makeup and with barely acceptable hair. I just couldn’t get up early enough or care enough to do it every day.
So wow, was I happy when I got out of college and joined an environmental organization and found out that wearing makeup was not only unnecessary but kind of frowned upon in that circle. And I had no problems getting dates. I did, after all, maintain proper hygiene. Just no extras!
I do have makeup in the house and wear it occasionally for special events, and then it feels like a cool thing to do. Like playing dress-up. But my husband for sure doesn’t care about it and it wouldn’t be fun anymore if I had to do it every day. Kinda like wearing hose and heels.
So good for you. Maybe you’ll realize you don’t have to go back to wearing it everyday. Maybe. Maybe.
February 5, 2008 at 11:31 pm
Ooh, April, thanks for the heads up on the organic PF line. I already love Physicians Formula because it’s got some great light-feeling-but-still-has-good-coverage stuff, but organic makes it even better! Note that I am not woman enough to give up my makeup.
February 6, 2008 at 3:34 am
Makeup sucks anyway. It clogs pores, makes women look fake, makes women feel like they should look fake because everyone looks fake! Ugg! Natural beauty all the way. And maybe a teensy bit of animal-free mascara. Blond eyelashes are a good excuse!
February 6, 2008 at 6:01 am
You are certainly braver than I. I only go sans makeup if I’m not going anywhere. I have to at least wear eyeliner or I feel naked. I’m ok with being naked at home, but I’m certainly not going to be naked at work.
February 6, 2008 at 11:13 am
Okay, at this point, it seems like another comment is redundant, but hey, I like putting in my two cents’ worth.
I wore concealer throughout high school - SO insecure about the occasional spot. And now that I haven’t worn makeup with any regularity for about a decade, I’m thinking that I was only exacerbating the situation way back when.
Like Beth, I only wear makeup for special occasions, and even then it’s usually only mascara and a bit of lipstick. It is HIGHLY gratifying then, because my husband tends to look dumbfounded when I appear from the bathroom for the first time. Wouldn’t have the same effect if it were an everyday thing.
You know what (I think) one of the best things you can do for your skin is? Stay off the cakey-type makeup altogether (your skin needs to breathe!) and drink more water. Seriously. I go through about a liter a day - not that much, really, compared with the two liters we’re “supposed” to drink - but given that I don’t drink soft drinks or sugary drinks or, well, really anything other than water, milk and the occasional cup of tea, it’s amazing how clear my skin stays. In fact, I usually take a spot as a reminder that I should change my pillowcase. ::grin::
February 6, 2008 at 5:43 pm
make up is unnecessary. if you’re getting enough rest, feeding your body with good foods & hydration, you won’t need concealer & all that jazz. make up “masks” what is really going on with yourself.
embrace looking like crap. maybe there’s a reason? hiding doesn’t make it any damn better.
February 6, 2008 at 6:29 pm
Vanessa, you know I am a big fan, but i have to admit I am losing the logic here. I thought that the point of this challenge was to inplement changes that you would aim to follow after your year was up?
February 6, 2008 at 10:21 pm
OK, just to clarify one leeetle thing: I really don’t wear a lot of makeup to begin with, and I never, EVER wear foundation, and the only place I put concealer is a small dab under my eyes!
February 8, 2008 at 7:47 am
I’ve never worn much makeup (mascara and, if I’m going out someplace “special”, lipstick). My choice was never realted to environmental concerns, I’m just lazy.
February 8, 2008 at 7:48 am
Sorry - I meant to ask: what kind of reactions have you had from the epople in your life?
February 8, 2008 at 3:37 pm
Well, Late Bloomer, not many reactions — because I haven’t actually had any human contact for the past week (as mentioned in the post, I’m currently isolated at a cottage to write). But I’m about to see my sister, who let me tell you is a BIG fan of makeup, so we’ll see what she has to say about all this!
February 10, 2008 at 12:37 pm
i am a huge fan of minimalism when it comes to make up. in fact i am just a powder and lip balm kind of girl. i occassionally wear blush and even for special occasions wear mascara. i just find it so nice to just brush on powder in the morning and be done!
i am interested in the physicians formula organic powders mentioned about in april’s post, but have had no luck finding it on the site. i might not know what i am looking for. please help……..thanks!
February 14, 2008 at 3:49 pm
What a cool project! I haven’t been following it but found this right now. I don’t wear make up at all but I think it’s great that you’ll try to stop using it - not only for eco reasons but you know, women ARE beautiful without that stuff too! Never forget that when you feel naked without it!
It’s a taught habit.
February 16, 2008 at 9:39 pm
I’ve gone through phases of wearing make-up and I have become a HUGE proponent of going sans make-up. This is an industry based on making women feel inadequate. That we have to “make-up” for lacking something. I won’t wax poetic for too long - but kudos to trying this. I’m curious how it goes!
February 19, 2008 at 3:34 am
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