Liberation from the foundation

This piece comes to littlewren from Newcastle-based writer Dominique Fox. You can check out her website for more from this talented wordsmith. Here’s what happened when she liberated herself from the foundation…

A few months ago, I decided it was time to pack away my growing bag of makeup and save it for a rainy day. Instead of applying an array of products each morning, I was going to start the day with a simple slap of cold water and moisturiser to the face.

After scrolling through my newsfeed on Facebook, I came across an article about Alicia Keys and her new ‘makeup free’ look. Throughout the interview, Keys said wearing makeup was constricting her creativity and she was ready to leave it behind so she could focus on being herself.

I thought long and hard about this. Is makeup not allowing me to be myself? The truth was, I hated putting on makeup. I didn’t like the feeling that I was covering up my face each morning, to go and do a job or see friends who appreciate me for being me. Makeup wasn’t going to make me any better at my job, any better at being a good friend, or make me better at anything else for that matter.

I felt empowered at this realisation. Could I possibly leave the house without a full face of makeup? I’d done it once before, as I was running late to catch up with a friend. Was I really able to go to work and socialise without applying foundation, powder, blush, mascara and eyeliner? I was also starting a brand new job, and started to consider if an all-natural face wasn’t what they would be expecting

That train of thought was the decision maker – how on earth could blush #445 make me any better at my job? The thought was ludicrous! I landed my new job because I had kick-ass skills they were looking for. Makeup WAS too constricting, and much like all her usual soulful wisdom, Alicia Keys was absolutely right.

The first week of my liberation was hard. I spent a good five minutes deliberating whether to go through with it, or just apply a ‘light application of foundation’. Instead I reached for the moisturiser, brushed my hair and left the house. As I stepped outside and the fresh air hit my face Everybody’s free to feel good starting humming through my head – I was finally free! While I cycled my way to work, I didn’t have to worry about my makeup melting before I had even got there.

The first week quickly flew by as did the others makeup free and I realised it was because I was comfortable with the skin I was in. In fact, I was even more confident. I know that my skin will never be pimple free, I’ll often be a little blotchy and my eyebrows will ALWAYS be sisters, never twins. Makeup can be an enjoyable experience, but for everyday life it just isn’t for me.

I implore you, whether you are a makeup queen, or someone who can’t understand the difference between foundation and concealer, to trust in your face just the way it is, to embrace it for every unique detail it has and, most importantly, to bronze it only if it makes you happy.

Image by Lara Messer