Be-Hue-Tiful
It’s a well-known fact that a smile is the best accessory you can ever wear; and when coupled with confidence, you’re ready to face the world. But sad to say a lot of women these days, including those who are internationally hailed beautiful, are not as confident without any make up on. Applying make up on is like a drug. Once you feel good in it, you can’t go a day without it. So what’s so wrong about wearing make up all the time?
Well first of all, it feels kind of unfair that you don’t consider yourself beautiful minus all those beauty products. Like A-list celebrities, you have to put on those big full-framing sun glasses to cover up if ever you decide to paint the town red without mascara or some serious highlights on. But that’s not all. While you think you’re making yourself attractive day after day by concealing your face’s natural color and blemishes, you are also asking for aging to come to you before it’s supposed to. Truth to tell, make up products mostly contain parabens, chemicals used to preserve them. And although it’s not proven that these chemicals are carcinogenic, it’s a fact that when applied on the skin the parabens react with UVB radiation causing skin aging and DNA degeneration. Make up products also contain sodium lauryl sulphate, a sulfactant commonly used in cleaning products that give them amphihilic properties. When the skin is exposed to it for long periods of time, it may develop allergic reactions and irritation.
It may sound hypocritical to totally ban make-up, especially for important occasions like parties and dates, but there’s nothing wrong with putting it off on days when you don’t really need them. How’s that possible?
Feeling good without any make-up on can happen. Initiate the practice by focusing on your skin first. If you have good skin, and if you can maintain that youthful glow, your face won’t scream “make-up” 24 hours a day. Always make it a point to get enough sleep and drink 8 to 10 glasses of water daily. This very simple practice is something that women often neglect. Your skin needs rest and much rehydration. It’s also important to moisturize everyday to keep your skin from being dry. The most important application is the sun screen. UVA and UVB rays can and will damage skin cells and cause premature wrinkles. Do not also forget to clean your face at least twice daily. Make up clogs pores and even when you don’t apply any you’re exposed to dust and other pollutants. So it’s good to cleanse and exfoliate the skin regularly. If you happen to have a beauty regimen, follow through consistently. Night creams, facial steams and what not all help out if you really learn to commit. Now it may sound a bit irrelevant but exercise helps too. It’s a natural way of heavily excreting body toxins through sweat. And it aids in the firming process.
That said the next step to having make-up-free beauty is by having a hair style that suits you best. Get a fun and frisky hair cut with an up-to-date and funky hair color to really bring out the glow in you. Now when you get up in the morning just wash your face, apply some moisturizer, put on some lip balm or gloss to add sheen, and you’re ready to go. Welcome the new, and the real you!
Juliana Alano
