11:47

A Different Type of New Year Detox

Wouldn't it be amazing to go back in time and remember how it felt to live as a child. Unaware of insecurity, body image, make up. To judge people on personality rather than looks and be able to wake up in a morning and go to bed at night without worrying about what the future held.


As you can probably tell from the picture above, I have always had a slight obsession with perfecting my appearance. I used to lick red smarties and use them to 'paint my lips' like lipstick, I was obsessed with using spray in glitter hair dye and loved applying, peeling and reapplying peel off nail varnish. I actually remember the day I bought my first ever 'proper' bit of makeup. I remember how happy and grown up I felt, and I loved it. To this day I still do love the confidence that make up, hair dye and clothes give me. It is almost like you can hide yourself behind this perfectly made up mask, you can project yourself to others in a certain way, fake confidence and most importantly I could hide (what I once thought were) my flaws.

So when I woke up on New Years day and enjoyed a lazy make-up free dressing gown day, I decided to set myself a challenge. If I could feel comfortable at home with my boyfriend completely bare faced, then why shouldn't I be able to do the same in public? Would the world seriously stop turning if God forbid I left the house without make up on? Funnily enough, it wasn't really other people's perceptions of me that I was concerned about- I knew the challenge would push my self confidence (or lack of) to its limit, but it was a challenge I was not willing to fail.
After the initial three weeks, I started reintroducing make-up into my daily routine, but in much smaller quantities, and now six weeks down the line I am happy to say that I am still pretty much going sans-makeup a large amount of the time.

I learnt a few surprising things by ditching the make up. I excepted to feel exposed, inferior, ugly. This couldn't have been further from the truth... by going bare faced, I developed a new found self confidence. Along with realising trivial things like my skin isn't all that bad, I also had a few more deep routed revelations.

I learnt that there is no such thing as a flaw. You are the only you, there is no perfect prototype to compare yourself to. How you are is how you were made and it is how you were meant to be. Confidence does not come from make up, it comes from yourself. Don't get me wrong I am still completely 'pro make up', and beauty will always be an absolute passion of mine. But I will no longer use makeup as a mask to hide behind. I will use make up for no one but myself. As pretty or beautiful as make up can make you feel, self confidence is the most attractive quality a person can have.

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40 comments

  1. This is such a beautiful post!! I feel very anxious if I leave my house bare-faced and think oh my goodness everyone is looking at me! But after reading this I am going to try and face my fears and embrace being natural again :)

    Serena xx
    http://serenditsy.blogspot.co.uk/

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    1. aww thank you lovely! you really should do xx

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  2. Loved this post! Well done to you for seeing it through :) I try and go at least one day a week without make-up, but I probably wouldn't be brave enough to go to work without it. xxx

    Maisy Meow | Fashion and Beauty Blog

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    1. Thank you lovely! You should try, it's a bit weird at first but after a few days you don't even realise you're not wearing it anymore. xx

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  3. I love this post! Such a great challenge to set yourself!

    Abbey xo | www.absie.co.uk

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  4. I totally agree with you, sometimes I just like to stop wearing any makeup for a while and remind myself that it is not something I should use to cover myself as a mask, but something to enhance my features!

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    1. I feel so much better for doing it, I'm glad you feel the same xx

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  5. Fantastic post, Amy! I feel the exact same way. Most days are non-make-up-days for me because I work so early that I generally don't want to get out of bed early enough to put my make-up on, particularly on these winter mornings. I have found that make-up has boosted my confidence, even when I'm not wearing any make-up. Well done, you!

    Kazzie xx || Kazzie Athena

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  6. No one really cares if you wear make-up or not, you think everyone will stop and stare at you but that never happens
    Anjna Harish

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    1. I completely agree no one even seems to notice really xx

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  7. I've always wanted to try doing this! I've made the occasional outing without makeup but have never lasted long enough to make a habit out of it.

    xx

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    1. aw you should try it and see how you find it xx

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  8. This is so so beautiful! What a wonderful New Year's detox. This sounds so much more rewarding and soul-nourishing than something like giving up snacking or obsessing over logging hours at the gym. I love that you're focusing on you and your self-confidence and acceptance. I rarely wear makeup and hate the day-after feeling when I do: like I'm not nearly as good looking as I was the day before with foundation smeared all over my face.
    Once again this is a really beautiful post! I love to read your blog :)

    The What's In Between

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    1. aw thank you so much! such a lovely comment xx

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  9. I love this post so much! I completely agree with you.

    Hannah xx
    http://littlevintagecloset.blogspot.co.nz

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  10. oh what a lovely post, if only we could all child-like innocence as grown-ups

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    1. thank you! It would be amazing wouldnt it xx

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  11. This is such a lovely post ! I hate it when people assume women wear makeup to impress other people. Having the confidence to go bare is really impressing :)

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  12. Great post! I have often thought of what it would be like to go back to that feeling of being a kid and not worrying about what I look like and just wanting to enjoy myself.

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    1. Thank you! I know, it's such a shame that we grow up and other things take priority xx

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  13. This is a lovely post, and very nice to hear :) I've been doing the same more recently too and it feels pretty good most of the time

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  14. I LOVE YOUR BLOG SO MUCH OMG :) <3

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  15. This is a great blog post! Your an amazing writer :) definitely enjoying your blog posts
    <3 Chckgeek.com

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  16. Love the idea! Absolutely amazing! I feel like I wouldn't be able to go out without a make up.. like ever ! ;)

    www.yayinteriors.co.uk

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    1. thank you, aww you should try you may surprise yourself! xx

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  17. I love it! I'll have to be brave sometime this week and give it a go myself.

    xo - kaitlin from tea jam bread

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  18. Ahh love it! My weekends are make-up free as possible! Need to let my skin breathe! :) x

    http://www.spilling-the-beans.co.uk/

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