Take a Makeup-Free Day a Month

Everybody assumes that women love makeup - love shopping for it, love trying new brands and products, love the whole circus of putting it on and enjoy the resulting feeling of self-confidence. That's as much true as it is a misconception: out of the women who wear makeup everyday, you'd be surprised to discover that not all of them are actually makeup fanatics. For us ladies, makeup is as much a pleasure as it is a pain - the fact that we're wearing it and enjoy the knowledge that our skin appears smoother and our lips more luscious doesn't necessarily mean that we'd die the instant we'd have to go a day without it. Which is why, as an exercise in self-confidence, you could try taking a "makeup free day" once in a while - just to keep things in perspective.

What would be the advantages of such a holiday? Well, grab a pen and start writing things down. First of all, we'd have extra time in bed - and those precious 10 minutes spent hiding at the bottom of the bed with the sheets drawn over our heads just after the alarm clock goes off really are priceless. Then, remember that makeup sometimes makes us look older, and that a perfectly groomed everyday look may even be boring for those around us. If you decide to go makeup-free for one day, try pairing the look with a more casual outfit - whether you're heading to work or for a long day running errands in town. A pair of jeans coupled with a ruffled shirt and a vest, worn with stylish flats and a pair of fashionable sunglasses will make you feel wonderfully refreshed and free.

Makeup also means that our display of feelings and emotions is severely limited. Sometimes, although it's expertly applied and we look great on the outside, we still have that strange feeling that we're hiding our true selves behind a mask. We can't cry properly if we have several layers of mascara on, and we can't sub our eyes if we're tired - not without causing a major disaster, at least. I'm not saying "don't wear makeup" - that would be an unrealistic piece of advice that would rob us of a great deal of our expressed femininity. However, being too perfect too often also robs us of a great deal of freedom - so how about trying your hand at going bare-faced for one day once in a while?