Even though you are not wearing it for 60 days…. Issey Miyake is the best!!! I spotted it immediately in your pic 🙂

I think my mother’s daily make-up routine actually pushed me away from wearing make-up all the time. I knew she didn’t have to wear make-up when she left the house but she always felt that she had to.
Sometimes we would go to the gym together and she would even put make-up on first.
“Come on, you look beautiful. And you’re going to sweat it off anyway!” I would say. But she never relented.

I never wanted to feel trapped and pressured into wearing make-up in that way (it almost felt like being a slave to the regimen of ‘putting on your face’) and so I didn’t. And I still don’t.

My mom still now puts on make up everyday. The same brand of makeup she’s worn forever. I don’t know how my husband would like the no shaving thing… I can totally see the no makeup and no extra primping but no deodorant? I don’t think I could do it!

This is weird and off topic, but I LOVE to see the products other people use. One of my favorite things is when people do post on “what’s in my purse” or “what’s in my makeup bag”. I have no idea why it’s so fascinating!

Why do you keep capitalizing “beauty habits”? It’s not a proper noun. What you do, your routine, does not need capitalization.

My routine is limited to what makes me clean and smell good- so, I brush teeth, shower with soap, put on lotion so my skin won’t be scaly and dry, use colorless lip balm, and deodorant. I only wear other kinds of make-up if I’m going somewhere really nice- wearing a dress instead of jeans.

It’s really interesting how your comments section gave you insight about location and upbringing. I think there’s a lot to that. I remember reading also, that different cultures have different standards around natural body scent. I can’t remember exactly which cultures, so I won’t guess, but I remember hearing about some that don’t use deodorant and people do not find the smell of the human body to be offensive. Showering daily, or sometimes not even daily, is sufficient for the society’s noses. There are also cultures that shower/bathe multiple times per day, and find those of us that shower only once daily to be smelly!

I thought about that when you wrote about becoming aware that people have different social norms. Reading about how even something like body odor is “normed” differently, that was my big awareness moment.

While I grew up on stage doing dance and theater and absolutely love wearing make-up, I don’t do it on a regular basis. Really, I’m just lazy. Plus I work in engineering with all men.

Recently I’ve decided to make my wardrobe more stylish. It makes me feel better about myself knowing that I don’t look frumpy. But my hair is still air-dryed and my face is still make-up free.

Hi Caitlin,

VERY INTERESTING project you are undertaking. I am very much looking forward to following it. I am also very glad you have made a point not to vilify certain beauty habits. I can personally say that I LOVE putting on make up. I don’t really feel pressure to do it, which is probably why I enjoy it. I often go out with a completely bare face, especially to work (probably a benefit of working in the sciences?). However, I just love coloring all over my face. I like contrasting different eyeshadows, eyeliners, and lip colors with my outfit. I like to use different eye make up that makes my eye color pop this dramatic shade of green. And really I have no other artistic talents, but I can do some amazing make up on myself. To me it feels like face paint for adults, like when you used to get something painted on at a fair as a kid…I also get bored very easily and often change my hair color between different shades of blonde and brunette. This often seems to coincide with the changing of seasons…but when I was a teenager this was even more fun. I think I have had hair in every color of the rainbow. Purple hair was my favorite. Sometimes I wish I were a ridiculously famous pop star like Rihanna so I could still get away with wearing crazy hair & make up and outrageous outfits (that my profession doesn’t really allow for). I definitely went through some negotiating with myself over the years over what was important to me and what was not. I used to get my nails done all the time, until I realized I hate paying all that money to basically hold hands with a stranger for an hour, for a manicure that I will inevitably chip 2 days later. I still get them done for weddings and such, but otherwise I paint my own nails at home while zoning out to some mindless TV, if/when I feel like it. I also grew up with the tanning. I remember spending many afternoons in tanning salons as a young child for what felt like hours while my mother tanned (although it was probably only 20 minutes or so). Sure enough I started doing the same thing in high school, fake baking for prom, etc. That was until my sophomore year in college when my mother was diagnosed with stage III metastatic melanoma and had to have 2 tumors and many lymph nodes removed from her lower back and right leg. I now use sunscreen religiously, and will play with some fake (in the bottle) tan now and then or before a vacation. Let’s see, what else…oh I used to have cystic acne, which I really hated. I would get painful cysts all over my face that would last for weeks – months. After trying every treatment and antibiotic in the book, I finally went on Accutane (and although it can have serious side effects) I am thrilled with the results! Now that I’m writing about it, my success with Accutane has probably furthered my inclination to go bare-faced most of the time. Anyways, this was kind of a rant about my own habits but I think it’s really cool that you’re reflecting on yours to understand your motivations. It’s setting a really good example for the rest of us, and young girls especially, to be thoughtful about their beauty decisions.

First thing I noticed was that I use the same hand cream and deodorant. I love Aveda and used to work at an Aveda spa so I have a lot of their products.

One thing that I have been thinking of recently is that if I had good skin, I wouldn’t need to wear as much makeup. Now, there’s two things I have to say about that. On the one hand, I guess it’s still a desire to look good, but at the same time, it’s empowering to feel like you have natural beauty and I think people with naturally great skin (or take really good care of their skin not through cosmetic procedures) are really beautiful. I’ve also recently switched to a new line of completely natural products (the brand Arcona) that have a signature cranberry scent and have done wonders for my skin to the point where I feel ok going out without makeup because I still feel pretty. Those are just my thoughts in reaction to this post.

It is interesting to see how many products many of us use, isn’t it?

My mom wore a moderate amount of make-up and it definitely influenced my beauty regiment, versus if she wore no make-up or a complete face all the time. Now in college, I’ve been influenced by my friends. I have one who wears a lot of make-up when she goes out and when we lived together in the dorms I noticed that I wore more when I went out, too. It’s all about finding a balance. Now I usually only wear makeup if I am going to work or going out. Other than that, I give my skin a rest.

It’s interesting to hear so many women comment “I look so much better with makeup”. I spent 20 years in the ski business, 8 of those years in Breckenridge, CO. NONE of the girls / women wore makeup – the Avon Lady would have been in the unemployment line. They were the prettiest, most healthy-looking people on the planet! When I moved here, and become “city-fied” it took me a long time to get used to seeing women with all that “gunk” on their faces – it always makes me think “what are you hiding under there?” It’s like neckties for men – whose stupid idea was it to take a piece of fabric, half choke a man with it, and call it “fashion”??

When I was young, no one pressured me into beauty products- in fact, kind of the opposite. I wanted to use mascara and eventually I was allowed to use clear kind. I wanted to shave my legs and ended up with an electric razor. I was allowed to make my own choices, within limits, which helped me to determine why I was doing these things to begin with.

The summer before high school, my grandma took me to Clinique. They taught me how to apply minimal makeup that looked natural – 13 years later that lesson has finally stuck. When I choose to wear makeup, it helps me to feel like a more put together version of myself, but I would never wear makeup that made me look not like me.

However, like all women, I went through a period of time where I subscribed to a certain “standard of beauty” – which for me happened during early college. I had regular highlights to keep my brunette hair blonde, I went tanning with my friends, I thought I needed to be thinner, I only wore certain brands of clothing and piled on makeup. I was trying to reach an unattainable standard that I would never be and it made me feel terrible about myself. It didn’t help that around this time I developed painful cystic acne. Eventually, I discovered what was causing it, but I still had horrible scars on my cheeks. I was so self-conscious about my appearance. I had a few laser treatments done right afterward and combined with time, 7 years later the scars are now barely visible. It’s SO sad to me that those experiences made me feel so terrible about myself, but they did. I almost want to go back in time and give 19 year old me a hug. I wish that this project had been around then! I think that what you are doing is truly incredible and so inspiring for any woman, regardless of whether she is in that place or not.

Now, here I am today. I’ve embraced my natural hair color – ironically enough, I’m sporting the same bangs I had at age 5 🙂 I’ve accepted myself. I have never been so grateful to finally feel like I can leave the house with just lip balm and just feel like me. I can’t wait to read more about your project and all of the things you discover!

My mom hardly wears make-up, but I like wearing a little make-up. The only time I really “get ready” in an intense way, is if I’m going on a date night with my husband and/or have an interview or need to make a good impression. Otherwise, it’s just a few strokes of mascara, eyeliner, and sometimes blush.

Love these posts!

I always wonder about beauty products people use; kind of cool to see. How do you like that TJ’s face wash? I am buying it one our other TJ’s wash runs out (they don’t make it anymore–least not at ours.) I am not really sure where I got my beauty habits from. My mom wears way more makeup than I do and she used to tell me I could use a little color (I wear very minimal makeup.) I also try to use natural products whereas my mom loves Avon’s creams and such. All the chemicals kind of freak me out. I live in Richmond, Va. and it is such a hodgepodge of styles. Maybe that’s why I am kind of hodgepodge.

I love how you pretty much state in the beginning to avoid conflict. I need to remember to do that more often on my blog because sometimes people love to start conflict lol. But I was raised by my mom saying, “Never let a guy see you all dolled up unless you’re married.” Yeah…when I think about it now it’s kind of harsh lol =/

is it just me or does your mom totally look like Sigourney Weaver!!?? (a compliment of course :))

When I posted some wedding photos to Facebook, I posted this gorgeous shot of my mother-in-law getting her makeup done. Well, she kinda freaked out that I would publish a photo of her sans makeup and so I took it down. I didn’t understand it…she looked so pretty in that photo…but I get it now. That’s just how she was raised and the generation she’s from.

That’s an interesting point – that for you it isn’t “fun”, it’s “routine”. I have told my daughter that I consider make-up something that is for fun, kind of like dressing up extra special – and I meant it. And for me it is not part of my everyday routine. Maybe that makes a difference. Then again, there are likely other women who wear make-up every single day and find it something fun every single day. I’m sure there are many viewpoints on this topic.

About my upbringing, my mom has never worn make-up that I can remember. I know she did wear lipstick when she was young, though. I always thought it was a matter of preference, but eventually she mentioned that it was because of her eyesight. She can’t see well enough without glasses on to apply eye make-up, and well, with glasses on, they are in the way! So, maybe she inadvertantly influenced me not to wear make-up very much.

I just saw this article in the nytimes: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/02/fashion/it-starts-with-lip-gloss-grade-schoolers-and-makeup.html?src=recg

I thought it was a fascinating look inside the beauty industry and our culture of teaching girls what is socially accepted for beauty norms. This would be a great thing to add to your analysis of your project when you are done!

Where to start. This post is so well written, you are an excellent writer 🙂 I think The Naked Face Project is a great project; I look forward to reading your conclusions at the end of the 60 days.
Your mom is beautiful, she looks like a young Susan Sarandon in that photo! And I’m sure she’s just as beautiful without makeup. And you’re such a cute kid!
Thinking about my beauty habits, which I have never given much thought, I realise that I have definitely picked up a good few of my grandma’s habits. I like it that way, pretty minimalist-ish unless for special occasions, never OTT but always presentable 😉
PS: One thing going without makeup, shaving etc…but no l’eau d’Issey???!! OMG, that is THE best scent ever. Love it! 😉

Congratulations on week 1 🙂 I love wearing makeup (as I wrote before). I had no intention of going “makeup less”. But yesterday, being influenced by your post, I decided to not wear any makeup since I wouldn’t be in court and I don’t need to dress up in the office. I felt self conscious and pointed out to my female coworkers that I had “bald face” going on. They stared at me with blank faces. One of them said “I didn’t even know that you wore makeup, you always look nice. I certainly can’t tell the difference now, you must not need it”. It felt so freeing to know that my perceived imperfections (blemishes) aren’t noticeable to everyone like I thought they were. Even though I still love makeup because it’s fun and unique, I certainly don’t need it like I must have thought I did.

Very interesting project. I’m as much curious about how your self-perception will chang as how others’ perception of you will chang. I think you will learn a lot about yourself *and* about society as you interact with others.

On the flip side, one of my pseudo-new year’s resolutions was to start taking *more* care with how I look each day. I’ve felt that over the past three years, since I entered graduate school, my priorities have shifted away from attending to my appearance. For instance, partially in an effort to rescue my hair from endless damage, and partially because they are ungodly expensive, I chose to stop getting highlights after (holy crap) twelve years. I also wear way less makeup than ever before in my life, have stopped blowdrying except on very special occasions, and have more or less forgotten how to walk in high heels. These changes have been somewhat facilitated by my workplace environment (veeery casual) and geographic location (Northern CA – again, super super casual). Plus, I don’t know, I’ve been with my partner for four years, so I’m not trying to show off for any guys except the one who sleeps next to me every night. Finally, a fairly big part of me wants to project an appearance of “seriousness” – I want people to hear what I say without being distracted by how I may look. And, frankly, pancake-faced blondes just don’t have that kind of reputation.

Anyhoo, all that said, recently, I’ve been looking in the mirror and thinking, I don’t really recognize the frizzy-haired, pale-cheaked, under-eye-circled brunette staring back at me. And when I see pictures of myself from only a few years prior, I think, wow, I looked pretty cute then. I guess that, in my head, I am still that more “feminine” blonde.

So, I’ve decided to ramp it up, just slightly. Still no hair dye or eyeliner. But sometimes I blowdry! And sometimes I wear blush and/or eyeshadow – it feels good to feel more vibrant. I’ve never really been a just-jeans-and-tshirt type of person, but sometimes now I mentally plan out my outfits even days in advance.

I’m just experimenting at this point – my own little “Decorated Face Project” – but so far I feel a bit better when I catch my reflection. I feel more like “me,” but I still feel like a serious grown-up, like people will listen when I speak.

I love this project for many reasons aside from the general separation from society standards….like how much money you can save, how many less chemicals are used and how low maintenance it is!

I wear minimal makeup (not every day) and use no hair products ( I use a flat iron sometimes). I used to use make up as a security blanket. My mom was the ideal example, wearing a little make up here and there but only to enhance her natural beauty but I had acne as a teen and it really affected my confidence. I didn’t WANT to wear make up but felt so insecure about my skin I felt I had to.

Now I love experimenting with make up for special occasions because I feel that it’s a work of art when put on correctly but I love being natural and carefree about my regime. I don’t even use moisturizer or face wash!

This project fascinates me! I think it mostly fascinates me because I feel I look my best with make-up on and keeping up a “beauty” routine. AND, I do have to say I enjoy it (not always, but most of the time).

I went into a situation at work that was very difficult, and in my own way, COMPLETELY stopped caring. With that, I stopped wearing make-up, not doing my hair and no longer dressed up for work. I work in a male dominated industry and got numerous comments like “Guess you are super comfortable around us now, don’t care anymore, huh, do you not care what you look like anymore?” It was interesting that me not “keeping up” hair and makeup gave off that perception to the people around me, so much so they would say something. ANYWAY, I think that is why this fascinates me so much, because it’s NOT that you don’t care, you DO in such a different way that it’s started this project. I admire what you are doing, not only because I know I couldn’t do it, but know I wouldn’t really want to either.

Oh, and, my boyfriend PREFERS me with no makeup and in sweatpants. So, there’s definitely something to be said for when I do choose that look and like the other posts said how supportive most men really are! I’ll be reading for sure!

Love this challenge! I am starting the opposite challenge. I grew up in mainly rural and western parts of America and never really wore makeup and have had no clue on how to wear it well. After nightmare Sephora visits, where the salesperson made me up like a clown with green eyeshadow and hot pink lipstick (this just happened a month ago!), a friend who is a whiz at these things gave me some tips and I am really having a blast trying different looks. I doubt I will ever be a hardcore makeup person, but learning some skills which gives me the option has been great. Best wishes in your naked face project!

Not really related, but I am from Oak Ridge! There’s a grafitti on one of the greenways in Knoxville that says “you are beautiful” – make me think of your blog 🙂

Every day I do face scrub, light foundation (liquid not pressed), concealer for my ever blemished face, blush, and mascara. I usually also straighten my hair if it is going to be down that day. If I put it up I will let it air dry and be wavy.

I think it would be really hard for me to go without any sort of makeup because without makeup I feel like I do not look put together, and I also look younger. I feel like if I went to an interview or to work without makeup on people would not take me seriously.