I so can't sleep.

[logansrogue]

I just saw a very interesting programme. A 37 year old woman was required to go without her make-up for a week. This woman *never* left the house without make-up on. She wore it constantly, bright gaudy colours, never went without it. She was lost without her make-up, she felt ugly without it, and I watched it realising that as I got older I was slipping into that same pattern. Nowhere near THAT bad, but I was starting to think that I didn't look any good without make-up on.

Now, this woman had a warm, gentle natural beauty. Full lips, dark brown eyes, lovely laugh lines around her face and warm round cheeks. I thought it was so very sad that she couldn't see that natural beauty that she had. It made me sad for her, I wished so badly I could write her a letter or tell her myself - hey - you *are* beautiful. But then the show showed her five weeks on, and she was wearing more natural colours and she'd discovered her natural beauty, and that was okay, I felt relieved.

It's something that I find really important though. I mean, beauty is such a strange concept, because it's so very subjective. But really, I think that it's important that people see the beauty in themselves. Even if it's something like they like how they laugh, or they enjoy the way their hands look. I mean - anything. Or the way that they face life, or that they're a good person. That's so important to me - that I'm a good person, that I'm beautiful within.

I guess cause I realised ages ago that my beauty, while I'm lucky to have a bit of it, didn't really count for much in the end. It might get guys to notice me initially, but what was inside was what really made the grade, and still, not a one really is interested in that (yet). But that's not bad - that's just life, and I know that really, I work hard to be a good person. I put a lot of thought into how I treat others. I don't know if everyone is so self-conscious about this sort of thing, but I know that I want to be a really great person underneath all this that you see, cause when my looks go, and I'm wrinkled and old, who I am is all I'll have. And I'll look back and think, what did I do with myself? Did I spend my time preening in the mirror, obsessing over regimens and beauty plans, worrying only of what others thought of my looks, or did I brush my hair, put on a bit of this and that, and go outside and looked within other people? Did I live a life where I made beauty, and put it into the world, other than trying vainly to bring about some fleeting visage of perfection?

I don't like make-up, honestly. I hate the way it makes my face feel stiff, the way my eyes itch with it on, the way my nose runs, the way I can't rub my eyes or nose or mouth. It sucks! It's a hassle, and I prefer to be without it. I can't go to pubs without a little on, though, cause really - I just hate the thought of people seeing what I really look like. I've gone without it before, and people have sort of looked at me funny. But you know what? I don't care. Cause if I don't feel like wearing it, I don't. And I know I'm pretty without it, in my own way.

Don't you think?

Comments

[groovekittie.livejournal.com]

Grr, baby, very grrr!

Hi! I'm groovekittie. Just friended you, if you don't mind. :)

[logansrogue.livejournal.com]

That's fine! And *^_^* *giggles* *meow*

[logansrogue.livejournal.com]

Heavens! I just saw your LJ, and Groove Is In The Heart is one of my Favourite. Songs. Ever. Seriously, it's like - me exactly. LOL! I think if I am able to write a song nearly HALF as good as that, I'll be happy.

Nice Billeh layout too! Mmm, Scottish people. LOL!

[groovekittie.livejournal.com]

LOL Thank you! I'm a disco/dance whore and that's why I chose the name Groovekittie for my all myonline shenanigans. lol Groove is in the Heart just seemed the natural choice for whatever I was playing with.

And yessssss ... Scots are so bloody nice!

[mei-x.livejournal.com]

*popped in from FriendsFriends list*

Interesting post, and I agree with so many of its points. I do love makeup, but strangely enough, I don't wear a lot of it on an everyday basis because I'd rather have my natural beauty show. It's a weird twist of vanity.

I do find that as I'm getting older, I tend to use more makeup than I did when I was 20. But then again, that may have something to do with a newfound desire to show my assets.

Anyway, very interesting post.

[shirasade]

Yes, you are very pretteh indeed! But you already knew that I think that, didn't you? *licks*

A friend of mine went to school to become a make-up artist, and she transformed me one afternoon - I looked amazing, but I seriously like my natural look better.
I just don't like make-up. I always wear grey kajal, and maybe a bit of eye-shadow. Lipstick only a little, when I'm going out. When my skin is bad I use a bit of powder and concealer - but I just hate the feeling of make-up. So yes, totally know where you're coming from.

/ramble

[logansrogue.livejournal.com]

My Mum is Scot. (Well, she grew up in Scotland but she's half Maltese). But she's from Peterhead so she has a very mild lilting accent. Except when she's angry. Billy's accent is so thick (typical southern Scot) that I get lost in it, I'm like, "Huh? Is he even speaking English?" When I was a kid I was surrounded by a lot of Scottish immigrants cause of my Granny and Grandpa, cause they were all their friends, see? And I would be around these old men wearing kilts and shit, it was awesome. When I think of Scotland, I think of hairy knees and the smell of wool and whisky, and bagpipes. And very awesome accents that I'd be enchanted with. HEhehehe. Unfortunately, that's not really true to what it's really like over in Scotland at all. Scots *away* from Scotland are the only Scots that actually wear kilts and go on about how great Scotland is. Any of the ones I've met there, or recently there, are like, "I fuckin' hate the place!" Seriously. It's so funny :)

[logansrogue.livejournal.com]

Oh! Thank you! *blushes* It's just my usual late-night philosophy session. I hate insomnia! *laughs*

[groovekittie.livejournal.com]

LOL Reminds me of Native people. The reserve is only cool if you live in the city. Then everyone's trying to get back, but they can't. No jobs. :P

[logansrogue.livejournal.com]

Yes, you are very pretteh indeed! But you already knew that I think that, didn't you? *licks*

*blush, giggle!*

A friend of mine went to school to become a make-up artist, and she transformed me one afternoon - I looked amazing, but I seriously like my natural look better.

Well, I can do a lot with my face. It's got a good bone structure, and I have very clear strong features that aren't difficult to work with. I'm an artist too, so I can manipulate my make-up quite easily cause I know about tone and stuff, but really - I like what I got, you know? And it's good to see that you do too, cause you're adorable LOL.

I just don't like make-up. I always wear grey kajal, and maybe a bit of eye-shadow. Lipstick only a little, when I'm going out. When my skin is bad I use a bit of powder and concealer - but I just hate the feeling of make-up. So yes, totally know where you're coming from.

It's very stiff and restricting isn't it? I'm always happy when I DON'T wear make-up cause I can rub my face and not worry if my lipstick or mascara is running or whatever. When I do wear the stuff, when I get home, I can't hop straight into bed. Nope, it's getting the make-up off time, and I always get stingy eye from the damned make-up remover. Stupid stuff.

[apolla.livejournal.com]

I think that you're beautiful, frankly.

I'm biased because I never wear make up (partly cos I can't apply the shit and partly cos I just hate it) and so have to make do with the natural thing.

I guess what someone said to me once (trying to persuade me to put makeup on, actually) was that it's not meant to mask, it's meant to enhance.

Making oneself presentable and as beautiful as you can be is a good thing. It's doing it to the exclusion of the rest that is less good. But as you already know that, I'd say you're on the right track!

[shirasade]

And it's good to see that you do too, cause you're adorable LOL.

See, now I'm the one blushing, so it evens out! *g*

It's very stiff and restricting isn't it? I'm always happy when I DON'T wear make-up cause I can rub my face and not worry if my lipstick or mascara is running or whatever. When I do wear the stuff, when I get home, I can't hop straight into bed. Nope, it's getting the make-up off time, and I always get stingy eye from the damned make-up remover. Stupid stuff.

Exactly. Why do we torture ourself that way again? I'm very bad with make-up and the like anyway, so it's really good that I prefer the natural look. LOL

[photosinensis.livejournal.com]

Yeah. I could lick you in those pics.

But then, I'm generally regarded as pervy. So I'll just say that you are quite attractive.

[seldon.livejournal.com]

Personally, I think make-up is overrated. I find it flattering when a girl does the make-up thing for me, and I know that it can do wonders when properly applied. But like most things it is better used in moderation - and in my book nothing beats a smiling girl with a clean face. When it comes down to it, girls look much better when they don't use any make-up. I know guys who think different, though.

As an aside, when I was in my high school's theater company we had to deal with makeup, and applying and removing it was quite a bit of a chore. I don't know how 50% of the population can deal with that in an almost daily base.

[baylorsr.livejournal.com]

I do think, and you look to me like you could pull the natural look off wonderfully. You don't have to give up make-up totally or even tone it down for pubs, but maybe you want to try a more natural look during the day. Of course, I don't know what you look like made up, so take my comments with a grain of salt!

[logansrogue.livejournal.com]

That's good that you like the natural look. Another reason to put you in the 'good peoples' box I'd say. And OH! Fuck daily. I put it on once a week at MOST, and that's if I happen to go out to a pub. If it's shopping - no make-up. If it's friends houses - no make up!!! I only wear it out at night.

[logansrogue.livejournal.com]

Erm, here:

http://img4.photobucket.com/albums/0803/nacey/general/promo01.jpg

Me *majorly* done up there, I don't do myself up like that very often... Uhm... here's more natural look:

http://img4.photobucket.com/albums/0803/nacey/general/mecasual.jpg

And I'm smiling - I never smile in photos. You can see why (I look so fucking goofy! LOL)

http://img4.photobucket.com/albums/0803/nacey/general/MVC-080S.JPG

And that's super-super natural, wearing hardly any, with curled Hobbit!Hair. I was going to see LotR that day LOL!

But yes, I have varying degrees of make-up. I only ever do the natural!pretty unless it's for performing, and since I rarely perform, well yeah. LOL!

[baylorsr.livejournal.com]

Well, I do love how your eyes look "made up" but you carry the natural look beautifully as well. I would say never be afraid of going without, if the mood strike you.