Today my update on my FB was a wallpost with this message and pic:

“I never sleep with my makeup on because I like to wake up in the mirror and see myself for who I am. Never be afraid to face yourself or else you’ll always fall victim to conforming to a face that is not your own. Now…. to make some tea and listen to some Etta James ‘A Sunday Kind of Love’ because my days are mixed up and I don’t care ♥”

I believe that it’s easier to feel confident about how you look, particularly with no makeup on, when you are not only comfortable with your skin but also when your skin is looking its best. I’m not going to lie and say I’ve had horrible skin and there is an amazing product that helped me achieve the most wonderful skin in the world. My skin is not the clearest or most perfect, but I would definitely say I have good skin. I never really appreciated those magazines that try to depict our favorite celebrities as unattractive without makeup because I believe it send the wrong message. I do however, appreciate magazines that feature stars baring their faces to show an appreciation of natural beauty and stars opening up about all the tricks of makeup, lighting, and photoshop to create images.

Vanessa Hudgens is a spokesperson for Neutrogena, a brand known for getting your skin under control even on days when you’re not exactly camera ready. A lot of the products geared for treating acne contain salicylic acid which help promote shedding of skin cells on the epidermis which in turn prevent clogging of pores. However, if you find that salicylic acid doesn’t improve the acne on your skin (like me way back when), I suggest trying out a Benzyl Peroxide based cream or gel to use on affected areas after exfoliating and cleansing skin. Benzyl Peroxide is proven to kill the bacteria that causes some acne. When I was in high school, my skin tended to be on the oily side, so I would actually mix my favorite moisturizer with the generic 10% benzyl peroxide gel to create an acne fighting/pimple preventing moisturizer that I felt comfortable using. 

Kim Kardashian is known for her smokey eye has bared her face several times for different publications. This exotic beauty is Armenian and one thing I do want to point out is the race card. Sometimes, generally speaking, race is a factor in terms of how your skin ages and the problems and positives you have genetically. For example, I am Korean, French, Black, and Lebanese. African-Americans are prone to hyperpigmentation so when I get a blemish I’m very cautious about making sure I don’t scratch it because my likelihood of scarring.Beyonce is a chart-topper and is all-smiles without makeup. I’m not going to lie, I like how I look when I have makeup on, but I do believe that just because you’re bare-faced doesn’t mean you have to be any less confident in how beautiful you are and what you can accomplish. If you leave your house sans-makeup but still want to look a little polished and refined, put your hair back in a bun, make sure your eyebrows are neat and cleaned up if need be, run an ice cube over your freshly washed face to tighten pores, and most importantly- smile and have a good attitude. A smile will always be your best asset. I’ve never disliked anyone for not wearing eyeliner or foundation but I’ve disliked people who lack tact and had a bad attitude.