I wrote about my last no makeup experience a few weeks ago and it’s my favorite post on my blog.  I wrote about how I decided to wear no makeup for a week and how it affected me.  You can read all about that, and all the nice comments, here.  I decided to write this one to give everyone who is kind of thinking about it a little push.  There are three things that are what made that one of the best things I did for myself in a long time.

Because I ruled out makeup for a week, I prioritized my health in terms of sleep, water, and most importantly skincare.  There were no concealers and powders to hide behind so my undereyes were on full display.  I upped my sleep to 8 1/2 or 9 hours a night.  My skin glowed in the morning when I slept more.  I began drinking 64 ounces of water a day, yes 64.  4 water bottles full of water did make bathroom stops more common but my skin has never been clearer or more even in texture and tone.  Honestly, drink up.  I carry my water bottle with me everywhere and I end up drinking it in no time.

I used to wash my face morning and night with Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser, and use Cetaphil Daily Moisturizer in the morning and CeraVe AM Moisturizer at night.  Then, I realized that my skin got dried out from washing my face too often.  I stopped washing my face in the morning and began using lots of facial mists to up moisture.  Both of those things cured the horrible dryness I’ve written about since September.  Now, I changed my night moisturizer to CeraVe PM because it’s more gel-like and feels so hydrating on my skin.

I still use all those mists, like Mario Badescu Rosewater, Caudlie Beauty Elixir, and Caudelie Grape Seed Water.  Mario Badescu is my go-to mist.  I use it when I’m in front of the computer, in the morning, at night, all the time.  The Caudelie Beauty Elixir is bomb but I’m super low on it so I don’t use it much anymore :(. It’s great for under moisturizers though.  The Caudelie Grape Seed Water might be my favorite beauty product, I mist it over my skin and I have glowing and healthy looking skin that looks like I have insanely perfect skin.

Next, I got myself a Foreo Luna Play.  It’s the small, almost “sample” size of the regular Foreo products.  It’s not rechargeable but lasts for 100 uses.  I use it about 3 times a week and it makes my skin so soft without being harsh.  I’m investing in the Foreo Luna Mini in the Fall when I expect my Play to die.  I love how hygienic the Foreo is, I just wash it with anti-bacterial soap every time and I don’t have to worry about bristles being dirty.

My skincare routine has gone from shaky to solid as a rock.  I’m always applying moisturizers, using my Foreo, and drinking water like nobody’s business.

The next thing that made this affect me so much is how people didn’t care that I didn’t have mascara and foundation on.  It surprised me that no one said that I looked sick or tired, not once.  People don’t really care if my cheekbones are highlighted, it’s about feeling good about myself, with or without makeup.

Lastly, I changed my makeup routine so much.  I realized that I didn’t need to wear primer, foundation, concealer, powder, blush, highlight, and an eye look every day to feel good.  I usually do a light BB cream, mascara and brows. If I’m feeling like I want to wear more makeup, I wear foundation, concealer, blush, mascara and brows.  Of course I throw in highlight and eye looks sometimes but it’s no longer an everyday thing for me.  I always used to wonder what YouTubers like Jaclyn Hill meant by “I use this everyday I wear makeup” but now I realize that no makeup is okay.

In a nutshell, I learned to take better care of my skin and not be so set on daily makeup.  Sometimes it’s refreshing to show off your bare skin or plain eyelids!  Again, read my last no makeup post here, and take a week off from makeup!  You deserve to feel confident in yourself and your skin deserves a break!