No Foundation Redux #4: This Has Been Good For Me

Several months ago, I wrote about feeling more and more disgruntled with my personal appearance, even if I knew logically that I look totally fine. I decided to revamp the No Foundation challenge and get some perspective on my skin.

And you know what? It's worked. I am not wearing makeup to class this semester, and it hasn't bothered me yet. I am regularly choosing to wear just a couple of products on my face while going sans base, especially if it's raining or I don't know how late it will be when I wash my face. The sense of panic at the sight of a pimple or a few new clogged pores isn't nearly as strong. (Actually, I'd say my skin's occasional blips cause a bit of exasperation for me now, nothing more. I'm tethered in reality here: my skin is good and I should be thankful for it.)

No Foundation Redux isn't the only thing that's helped, of course. My political and philosophical interests have been revitalized in the past year (for obvious reasons, if you've been watching the US Presidential Election), and it's encouraged me to look at the bigger picture. Yes, we tend to judge women more harshly than men. Yes, we are obsessed with physical beauty. Yes, we buy in to Photoshopped imagery and videos shot with skin-smoothing filters, despite having evidence that even beautiful people who spend millions on their looks also have pores and wrinkles. Yes, we need to remember that we are just as talented, intelligent, educated, and skilled as ever whether we're rocking makeup or not.

I still have my moments, of course; a particularly huge and angry pimple in the middle of my forehead will make me feel a little disgruntled when I get dressed for work, for instance. And I'm not giving up on foundation entirely. I still enjoy wearing it, especially if I'm going out on the town or am attending a formal event. But I'm better able to push my insecurities aside and see my face for what it really is: perfectly normal. I skipped foundation today because I just didn't feel like wearing it, and I still think I look pretty good. Success!

Have I mentioned that I found leftover mirror tiles in the basement? Cause I did. I found leftover mirror tiles.

Here are today's products. I decided to mix the new Glossier Generation G shades, Zip and Leo, to get a rustier, fall leaf red shade. (I lied about replacing my other Gen Gs, by the way--I decided to order the updated Crush and Jam tubes today. The new formula and packaging are just much nicer.) I ignored the couple of tiny red spots I have on my face and just dabbed a bit of Kat Von D Lock-It Concealer on my undereyes. My trusty Shiseido curlers and the Milk Ubame mascara I'm enjoying so much worked out my lashes, and I filled in my brows with the Milk Gel Brow pencil.

There's also some blush in this look, which I've skipped on previous no foundation days. Kevyn Aucoin Tansoleil is a lovely peach that works so well with reds and nudes, but I probably didn't put enough on. Oops.