Barefaced Beauty – Top 3 Reasons Why You Should Ditch the War Paint

The thought of going out in public without a smidge of makeup is very scary for some women and many feel the need to wear their red lipstick, concealer and mascara in front of others, and even while sleeping!

The gorgeous hit-maker, Alicia Keys, has been a pioneer in the #NoMakeUp Movement, which she launched at the end of 2016.  The star describes going make-up free as “really empowering” and “freeing”. So what is holding other women back?

We have listed the top three reasons why more women should consider ditching the slap and embracing their face.

#Raising Self-Esteem

When we apply a coat of foundation, blusher or powder we are very aware of hiding away our ‘imperfections’, whether it’s a red pimple, despised freckles or scars. There has been a rise of the ‘Instagram Face’ recently where women are mimicking exaggerated plump pouts and full-bodied eyebrows to mould into this new norm of beauty.

It has been found that spending hours trying to nail the perfect selfie is actually harming us psychologically as it is actually making us more insecure. Research by the University of Berlin claims, “A photo can very powerfully provoke immediate social comparison, and that can trigger feelings of inferiority.”

#Avoid Spending Pennies On Parabens

Pinched for pennies? According to one of the top saving search engines, it is estimated that the average woman spends over £70,000 on their appearance in their lifetime with almost half of that being spent on facial beauty products.

We are still not aware what the cocktail of cosmetic ingredients will do to our skin for years to come, so it’s better to splash out on emollient rich skincare with natural ingredients such as coconut oil and avocado rather than make-up containing parabens, silicones and artificial fragrances.

#The Best Make-up You Can Wear Is Good Skin

The best make-up you can wear is good skin. Odylique’s Co Founder, expert herbalist and beauty therapist, Margaret Weeds says: “Foundation can conspire to highlight dry, flaky skin, lines or enlarged pores rather than cover them. The key to a smooth, dewy complexion is the care and prep of that base layer – your skin.”

“Naturally fragrant flower waters make superb hydrators and toners, re-establishing the skin’s acid mantle and doubling as a moisturiser for oily skin. My personal favourite is rose as it uplifts the spirits, helps calm redness, blemishes and promotes cell regeneration.”

For a foundation-free hint of colour Margaret recommends a tinted serum such as the Odylique Superfruit Concentrate (£33.00), which adds a flawless warm glow.

To shield skin against harmful elements try a lightweight and hydrating protective serum to daily replenish your skin like Rio Rosa Mosqueta’s Antioxidant Facial Oil (RRP £24.99), infused with natural essential oils including cranberry seed oil, sacha inchi and lavender to help ward off urban pollutants in the air from penetrating and maturing your skin.

Charlotte Giver

Charlotte is the founder and editor-in-chief at Your Coffee Break magazine. She studied English Literature at Fairfield University in Connecticut whilst taking evening classes in journalism at MediaBistro in NYC. She then pursued a BA degree in Public Relations at Bournemouth University in the UK. With a background working in the PR industry in Los Angeles, Barcelona and London, Charlotte then moved on to launching Your Coffee Break from the YCB HQ in London’s Covent Garden and has been running the online magazine for the past 10 years. She is a mother, an avid reader, runner and puts a bit too much effort into perfecting her morning brew.