Raw Beauty

I just read monika’s post about raw beauty on her blog, the doctor’s closet, and it got me thinking about the image I put out in the world every day. On my blog, I rarely if ever post a photo of myself without makeup (unless you count instagram photos that have so many filters applied you cannot tell). And for the fashion posts I occasionally do, lets-be-honest, I have countless photos taken to get a shot that I would deem-worthy to post on the internet. In my real life, I will occasionally run errands sans-makeup but typically throw on at least some bronzer + mascara before walking out the door.

Furthermore, I cannot lie that I dye my hair, apply fake tanner and paint my nails to slightly change/enhance what I look like in a ‘raw state’. I am not sure if this beauty regiment stems from magazines, pop culture or my peers but I have developed a mindset over time that the best version of myself is not what I look like in the morning, but instead, after I have primped myself in the bathroom.

I have so many girlfriends who wear minimal makeup (if any) and are always glowing. I honestly wish I felt confident enough to do the same more often. While I cannot say definitively it is from wearing makeup since middle school but the confidence I have in my ‘raw state’ is seriously lacking compared to the latter.

I do need to take a moment and say, my confidence in a ‘raw state’ has significantly improved over the years solely because of my husband. He gives me more compliments and adorations when I am fresh out of bed, wrapped up in a towel straight from the shower or lounging around on the weekend in my pjs. While confidence should not be based 100% by the feedback you get from another person, I am human and I am constantly a work in progress so  #donthate. I am truly grateful he sees a beauty in me that I often times over look.

Today I am taking a big step (in my book) by following in monika’s steps and posting some photos of my raw self. I am going to use this post as a reminder that raw is beautiful and to not be afraid to share this side of me more often.