Let Your Face Be Seen in 2014!

As I've been gearing up for No MakeUp May 2014, I've noticed a meme going around Facebook of women posting themselves makeup free, #nofilters.

In light of a similar challenge calling friends to shotgun a bottle of whiskey and any other ridiculous liquid you can think of, it excites me to see this trend taking off, especially now as May is around the corner.

I started No MakeUp May 2 years ago as a way to explore my own relationship to makeup, to see what came up when I put the makeup down (you can read more about it here).  And never to one to do something small or alone, I challenged other women to join me as well.  One was a teacher and shared the amazing story of how when she challenged her own classroom of boys and girls to go with no makeup, it sparked an incredible conversation on how boys see the girls in their class.  It was especially transformative for one young girl who dared to go bare for just a day.

So as May 1st doth approach I invite you to show your courage and go nude - whether a day, a week, a month or for the minute it takes to take a photo.  Either way, answer the survey and follow this blog and together let's support one another as we bare our bare face to the world!

I also invite you to join the "Nude Gallery" by sending me a photo of your radiant face to nomakeupmay@gmail.com!

And here's my own first "naked" photo of 2014:

Own the Skin You're In

Stars Without Photoshopping

What drives me crazy is the fact that people are getting paid good money to write articles and hunt down photos to show how shocking our favourite female celebrities look without makeup!

I actually like this one because it's points out how ridiculous media has gotten with the way it treats photo images that don't live up to some standard created by who the hell knows!

What ticks me off, though, is how much time and energy is given to making any note at all that Kim Kardashian has cellulite (funny, though she claims to own it unapologetically, all her semi-nude photos seem to be her head stuck on top of a body moulded from smooth plastic) , Katie Holmes leaving the gym (gasp!), Megan Fox's photos to prove that she hasn't had botox.  They even consulted experts to analyze her photo to either prove or disprove it!!!  Are you kidding?!?!  She tweets in an attempt to say I haven't had work done and because we refuse to believe that a woman cannot be beautiful without it we spend hours trying to debunk it.  Now I don't know if she did or didn't but at the end of the day WHY ARE WE EVEN TALKING ABOUT IT?!?!?!?!

Maybe instead of being sad that their photo was altered against their wishes why aren't these women who claim to stand up for natural beauty but a clause in their contract that disallows any retouching.  Then those stars couldn't be photographed, you might say.  Well then good!  Maybe if they ALL agreed then the magazines would have to wake up!!!

It's time to OWN THE SKIN YOU'RE IN!!!