I Went Makeup Free For A Week. Here’s What Happened

When embarking on this year’s family beach vacation, I decided to try something I’d been thinking about for a while: going makeup free. The beach seemed like the perfect place to take a break from all products on my skin. So, I reverted back to my pre-16-year-old skincare routine of washing with soap and water every morning and evening and leaving the rest to fate. 

I decided to press pause on makeup for a few different reasons, not the least of which was sheer curiosity. As a woman in my early twenties, I wanted to know what I would look like after a few days without the help of my trusty eyebrow pencil, concealer, and mascara, among other products. In recent months, I had also noticed myself developing an increasing dependence on makeup; where I had previously seen it as a fun accessory, I grew to view it as something I “had to wear” in order to be seen. That mentality made it difficult to go cold turkey on makeup, even temporarily, which motivated me all the more to go through with it. 

For the first two days, I felt naked without makeup on. It seemed as if every blemish were not only visible but broadcasted to anyone who saw my face. I found myself picking apart my scraggly eyebrows and redness on my chin whenever I saw a mirror. I wondered if I would even make it to seven days before my impulse to cover up my imperfections with makeup overrode my self-control to take a break from it. However, by the middle of the week, a major change occurred: My makeup-free skin started to feel natural! In fact, I even began to feel more confident sans makeup than before, which was as surprising as it was satisfying to me. 

According to research, I’m not alone in experiencing increased self-confidence when going makeup free. A 2014 psychology study showed that participants with lower self-esteem were more likely to wear makeup, and makeup in higher quantities at that. Conversely, those with higher self-esteem tended to wear less makeup, presumably because they were already comfortable and confident in their own bodies. 

However, increased confidence in my own skin wasn’t the only benefit of taking a break from makeup. 

The Benefits of Letting Your Skin Breathe

As my makeup-free week continued, I began to wonder if I was just getting used to my new barefaced look or if my skin was actually improving. I watched my skin become more radiant and feel smoother to the touch. By day five, when a persistent patch of acne on my chin was the least visible it had been in months – if not years – I concluded that my product-free week must have been to thank for these changes.  

Allowing your skin to breathe lets it naturally detox your pores.

It turns out that letting your skin breathe is one of the best things you could do to rejuvenate your face. This goes not only for makeup, but also for the things we think of as good for your skin, like moisturizers, serums, and face masks. Read more about taking a break from your skincare routine here. Essentially, everything you put on your face can have negative effects from clogging your pores to irritating your skin. Allowing your skin to breathe lets it naturally detox your pores, making for a fresher, brighter look. It’s this natural process that allowed my skin to regain its luster and clear up my long-standing acne stemming from clogged pores from daily foundation or concealer. 

While makeup definitely isn’t the root cause of every skin problem, taking a break from it can highlight just how much strain you’re putting on your skin by caking it in makeup and teach you how marvelously your skin can repair itself when uninhibited. 

Toxins: The Dark Side of Makeup

Going into my makeup-free week, I had realized that it would probably do my skin some good to have a break; however, I was blissfully unaware of just how potentially dangerous makeup can be. A growing pool of research has uncovered the toxins present in cosmetic products, which have been linked to hormone disruptions, immune system issues, and even cancer. From PFAS to heavy metals to phthalates, there’s a lot more than meets your eye inside your makeup bag. 

A 2018 peer-reviewed study noted with concern the presence of toxic heavy metals in cosmetics that can cause serious health issues over time as the long-term exposure allows toxins to build up to dangerous levels in the body. What’s more, toxins aren’t just found in a select group of cheap makeup options; they’re often used as preservatives and adhesives to allow for better usage of the cosmetic product in a variety of name-brand products.  

While it’s impossible to protect yourself from every risk of exposure to toxins, it’s worth taking a look into your products to see what ingredients they hold and what risks they carry. Even if you don’t plan to make any changes to your cosmetic product lineup, taking a break from makeup can allow your skin a reprieve from the strain put on it by toxins, not only improving your confidence and appearance but also affecting your long-term health. 

Moving Forward

At the end of my makeup-free week, I felt more confident in my natural skin than I ever expected. My skin also looked brighter and healthier than it has in years. Yet, I’m not about to tell you that I subsequently decided to give up makeup entirely. 

I’m now reexamining what products work the best for me and which ones I can do without.

Rather, I’m in the process of working to make more sustainable makeup choices by examining what products work the best for me and which ones I can do without in an effort to marry my desire for healthy skin with the desire to look a bit more polished than going barefaced 24/7.

One new goal I took away from my makeup respite is incorporating makeup-free days into my everyday life. So far, I’ve started with taking one day a week to go makeup free and let my skin recharge. I’m also reevaluating the products I used before taking a break from makeup. For example, what I missed the most in my week-long hiatus from makeup was my eyebrow pencil, so I was sure to bring that back to the table. However, I barely missed my concealer, so I’ve become more measured in my use of it since taking a break. Most of all, I learned to be okay with reassessing my makeup habits.

I’m not the only one reexamining her beauty playbook either. In recent years, the quest for a clean beauty aesthetic and corresponding products has risen to compete with the traditional glamorous and sultry look. This emphasis on clean and natural beauty ditches the more restrictive parts of a standard beauty routine like suffocating powder in favor of a lighter, simpler look. No matter what aesthetic you choose, make sure it’s something you’re comfortable with that cooperates with your skin.

Closing Thoughts

At the end of the day, the majority of us are never going to do away with makeup entirely, and that’s okay. It has its place. However, taking a break from makeup can show you what your skin is capable of without products, and give your body a rest from cosmetic toxins. Most importantly, perhaps, it can help you to become more comfortable in your own skin, and that’s an area that we can all stand to grow in. 

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