8 Things That Can Happen If You Stop Wearing Makeup

We’re so involved in the race for perfection that we paint over our uniqueness with a thick layer of concealer. But as it turns out, makeup controls our brain just like a puppet, and there are certain benefits, even for our mental health, if we stop putting it on.

We at Bright Side decided to look at the other side of the coin. We’d love to show you how the absence of makeup can actually make your whole personality flourish.

1. Your brain stops thinking you’re a stranger when you’re barefaced.

Research conducted by Kanebo Cosmetics, in cooperation with scientists, revealed that in the moments before a woman puts on her makeup, she feels as if she will be composing the face of a different person.

But once her makeup is in place, she feels as if her newly made-up face is her own. This suggests that a woman in makeup sees her made-up face as a representation of her true self, in her relations with other people.

2. Your skin becomes more resistant to sun damage.

Some makeup products contain ingredients that may make the top of your skin dry and flaky. For example, retinol is recommended to be applied at night to avoid any risks of sun damage to the skin. The other one is hydroquinone, which can be found in facial serums that are used to make the skin tone more even. It makes skin more susceptible to harmful UV radiation. When you’re barefaced, all you need to buy is a good skincare product with SPF-protection.

3. You look younger without putting much effort in.

If you go without makeup, you may be asked to confirm your age by a police officer, or you may remember yourself as a teenager, since you started to wear makeup to look older than your friends. A study claims that makeup makes middle-aged women look younger, but young women look older with their face covered. What is more, people tend to associate makeup use with adulthood, so when we wear makeup, other people subconsciously think we are older than we really are.

4. You aren’t afraid to behave naturally and no longer worry about ruining your makeup.

When it’s hot outside, or when you’re simply active during the day, it’s common to sweat profusely. If your face is fully covered with makeup, it becomes a real challenge to keep everything in place throughout the day. But with a nude face, natural gestures like wiping the sweat from your brow, are no longer a challenge and you just act naturally all the way around.

5. People look more at who you are and not what you’re wearing on your face.

While being questioned on the internet, some women have revealed that they’re treated differently by other people when they wear makeup versus when they don’t. They said that other people often think they’re horribly catty or man-stealers, and get surprised by their actual personalities afterward. So, if you’ve happened to be viewed differently when you wear makeup, a nude face may help to stop these judgments on your outward appearance.

6. Your natural appearance makes you look more friendly in other people’s eyes.

Nancy Etcoff, an assistant clinical professor at Harvard Medical School, claims that a face without makeup looks more trustworthy to other people than a face with a dramatic cosmetic mask. So, in the interest of winning trust and having cordial relationships with other people, makeup turns out to be more of an enemy than a friend.

7. You receive a permanent boost of self-confidence.

Psychologists say that makeup is not actually a magic pill for boosting our self-esteem. We actually feel better not because of the makeup, but because we’re sure that we look cool in the eyes of other people. As it turns out, all that concealer and lipstick do is help us feel more confident, but the effects don’t last forever.

8. It becomes easier and cheaper for you to keep your skin in good condition.

No matter whether it’s cheap or expensive, makeup will clog your pores. And if your pores are clogged, you may need different treatments for your skin, including visits to dermatologists. When your makeup usage is minimal, your skin doesn’t need that many treatments, and in most cases, you’ll need nothing more than water and a facial cleanser. So, the benefits of not wearing as much makeup not only apply to your skin, but are also a relief to your wallet since you won’t have to look for additional noncomedogenic products.

How do you feel when you’re barefaced? Did you notice any changes in your communication with other people when you were without makeup vs when you’d wear it?