Going 'naked face' and still loving yourself

For some women, heading off into the world with nothing more than a lick of moisturiser and a dab of sunscreen is an everyday occurrence. For others, it’s a prospect that’s scarier than a really scary thing. Like running naked through Eden Park during an All Blacks test or having a tooth pulled. But going ‘naked face’ is becoming a thing; a badge of honour that shows the world how super-confident you are.

Celebrities who are embracing the naked face trend include Alicia Keys, Mila Kunis, Adele, Emma Roberts, Miley Cyrus and Lorde. It makes sense really. Makeup has been a thing for decades, so the only way forward is to ditch it completely on some (or all, if you’re brave) days of the week.

What are the benefits of going makeup-free?

There’s a multitude of reasons to stop using makeup. Really, the list is enormous!

• - Wearing a lot of makeup exposes your skin to a considerable amount of not-very-nice chemicals. Some of the ingredients used for lipsticks, eye pencils, eye shadow and mascara have been linked to health problems.[1] The very-first mascara was basically boot polish, so there’s a clue.
• - Your pores look smaller, because particles of foundation, blush and bronzer accumulate in pores. This can cause pores to clog up over time.
• - You’ll probably experience fewer breakouts, because there’s less chance to infect your skin with the dust and microorganisms that live on makeup brushes. In an interview with the Tribune newspaper, dermatologist Dr Jiaz Ahmed said “makeup is the root cause of acne or skin problems for over 30% of my female patients.”
• - There’s less chance of getting eye infections. Mascara and eye makeup usually contain preservatives that can cause eye irritations and conjunctivitis. If you’re in the habit of using eye liner pencil on the inside edge of your eye lids, there’s a real risk of scratching your cornea. 
• - There’s less chance of having dry skin. If you’re not really good at cleansing, especially at night, leftover makeup impedes the skin cell renewal process. Dead skin cells accumulate on the surface of your skin, resulting in dull, dry skin.
• - Elimination of skin allergies. Many forms of makeup include ingredients that can cause contact dermatitis, which shows up as reddish, dry patches of skin that feels itchy.
• - Fewer wrinkles, because makeup that is used to disguise wrinkles can actually make them look worse. As we all know, makeup tends to settle into facial creases, so you end up with lines that look more obvious.  
• - A psychological advantage. It can be empowering to look in the mirror and see the real you gazing back. You’re not hiding behind a mask any more. Basically, you are saying to the world ‘I’m proud to be me, take me as I am’.
• - More time, every day. All that blending, brushing, lining and feathering takes time. When you move to a no-makeup beauty routine, you’ll have extra minutes (maybe even hours!) to use for other things you enjoy. Invest that time in exercise and you’ll really be onto a winner.

How to make the switch to a naked face

When you’re not using makeup to even-out your skin tone, cover blemishes and enhance facial features, it becomes more important than ever to focus on a gold-standard natural skincare routine. To get your skin looking its absolute best, which is pretty essential if you’re going to feel good about naked-facing’, check out our Daily Ritual.

There’s a day ritual and a night ritual. A special feature of the night ritual is the signature Okana double cleansing routine, which is an oil-based cleanser followed by a natural foaming cleanser.

NAKED FACE TIP: Okana Natural Mango + Apricot Cleanser can be used as a colour-free lip gloss; perfectly acceptable for a naked face philosophy.

Using an exfoliator at least twice a week is also essential when you’re a follower of the naked face cult. It helps to keep your skin smooth, soft and clear of blackheads. By the way, when you ditch makeup, blackheads can quickly become a problem of the past.

NAKED FACE TIP:  We recommend a natural exfoliator, but avoid products that contain ground up nut shells. They are sharp and cause microscopic tears in your skin. Okana’s bamboo bead face scrub is gentle, but highly effective.

To ensure you feel confident about facing the world as you really are, take extra special care with your hair grooming. However, it’s best to avoid too much of a ‘do’; keep your style natural, soft and shiny.

NAKED FACE TIP:  Eyebrows are really important for a successful switch to naked face. You need natural-looking brows, but ensure they’re neatly combed, and pluck any hairs that aren’t part of your brow shape.

Read more about getting rid of blackheads, for a more perfect naked face

Sources:

[1 https://www.businessinsider.com.au/dangerous-chemicals-in-beauty-products-makeup-list-2019-6?r=US&IR=T