Fresh Face.

My friend Rachel, over at Cozy Chic Mommy, recently blogged about "Less is More." I commented on the Instagram photo linking the post - saying that on busy days I slap on some spf moisturizer, a little mascara, chapstick, and call it good.

I completely agree with her sentiments about contouring, fake lashes, and hair extensions... I don't see the point. I personally can't imagine waking up in the morning and taking that much time before I went out the door... I am in my late 20s. I am a mom. I still get acne. My face is not some "flawless" super model... I am just me and I am okay with that. I had a friend in high school who had never seen her step mom without make-up on?! She would wake up before anyone else in the house and cake the stuff on, I used to wonder if her husband even knew what she looked like under all of it... I never got the nerve to ask, which is probably good, I don't think a 15yr old asking their carpool driver a question like that would go over very well.

I don't have a younger brother like Rachel does, but I do have a son. A son I want to raise watching me put on make-up. I am a woman and it is nice to have a fresh face, but I am not about caking it on, or using "tricks" to completely change my look. I want him to respect a woman for who she is, what she believes in, and what she is working towards. NOT solely on her looks! I also want him to see me at night and in the mornings with no make-up on. To take him camping and to the beach where its completely unnecessary and silly to even think of bringing make-up. To let him know that women are beautiful because God created them in his image, just like he was created in God's image. The media, advertisers, and socialites want us to think that "flawless" is perfection. I want my son to think that each woman is unique, beautiful in her own way, and doesn't need to look like the photo-shopped women in magazines, posters, and billboards.

The picture below is my non-rushed day time make-up. This is a completely un-edited photo, snapped with my phone right before heading out to get groceries:

The only think I add for evening (aka: date night or special events) is a bit more under-eye concealer (eek) and some pretty eye shadow.

Here's what I used:

1. Moisturizer (earlier in the morning right after I washed my face)- Olay
2. Primer- BareMinerals
3. Foundation- BareMinerals
4. Blush- Ulta (similar item)
5. Eyeliner- Revlon (similar item)
6. Mascara- Gabriel
7. Lipstick- Ulta

This entire "look" takes me maybe 10min on a good day. Its natural looking, but covers any zits/redness, however I like the mineral powder because it still shows my freckles.

How long does it take you to have a "fresh face" in the mornings?
-Tay