In the car for three and a half hours driving home from Christmas festivities, I heard Colbie Caillat’s song “Try”, twice. As I listened, it brought to mind her music video—where she and all these women take off their makeup, on camera. It always makes me cry.
Alone in the car, I had some time to think about that..
Go out without makeup, without covering up the dark circles under my eyes…and the occasional chin blemish I still get? (Tina Fey calls it “Ch’acne”–short for Chin Acne–hearing it’s so normal that Tina Fey gave it a nickname made me feel so much better!)
I’m one of those people who hasn’t left her house in decades without under eye concealer and face makeup. I couldn’t find one single picture of me without makeup (don’t know how to get a selfie from my phone to this website,or I would have posted one here, I swear!)
Wow! On the drive home I realized that, while I’ve done a lot of work toward body acceptance, apparently I left my face out of that picture. Why is that? Could that be the direct result of all those years of being told, “You have such a pretty face, if you’d only lose some weight…”? So, somewhere along the way did I decide the “face” had to be “prepared” and maximized to compensate for perceived body deficits? Or is it just pure vanity… or fear…getting worse as I age and lose any/all currency related to youth and appearance?
In 2014, I take some credit for not wearing eye shadow and mascara when I’ve run errands. And I only did my eyes twice during Christmas week. And, funny, nothing bad happened :-). Next, I think I’ll experiment with no facial foundation. How scary could that be???
Thank you, Colbie Cailatt. I love your video and I am going to take your advice and Try, Try, Try…
Anybody else have thoughts or issues about going out without makeup? Would love to read your comments…share below…
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I’m Ellen Shuman and I am a work in progress, just like everyone else I know! I am also a pioneer in the field of binge eating disorder treatment; a Coach who specializes in helping people overcome binge eating, binge eating disorder, emotional eating, compulsive eating, and food addiction. I founded A Weigh Out Life Coaching & Members’ Circle, and Acoria Binge Eating Disorder Treatment (1993-present). I am a Past President of the Binge Eating Disorder Association (2011/2012), and I started the Academy for Eating Disorders Special Interest Group on “Health at Every Size”. Questions? Get in touch with me, ellen@aweighout.com, 513-321-4242.
