Author: Susan Merrick

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Makeup Free Month Day 15: Pretty much halfway!

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Well I’m pretty much halfway through my month without makeup. I’ve looked at what cosmetics I use, why I use them, some history of makeup and a bit about feminism and makeup. I’ve discussed makeup with relation to professionalism, confidence and self esteem, and where these assumptions/ideas come from. I’ve talked about some reactions I’ve had and also how I’ve felt in myself. I’ve touched a little on homemade and natural skin products and towards the end of the month I want to consider some alternative cosmetic products or even homemade ones to try once my month is up. Seeing how good my skin looks and feels I’m reluctant to slap rubbish back onto my skin!

I’m feeling very excited today (jumping up and down a little) as the video of my Street Art, that inspired me to go makeup free, is almost finished. The fabulous Ashley Meneely has worked so hard to create a beautiful piece of film that captures not only the artwork that I created but the feel of the day and what I was trying to achieve. It’s also come together by us being allowed to use a gorgeous track by singer songwriter Charlotte Eriksson. The lyrics are truly perfect for drawing out all of the ideals and issues that I wanted to question with regard to what we use on our skin. But I will discuss this more once the video is up for viewing 🙂

We are hopeful that this will be finished over the next few days and when it is put up on The Mother Magazine website (thank you so much Editor-in-chief Starr Meneely for agreeing to showcase it) I will shout! Loudly!

If you would like to donate to Macmillan Cancer Support please do so via my Just giving page or via text as described below. xxxxxx http://www.justgiving.com/Susan-Merrick

or text MMFM £1 to 70070

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Makeup Free Month Day 14: Recap of benefits and drawbacks

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#Makeupfreemonth

I recap on the benefits and drawbacks of being makeup free as I reach almost halfway!

It’s much easier 🙂 yep, this is definitely the case.

My bedroom floor is currently not littered with my half emptied out makeup bag from rushing to get ready….. But it is still littered with shoes and clothes (note to self, tidy bedroom).

I am very exposed :() but I feel less so now I’m halfway through the month.

Feeling more confident about a night out (actually out in a restaurant and bars) on Saturday sans makeup!

If I walk tall and confidently then I feel more confident about how I look (high shoes help as long as wobbling is kept to a minimum).

I appear to have developed my very first cold sore (wasn’t a cold sore just dry patch of skin), and I’ve hardly had any spots… Yet 😉

I AM getting ready quicker in the morn and for bed in the eve 🙂 although I’m not sure how efficiently I am using my extra time 🙂

I feel very pale…. Hmm yes I do, but my skin looks in better condition!

My eyes look small and tired…. Hmm fact. This morning felt really good, liked my reflection a lot until I took my sunglasses off ….

My skin feels fresher 🙂 and looks it- I’m getting complimented on it too!
In terms of what I’ve been using I’ve changed a little this week. I’ve started using the SUTI products that I was given, which feel great, but the facial oil I may need to change as I’m not a fan of the oils used in terms of smell. Bit musty.

I’ve also started using some grapeseed oil every morning along with coconut oil on my hands and face. My face feels great, and my body suits the shower scrub I use but my hands still feel like they need something a bit heavier. After several years of very frequent nappy changes, hand washing, general house stuff and painting my hands are looking like they belong to someone twice my age. They also feel a bit rough and dry so I may look into some homemade hand creams, to at least stop my little angels commenting on mummy’s ‘rough hands’!

I got a great personal tip this week from a woman who is very knowledgable in good skin. Star Khechara recommended using regular clay masks for glowing skin when going makeup free. I will be trying this over the weekend! Her site has lots of other good tips so take a look.
http://www.starkhechara.com/

Star has also got some recommendations for organic makeup products.

Right, where are those sunglasses?
If you would like to donate to Macmillan Cancer Support please do so via my Just giving page or via text as described below. xxxxxx http://www.justgiving.com/Susan-Merrick

or text MMFM £1 to 70070

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Makeup Free Month Day 13: My 3 yr old role model.

imageMy priorities have been put into question a bit this month and today I realised that my 3 year old daughter has life right!

If she feels fed up, she gets cuddles. If I feel fed up I stomp about a bit. When she feels happy she dances, when I feel happy I want to dance but rarely do. She spends her time playing, scooting, biking, drawing and dancing. She loves to dance, asks us to watch and sometimes join her. She is so free!

Looks wise I stare at her (and her brother) admiringly. A lot. (Yes I’m their mum so I’m probably/definitely biased). My daughter’s hair is red, and set off by the most amazing creamy skin. She has huge eyes and a gorgeous pout. She wakes up and her hair just bounces into curls, some days she will have ‘just got out of bed’ tousled curls or she may let me run a wet hand through it which creates amazing ringlets, it rarely tangles and she doesn’t ever want anything doing to it.

If she wakes early, she starts playing, singing or chatting to her teddies. If we have to wake her she rubs her face and then grins asking if it’s breakfast time.

Getting dressed she decides what she wants and throws it together not caring in the least what may go well with what. An average combination is her strawberry dress, jeans cut into shorts, star leggings, pink fleece and wellies. If she senses I want to ‘dress’ her she will stare sternly at me and tell me she will not wear that, or simply put a fancy dress outfit over the top.

Some days I try to be like this. But not often. Mostly I’m led too much by how I look, what others may think (or what I think others may think) and trying to get too much ‘done’.

Along with going without makeup this month I will try to let go a bit more, wear wellies with dresses and certainly do a bit more spontaneous dancing. At least before the children are too embarrassed for me to do so anyway!

If you would like to donate to Macmillan Cancer Support please do so via my Just giving page or via text as described below. xxxxxx http://www.justgiving.com/Susan-Merrick

or text MMFM £1 to 70070

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Makeup Free Month Day 12: Feminism and makeup

Some Feminism 🙂

I’m a feminist. I wear makeup (until this month). I was going to try and write about how I feel with regard to feminism and makeup but I found this blog post from Autumn Whitefield-Madrano and it’s so well written in my opinion, i’d just like to sign post you there. 🙂

http://www.feministe.us/blog/archives/2011/08/01/living-with-contradiction-beauty-work-and-feminism/

 

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or text MMFM £1 to 70070

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Makeup Free Month Day 11: Eyebrows!

image(Out for Mothers Day today)

A bit about eyebrows!

I tint my eyebrows. Yep I’m admitting it. With a home henna paste for eyebrows. I only do it every 2 months or so, and often forget. My eyebrows are not as pale as my lashes, they have colour (similar to the colour they are now) but it’s patchy. So I like to define them more by tinting them to be a unified colour. I tried pencil or shadows when I was younger but this would generally give strange impressions of scary wonky eyebrows that would rub off halfway through the day or night!

I also have them threaded. Which I did yesterday. Have you ever had your eyebrows threaded? I’m a huge fan. No chemicals, just a woman with her twisted thread pulling out my eyebrow hair to shape the brows. I generally walk away with bright red face and watery eyes (always attractive) and it costs about £4.

I’m sure some women can do without this too. I’m sure I could. However I have one brow that grows lots of hair, the other not so much. The hair seems to try and grow half way up my forehead on one side and down to my lash line on the other with the attempt at a monobrow between. As much as I would love to embrace this look…. Nope, I’m lying, I don’t want to embrace this. Id like big but symmetrical brows please!

After threading the shape makes a huge difference. I noticed this so much more yesterday without makeup. My eyes seemed much more open and I felt less in need of makeup for my evening out than I’ve ever felt!

When I was younger I plucked ridiculously and often lost half an eyebrow from losing concentration, resulting in tiny stubby brows or very skinny ones. Over the years I have embraced the bigger brow, all the better for raising at the children.
If you would like to donate to Macmillan Cancer Support please do so via my Just giving page or via text as described below. xxxxxx http://www.justgiving.com/Susan-Merrick

or text MMFM £1 to 70070