Tag: women

Posted on

Makeup Free Month Day 7: Im sick… so just a short reminder!

Day 7 (26/3/14)

After a horrid stomach bug I am keeping this one very short. Suffice to say I wouldn’t have worn makeup today anyway, am just staying in my bed!

A good friend reminded me the other day about why the no makeup selfies started recently. To remind us that in the time it takes to remove our makeup, we can check our breasts. A good reminder, so I thought I’d remember that here too!
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 70070image

Posted on

Makeup Free Month Day 6: What will I go back to?

image

So what will I return to? Makeup everyday? Makeup for special occasions?

And should I go back to the same cosmetics? Can I when I’m now so conscious …. Actually, now that I’m confused is a better way of putting it! I am now basically aware that I ‘don’t’ know what I’m putting on my skin.

Most of the products I use don’t have clear labels and if they do it’s a huge long stream of abbreviations that I am clueless about.

And if I try to look at the research it gets worse! Is skin a sponge or a barrier? Do these products protect the skin, soak in, change/damage the skin layers or break down the barrier protection? Or none of these?

Hmm I may start looking into gentle makeup products as I do like playing with makeup. Any tips or recommendations for gentle makeup/cosmetic/skin products please leave them in the comments part! There were some natural ranges discussed in Vogue a few months ago, but I haven’t yet dared to look up how much these cost. I will endeavour to do this over the next couple of weeks.

I’ve just been given another recipe for homemade oil (slightly more complex than my very basic olive oil scrub!). But it seems there is debate (as with everything) about the benefits/drawbacks of olive oil.
It’s here for anyone wanting to try it. I may be having a go later in the month.

From my doula colleague Carly Lewis:
“The calendula oil takes a lot of preparation and a little bit of love but I have had nothing but good feedback when I use it for massaging, in creams and in balms 🙂

1 litre of organic rapeseed/sunflower oil
1 litre bottle (amber glass) cleaned and sterilised
dried organic calendula flower (you don’t need too much of these, just a small pack)
1 litre clear glass wide mouthed jar with a sealed lid (can use clingfilm round and then screw on cap)
plastic funnel
organic muslin

Put as many of the flowers in to the clear glass jar as you can leaving air pockets, fill with the rapeseed/sunflower oil, seal the lid. Put on a window ledge in the sunlight and swirl once a day for 6 weeks. Line the funnel with the muslin and pour the oil through in to the amber glass jar. Make sure that you squeeze the muslin once the flowers and oil are emptied from the clear glass jar as they hold a lot of the goodness in.

Then just add the organic essential oils that you love. I keep my litre bottle in my fridge and pour in to smaller bottles adding the essential oils that take my mood at that time.”

I’m not suggesting that I’m going completely natural. But I am paying a bit more attention to what I put on my skin. With this in mind then making more careful cosmetic choices should be a part of this.

If you are enjoying my blog and 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

 

Posted on

Makeup Free Month Day 5: What’s changed?

image

I thought I should describe what makeup I’ve actually stopped using this month. As for all you know I’ve never worn makeup anyway!

For a non work day I would usually wear concealor, bronzer, mascara and lip gloss.

If I’m ever unwell or in a real rush I may do the school run with only mascara. (But this is very rare).

For work or small socials I will wear concealor, foundation, bronzer, mascara and eyeliner.

For bigger social events or higher profile work events I then add to that with powder, blusher, eye shadow (2-3 colours) and lip stick/liner.

And this month? I’m simply using Coconut oil and almond oil after I’ve showered with my homemade scrub (see Day 3). (Although I may also sample some other natural/homemade oils and moisturisers that others are recommending to me!)

Points to note so far:

It’s much easier 🙂

I am very exposed :()

I appear to have developed my very first cold sore (argh!)

I AM getting ready quicker in the morn and for bed in the eve 🙂

I feel very pale… My eyes look small and tired

My skin feels fresher 🙂

Was asked today ‘you look very tired, have you been burning the midnight oil?’!

I’m aware how odd/vain it may seem to many – that by doing this I’m suggesting going without makeup is a hardship. It’s not. Not in relation to many things. But, it’s something I have used, put on, covered up with all of my adult life. I’m not saying well done me…. I simply want to try without and raise a few of my own issues alongside   some observations I have made, am making about myself, makeup and perhaps wider society. Over the next day or so I will definitely be talking about being Ginger And pale and how what is seen as ‘normal’ can influence our decisions on makeup!

To compare for those who don’t know me here are a few more makeup shots of me from evening out.

 

imageimage

Posted on

Makeup Free Month Day 4: First Comments

Sat by my little home studio area x
Sat by my little home studio area x

 

So I thought I’d share a few comments that I’ve had so far from friends and family.

‘Wow, you’re brave! I just couldn’t do it! ‘ (this has been said by several female friends who I actually didn’t know wore much makeup anyway! Amazing how subtle it can be, and how much we do or don’t notice others wearing it).

‘Good for you’

‘You might not go back!’ And actually, I am quite excited by this. I believe I will always love the idea of painting my face for pleasure (as an artist) and decorating myself for special occasions…. But maybe I won’t feel like wearing makeup everyday any longer.

‘You look great without makeup and actually your skin looks better’. This was a surprise to me, although I do sometimes struggle to find a good balance with my products as I have dry skin so putting makeup on it often increases the dryness. Without my skin feels pretty good!

‘You are brave, I would have tinted my eyelashes’ I decided against doing this. Although maybe this would be my compromise if I stay mostly makeup free afterwards. I love opening my eyes a little with mascara, but to be honest it is a pain compared to the last few days of no makeup. I can rub my eyes, I’m not waking with a residual greyness around my eyes but I do still feel very self conscious about my fair eyes when I see my reflection.

I went with my son to a birthday party today and I found myself staring at people’s skin. There were a couple of my friends there with such creamy skin (and I know they don’t wear makeup). There was also a mum there that I did not know and she had a lot of makeup on (but it looked good) which I half stared at with jealousy, and half with interest!

On another note I do still need to drink more water, and less red wine than I have this weekend 😉 My skin gets very dry when I’m dehydrated and that does not help my confidence without makeup!

Have a good week x

 

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

Posted on

Makeup Free Month Day 3: My skin scrub

image

I initially started thinking about doing this in early 2013. There was a lot of discussion in the press about skin products and pregnancy. What I kept thinking (regardless of what the research did or did not find ) was what about our skin anyway?

I’ve been pregnant, twice, and thought more carefully about what I consumed, did, encountered. But what about our daily lives?

If there are chemicals within skin products that are questionable, should we only query these when pregnant? Or should we be paying more attention all the time?

I have in the last year stopped using products with the foaming agent SLS (sodium Laureth/laureate sulphate) and it’s alternatives, as these really dried out mine and my son’s skin. This chemical is a known skin irritant so for those of us whom it effects it makes sense to stop using it!

As someone who has had dry skin since I can remember it’s great to have found an alternative that feels good. My hubby thinks I’m such a hippy for my new product, but I’m a complete convert since a friend told me about it. So my new product? Easy (for those with dry skin anyway) olive oil, sea salt and a few drops of essential oil. That’s it. I use lemon grass oil as it’s very refreshing. But you could use any that you like the smell of.

I’m using a good amount of olive oil and sea salt, but I’m saving money from no longer buying shower gel and moisturiser!

I’m relatively new to natural skin products so any other tips would be great!

 

 

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