Without Makeup

Words & Photography
by Erika Ellis



How can we thrive in a society that simultaneously shames and praises womanhood? I ask myself this often, even more as I raise girls to (hopefully) be whomever they'd like to be. Youth and beauty are top commodities but as I get comfortably situated in my 30s, I have less interest in hanging on to either in vain.

I never thought I'd ever leave the house without makeup. Mostly because I hate when people would ask me if I was tired, sick, or had been crying. It was probably all true but I loathed how unforgiving the makeup-less face looked. It reveals all your truth. Wisdom allows me to wear my truth with pride. I can be vulnerable and not shy away from what may be otherwise considered a weakness: being a tired woman who cries regularly. And in this photo, I'm extra tired but I'm happy. Plus, I'm just hanging with Toddler, wearing a pair of Tween's shoes.

I can also be beautiful without amplification. I also acknowledge that with it, I appear supernatural. Sometimes supernatural is needed to get through the day, other days being super while natural is quite divine.

More than ever, my kids make me feel beautiful and youthful. I'm not saying this as a big statement nor will I ever ever ever be anti-makeup. I'm just having a moment to observe that youth and beauty aren't mutually exclusive. I can also be beautiful without amplification. I also acknowledge that with it, I appear supernatural. Sometimes supernatural is needed to get through the day, other days being super while natural is quite divine. We can be both. We can be neither. Whatever, it's all good.