32 Comments

I couldn’t identify with this more! My first experiences with make up were not dissimilar...but actually on my first days in high school I insisted on wearing very pale powder to cover my rosy cheeks and teamed with my dark brown hair, well it was more Morticia Adams than anything else. I also feel there’s a huge pressure on young girls to confirm these days and there needs to be more barefaced selfies! That said, now that I’m in my 40s, I feel like I’ve got the right balance between enhancing my natural features whilst not looking “made up” and I think that’s the secret isn’t it? Looking exactly like yourself with a little enchantment if needed. No need for contour (scary) or 70 shades of lipstick cluttering up drawers! Thank you for your super honest and real approach as always 🙂

Expand full comment
author

Aw thank you for sharing! I'm starting to feel more confident with a balanced approach, as you say :)

Expand full comment
Jul 31, 2023Liked by Molly Ella

Hi, Molly! I think I was born to do make-up. As an adolescent I covered up everything- my smell, my complexion- everything. I was made up every day and spent hours masking myself. I continued this well into my thirties. Now, at 47, I’m decoupling the last vestiges of the lack of acceptance of what I truly look like by removing the henna from my hair. I’d say this has and is the most brutal of all the processes. The makeup application just faded away but this is work and requires a setting aside of mainstream ideas about age, beauty and vitality. I’m healthiest, happier and more intentional than any moment that has come before but when I look in the mirror I’m aghast by the reflection of my roots with their rampant wisdom - grey hairs. I’m investing a lot into lightening the line of demarcation so the change isn’t so noticeable but it is all I see. Yet, I know this is what I want to see my years of growth reflected back to me - I’m just struggling with the transition. Because transitions are hard - thresholds are ripe for tripping. As always, Molly, thank you for sharing your journey. XO

Expand full comment
author

Thank you for sharing lovely. I can completely understand your discomfort and, unfortunately, it is a feeling I know many women can relate to when it comes to aging. Its such a shame and I hope you find your own sense of peace as I'm sure your grey hair is beautiful :)

Expand full comment

i am 68 years old and have not worn any make up in 35 years. i can still remember arriving at my best friend's home one morning when we were in our early 30's, and seeing her fresh face without anything added. she was lovely. and i told her so. your face looks so beautiful and natural, molly. please continue to follow your own path and be a role model for all women and let's break out of this plastic culture, in all ways.

Expand full comment
author

Thank you for sharing your experience and kind words :)

Expand full comment

I. Am 61 and echo your thought. When I look at people, I genuinely see their unique beauty. I was never comfortable with makeup, I felt like it was a waste of time.

Expand full comment

yes, maria, a waste of time. thanks for responding. i have spent my work life with clients exploring their interior terrain - that's where all the juicy creativity and beauty resides.

Expand full comment

I was exactly the same! In high school I ‘borrowed’ my friend’s make up, but she had lovely olive skin, and I was/ am extremely pale. We didn’t match. Not one bit 😳. Since high school I’ve tried make up, but I cannot for the life of me do it. And then contouring came in and that’s when I decided that I’d just embrace my bare face for the rest of my life.

I now have a really great skin care routine (I use Skin + Me), and my skin has never looked better. I feel confident in my skin now because it’s in such good condition, rather than wearing make up to try and hide my bad skin.

I’m so pleased you have found a make up brand that you like! It would be nice to have some make up (I don’t have any at all) to use if I was to go somewhere nice.

Expand full comment
author

I completely agree that focusing on looking after our skin is such a healthy approach. I've heard great things about Skin and Me, so may have to give them a try one day :)

Expand full comment

Let me know if you do, I have a referral link which will get your 1st and 5th Daily Doser for £3.50 😊

Expand full comment
author

Oh I will, thank you!

Expand full comment

I’ve had a difficult relationship with makeup. I’ve never felt comfortable applying it, always felt I was doing it wrong but nobody really showed me how. When I was a teenager I had awful acne so I wore tons of thick clogging makeup to hide it which in hindsight probably didn’t work and made it worse! Despite my skin getting better I continued to wear makeup in my twenties at work as I was in the office everyday and didn’t have the confidence to not wear it as still had some acne and many scars.

Lockdown changed everything for my self image (including giving up padded bras). There was no point wearing makeup working from home and even on video calls you couldn’t notice if I was wearing makeup or not. I also finally discovered skin products that manage my acne so I have clear skin now. So now I mostly go natural, occasionally just wearing natural bb cream and eyeshadow and mascara if I’m socialising. It’s so freeing!

Expand full comment
author

Oh I loved reading about your experience! I stopped wearing underwired/padded bras after lock down too! Well done you for embracing the natural look :)

Expand full comment

My relationship with makeup has massively changed over the years (especially now I work from home). I love how comfortable I feel now without makeup, but equally enjoy experimenting with it and wearing makeup that feels good for me, and wearing it only for me! I haven't tried or bought anything from Merit but I've been on their website and love the look of their products. Do you have a favourite from the range? I'm not buying any new makeup until I completely run out, but Merit is a brand I'm definitely going to experiment with when I'm out of what I already have :)

Expand full comment
author

I've only tried their 'Minimalist' complexion stick and lipstick (shade Slip) so far, but I've loved both. I've heard great things about their mascara so I will likely add that to my collection once my current one runs out :) Thank you for your comment!

Expand full comment

I have always worn mascara and a natural shade of lipstick on a daily basis (even during the pandemic!) I also have always used a good quality skincare, yet have never liked a foundation as it does not suit me and I have tried a few over the years. Molly you do suit the natural look, even though the make up you showed us applied, looked very nice on you.

Expand full comment
author

Thank you for sharing! I feel the same about heavy foundation. Its not something I've ever felt comfortable with :)

Expand full comment

I wore makeup from the age of 14, probably starting with peer pressure, but then it became a confidence thing. I would never leave the house without a full face. Its gradually got less and less and since lockdown I'll now go out without any. I will put on mascara as I have fair lashes, but often forget. I'd like to refresh my make up for a natural look,, when I fancy it.

Expand full comment
author

Its so interesting to see how people have changed since lock down. I'm happy to hear you are feeling more confident in our own skin :)

Expand full comment
Jul 31, 2023Liked by Molly Ella

During a recent periodic all body check, our dermatologist described each wrinkle, mole, spot, and other skin normalities as “the gifts of time.” Along with our asymmetries and skin changes, once we accept these gifts of time, and we are comfortable in our skin, we can enjoy what we wear and don’t wear. Seems makeup decisions are one part of healthy overall body acceptance. Thanks for sharing your experiences and current approach.

Expand full comment
author

I love that idea! Thanks for sharing :)

Expand full comment
Jul 31, 2023Liked by Molly Ella

The new makeup you used on your last video looked great and the lipstick was a perfect shade for you ❤️

Expand full comment
author

Aw thank you :)

Expand full comment
Jul 31, 2023Liked by Molly Ella

I messed about a bit with it in my teens, mascara and eye shadow mostly (quite probably blue!) I think, no foundation or blusher or anything. Then in my twenties it didn't go with the kind of feminism and lifestyle I had then (though I enjoyed hair dye and jewellery, and nice toiletries from the Body Shop etc) and I couldn't really be bothered to learn about it. But then when I was about thirty life changed a bit, I thought I'd give it another go. I worked with a younger woman who really loved make up and saw it as a hobby, so when my birthday came round, and we did birthday collections for everyone, I asked if she'd use mine to buy me what she thought would be suitable. She was so pleased to be asked, and bought stuff with really subtle matt brown/green/grey tints which I wouldn't have thought of, from M&S, and it was just right for me. I never used it that much, in fact I still have that box of eye shadows, which also work as concealer and blusher, from 30 years ago, it's still fine and I still use it very occasionally ! The foundation and mascara I've replaced maybe once or twice. I really don't feel the need to use it much any more, I've never lived or worked anywhere it was necessary, and I hate the fuss of cleaning it off! But it's a nice memory of getting that gift at that time.

Expand full comment
author

This is a lovely story, thank you for sharing :)

Expand full comment
Jul 31, 2023Liked by Molly Ella

I’m not a huge face primer make up person myself, everything over the years irritated my face. Then I developed rosacea, and only one brand they say helps with that. It never really so I wore less and less, maybe that’s where I went wrong who knows. Then a friends daughter signed up with Tropics, all vegan and all fresh made. I’ve been using their products for over two years now, they are amazing and I can use their oils something I was told by other companies never to do.

I still don’t religiously do skin prep and I don’t wear makeup daily, I like to let my skin breathe at least that’s what I tell myself for my laziness lol

Expand full comment
author

I'm totally behind letting my skin breathe!

Expand full comment

How lovely to read of your journey with makeup! Though I don't do makeup on a daily basis, I do use the occasional lipstick and am very particular about them being cruelty free.

Expand full comment
author

I've always liked a nice lipstick :)

Expand full comment

When I was a teen, up until my mid twenties I loved makeup. Big bold eyeliner. It made me feel beautiful. Then it all changed when lockdown hit. I stopped wearing make up, stopped straightening my hair every day religiously and let my skin breathe.

Now I very rarely wear make up and have embraced my curls. When I do wear make up, my skin instantly breaks out really badly.

I think I will be investing in some Merit makeup, I especially like the look of the minimalist foundation/concealer.

Lockdown gave me the chance to slow down and really look at what products I used, how many chemicals and rubbish I was putting on my face. Now I’m confident wearing no make up at all, even if I have the odd blemish I don’t try to hide it.

It’s great to get advice from you on ethical brands to try it!

Expand full comment
author

Thank you for sharing your experience! Its so lovely to read that you are more confident bare faced. I think lock down had a similar impact on a lot of people :)

Expand full comment