There’s a reason why I am doing this. I have had a very shitty start to my morning and I had to this a very long time ago, so here I am, pouring my feelings out. A few weeks ago I looked at myself in the mirror, early in the morning, with no trace of makeup, still trying to open my eyes. I realised how different I looked. It shocked me for a split second and I didn’t want to believe what I saw. Why? Well, not because I look “bad” without makeup. But how I am conditioned to see myself with layers of makeup on my face everyday.  I had forgotten how my real face looked like. I still remember how in school I just put some kajal on my waterline and that was pretty much it. That was all the makeup I was into at that time. And when going out with friends, I would also add some lip gloss. I was introduced to makeup after I lost interest in TV and started watching videos on YouTube. I was mesmerised by the power of makeup. Power of makeup to not change the way you look, but just enhance your already beautiful face. And if it does make you feel more confident and beautiful, then why not? I know, I know.. You don’t need makeup to feel or look beautiful. You don’t NEED anything to make you feel good about yourself. But if it’s something you want, then there’s absolutely nothing, nothing, nothing wrong in it.

I am not afraid to express my love for makeup. I am someone who enjoys the art of makeup. But it was after it became my need I started questioning myself. It sort of still is. Being needy for anything or anyone, is not helpful. I can do better, you can do better, everyone can do better. I started doing print shoots and so I got exposed to a lot of makeup. Earlier I used to put on makeup only while shooting. The change was nice, I started getting a lot of compliments. I looked more attractive. I got more male attention. I mean obviously it does not matter, but I can’t deny that it does feel nice. But the twist here is, I loved doing makeup not because of the attention I got, but because I loved doing it. Slowly, from beginners’ makeup, I moved on to professional makeup. And now when I shoot everyday, my face always has makeup on. It’s at night when I am about to sleep that the makeup finally comes off. Sometimes being ridiculously lazy, I fail to do that as well.

It was after I started applying makeup, I realised all my flaws. They were always there, but I hid it so well with all the makeup, that I was no longer used to seeing them. And I started believing how bad I look without it. I get a lot of emails, messages and comments about how great my skin is, how beautiful I look and how do I manage looking so good everyday. Now, all this never bothered till the time girls started feeling inferior or “less pretty”. This is not what I am here for. I want to be a part of something which helps you all feel amazing. I want to make you all feel strong, fierce and just.. beautiful, with makeup or without makeup.

So today, I am going to tell you how perfect my face is and the amount of work that goes into it. I take about 20 minutes to do my everyday makeup routine and atleast 30 minutes to do a special makeup routine. With a full layer of high coverage foundation and concealer on all my target areas, I have already spent hours in total to get an even skin tone. When that wasn’t enough,  I also moved on to doing my eyes, blush, faking cheekbones, eyelashes and what not. My skin? There are acne marks on both the sides of my cheeks. If I stop using a concealer, you guys would see how bad my under eyes are.