My week at BC without makeup

Yes, I got to sleep in more

Boston College is known for its slacker students who don’t care about their appearances at all. Nobody works out and being disheveled is the norm. Wearing makeup is just something we don’t do. 

Not.

I went to an all-girls high school, so being asked not to wear makeup for a week brought on some nostalgia for me. I was excited that I would get to do that roll-out-of-bed thing that I realized I had to stop doing in August once I was in a sea of the many exceptionally beautiful humans who were all brought together by the magnetic force of Gasson. I honestly don’t even really know how to use makeup and I never do my hair during the week (bad bed head=bun.) Ok, yes, it did turn into one of those eye-opening experiences and I learned a few things about myself. Sue me for being a cliche.

Monday

Yes, this is a soft-lighting selfie with a premeditated cropping of my face. Spot the remnants of my mascara that showering didn’t get from Saturday night.

On the first day, I wore real clothes (i.e. not the workout clothes I found myself in for the rest of the week because my favorite jeans were in the wash.) For the entire week, I slept in an extra 15 minutes and I was able to get breakfast before class which is necessary with my $2700 meal plan balance.

I was a little uncomfortable during class and I inadvertently kept blocking my face with my hand.

Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday

Without makeup, I found that it was so much easier to “want” to workout. I had no excuse of trying to rush to the locker room right after class to wipe my makeup off and get to an exercise class. When somebody asked me to workout, I said yes because I was already outside of my comfort zone.

I did a spin class three times and worked out on my own twice. The bike seat is still imprinted in my butt.

The evolution of my snapchats parallels how much more comfortable I got with having a bare face. I use makeup as a way to be more comfortable with other people because I think of it as a barrier between myself and the world, even though I don’t wear a lot on a normal day.

This week made me realize that my skin and I need a break every once in a while whether it’s just to sleep (shoutout to my 9 AMs every day) or to learn to interact with others while I feel more vulnerable, even if I don’t look much different.

Friday

Yes, I somehow got a ticket to The Chainsmokers. As I was getting ready for Plexapalooza, I realized that there really wasn’t a point to putting on a lot of makeup for the event. I sweat it off every time that I go out and my face becomes shinier than a disco ball. After a week of classes with no makeup, I was also too lazy to spend the time on it. So, I wore some tinted moisturizer, eyeliner, and mascara and called it a night.

When I was being stampeded while in the first few rows and getting foreign sweat dripped on me, I was definitely happy that I didn’t have foundation dripping down my face.

Saturday

I was too ambitious by planning to go out the night after The Chainsmokers.

Wearing makeup wasn’t a choice that day: I couldn’t have lifted a makeup brush if I wanted to. I was exhausted from the night before when I was dodging people who looked like they were going to puke and furrowing my brows when I saw someone who looked like he was 40 in 90s tank top and doo-rag. I went into Boston makeup-less and ate some fried food before crashing while watching The Bachelor.

This next week, I can wear makeup again. Last Monday, I would have sighed with relief and woken up a few minutes earlier to put some on.

Now, I don’t think I’ll save my clean-face days just for finals.

More
Boston College