Make-Up: Ally or requirement? The dilemma looking in the mirror

Why should we be held to unattainable standards of beauty? 

The discomfort with women's traditional role in the beauty industry has driven us to do things our way, and we want you to do it your way, too.

Let's make our own rules. The first rule will be no rules. Because we come first, we must be true to ourselves and live according to who we are.

So, if you feel like doing your make-up (not 'fixing' because there's nothing to fix), you do it, and if you don't, you don't. The choice is yours. We must regain that power of choice and be more impervious to our context. We need to act on our own. We need to affirm ourselves.

It's not just about make-up; it's about our emotions, how we feel, and how we want to present ourselves to the world (or stay at home). We're sure that depending on your mood, you will put on some makeup or even go for a no-makeup look.

It's about knowing why you're doing it, whether to feel more confident about your appearance or to draw attention to yourself, knowing it's OK. Prioritising yourself means saying: 'I don't wear make-up for a party, but I do for an evening at home with a film and a sofa'. Knowing you can feel confident, the pleasure of going to a get-together with friends with your washed face. Or putting on a glam look with the full intention of facing an important meeting because it gives you the boost you're looking for (and you know it looks great on you). 

It is not the motive or the cause that matters but your intentions. You must know it is impossible to control how others perceive you, but we can control what we think of ourselves.

We need to remember that make-up is an ally, not a requirement. 

An ally that helps us rediscover our skin, enhance what we like best and treat what worries us (like a good friend). Make-up not only makes us feel better, but it also has the power to be a means of personal expression. Let's make the most of it. When we look good, we feel better.

Morning make-up can be more than a routine; it can be a moment of introspection and connection with ourselves. Applying a serum that hydrates and colours without compromising the health of our skin, or a touch of moisturising red lipstick can make all the difference to the confidence with which we start (or end) the day. 

We should use it as a tool to project our confidence and use it to our advantage. As we are not always 100% ourselves, our make-up should not be the same. It should be a game, a fun thing to do, and a way for us to associate it with different facets of our personality.

How do you put yourself first when applying your make-up?

• Reflection on your intention: Recognise the motivations for wearing make-up and be true to how you feel today.
• Turn your make-up into a moment of self-care: Turn your routine into a quiet moment to enjoy the process.
• Choose products that make you happy - not just for their scents or textures but also for their benefits. Look for formulas with active ingredients that benefit your skin. 
• Enhance what you like about yourself: Do your make-up to highlight what makes you feel special. 
• Make-up removal: Do it with a product that cleanses, moisturises, and respects the skin's barrier function. This is the key to good skin.

Whether you choose to wear make-up or not, the interesting thing is that both choices involve affirming who you are and who you want to be. 

The power of make-up lies in its ability to make us feel good about ourselves.

We are happy to be a part of your priorities and of your way of celebrating beauty. 

U/1ST Team