Au naturel

You know, it's funny. These days there are far more products on the market to disguise, enhance, or alter us than there are campaigns telling us to just wake up, throw on a t-shirt and work the natural look. I can understand why in a consumerist society where companies prey on women's insecurities to reach a certain level of perfection, but lately I've been having a serious look in the mirror and have realised that I actually feel most beautiful when I'm projecting the real 'me' to the rest of the world.

I think back to all the times in the past year that I've got up in the morning, showered, spent ages putting on make-up and styling my hair and declined invites to do anything which might mess me up. This also coincides with the time I've felt the most trapped in my life. I was born and bred an outdoorsy, adventurous, roll-in-the-mud kinda girl, who also happened to adore the art of make-up and fashion. Where I took the wrong turn, I cannot seem to figure out, but somewhere along the line in the past couple years I thought I had to choose one or the other.

Over the past couple months I've just kinda said 'SCREW IT!'. Don't get me wrong, I still have an obscene make-up collection and busting wardrobe, but I save the dressing up as more of a treat rather than an everyday routine. The result? I get up, go for a run or a swim or a walk in the park, shower, leave the hair to do its own thing and dry naturally, throw on COMFORTABLE clothes that allow me to flounce around and do what I like. I go with a tinted moisturiser, concealer, mascara, blush and lip balm. I have had more compliments than I ever had before, I am also happier because of it and have never felt more myself. I think it is when you stop trying to fit into any kind of box that you truly find 'you'.