Do you remember when you were a little girl and couldn’t wait to wear makeup? You wanted so badly to imitate your mom. You wore it as a young teen because you desperately wanted to look older. 

We learned at a young age that makeup was necessary — to look pretty and different from your real age. But is that such a good thing? The powers that be in the U.S. created the national holiday “No Makeup Day” on April 26 to remind women to appreciate their natural beauty instead of putting makeup on. 

Here are five ways to feel empowered by choosing to wear no makeup and how to feel confident without makeup, au naturel.

5 reasons to ditch the makeup

1. Embrace your natural beauty 

Nobody is as critical as you are about your face and appearance. What you try to hide as defects or imperfections usually aren’t seen by others. By showing your real face, you embrace the unique and natural beauty you were born with. Laugh lines and eye wrinkles are a sign of smiling and laughing. That you’ve enjoyed so much of your life is something to be thrilled about. And let’s be perfectly honest — real beauty comes from within.

2. Promote self love

“Without makeup, women learn to value themselves for who they are and less for what they have; they create a healthier image of themselves, which is one reason days like ‘No Makeup Day’ can be so empowering,” says Aura De Los Santos, clinical psychologist and specialist at Healthcanal. “When women identify that their value lies more in who they are than in what they wear and how they look, they change their self-concept and self-esteem, adding healthier values and ideals.”

3. Challenge society’s beauty standards

De Los Santos continues that days like ¨No Makeup Day¨ can be so empowering because women see they’re the ones in control of themselves and how they appear to others. They decide which elements are part of their personality, that makeup doesn’t define who they are, and they may feel less pressured to follow society’s patterns — which can often cause stress. 

Mass media often refers to how beauty and makeup go hand in hand. While makeup can be used to help enhance that beauty, women should understand that without it, they’re also beautiful — and that their decision to use it whenever they want is theirs and that they don’t do so because of external pressures. 

“No Makeup Day” is a way to challenge beauty standards and celebrate natural beauty. By going makeup-free, you’re saying you don’t need makeup to be beautiful — and that’s a powerful message to send.

4. Boost self confidence

Going without “your face” one day will show you that things continue as usual and that hiding who you are and what you have under so many layers is unnecessary. How freeing is it to have that no-makeup confidence and not have to carry a bag full of products to touch up your face? 

5. Save time

How amazing would it be to sleep in later because you don’t have to set time aside to put your face on in the morning? What about having more time to read or work out instead of putting makeup on while getting ready to head out of the house? Sign us up!

Celebrate National No Makeup Day

No one is saying that makeup or wearing makeup is a bad thing. But consider taking this day (and others!) to step away from your routine and give your skin a break. I’m sure you’ll find that your day will continue as usual. Embracing and loving the skin you’re in can be a powerful feeling.