Really does make a difference

The effort to look good, that is. Putting on my “game” face in other words. Or (okay fine!) simply just putting on [minimal] makeup. Geez, why do I still sound defensive, even to myself? 😐

Anywho. So yes, I went out earlier and since I was feeling lazy and all, I opted to go out with just sunblock (I am sooooo glad I did not skip this–the sun was shining oh-so-brightly in all its fiery glory) and lip gloss (still can’t get over my Eyeko gift–might review later). No BB cream, no powder, no blush and no mascara. And when I looked at the mirror a coupla hours later, it was only then that I realized the difference primping made on my appearance. Without my trusty BB cream to minimize or conceal my facial imperfections, my uneven skin tone was quite apparent and so were the acne marks and dark spots. And yeah, don’t forget the dark under eyes. While I did not exactly look monstrous or hideous, my confidence did slip down a notch after that because come on, what girl does not want to look pretty presentable? And that’s not just vanity speaking either.

I may start sounding superficial here, but only now am I finally(!) beginning to understand the power of looking decent, if not downright good. It really does give you a certain confidence knowing you can face just about anybody and not worry about what they’ll think because you feel good about your appearance and in effect, yourself. That is not to say I am advocating piling on makeup and creating a flawless mask because I am against that too. But a little enhancement here and there of what you do have could certainly go a long way in giving you an instant self-esteem boost. And I am certainly not a hypocrite to deny that I sometimes need a good dose of self-esteem. Okay, not just sometimes but most of the time. 😉

Quite the late-bloomer, I indeed am. My quarter-life crisis came in the form of a kikay awakening, of all things. But it’s a good thing, I suppose. We all need to learn and grow somehow, and that was one area wherein I was almost retarded. 😛 Haha. So yeah, I definitely needed to develop that one way or another.

You have no idea how liberating it is for me to be able to wear a dress going to the mall, or whipping out a hair brush or lip balm while in the rest room with the rest of the kikay population also primping and/or retouching. All that, after years of not wanting to give a damn on how I look (but secretly feeling awkward and insecure anyway). I will not be throwing away my beloved jeans, but I will be looking for more feminine tops and kicks to pair them with. And you can rock messenger bags with denim miniskirts or shorts, right? 🙂

See, I am not turning my back on who I was before. I love my old self, angst and all. I was comfortable in my simple getup, and I suppose I still am up to now. It’s just that I want to inject something new to my lifestyle. A breath of fresh air, so to speak. And so there goes the dresses and the makeup. And a happier, more confident me. 😉