"UNMASKING BEAUTY: Alicia Keys' Makeup-Free Journey and the Timeless Debate on Defining True Beauty"

Alicia keys in 2016 decided to stop wearing makeup in order to feel comfortable in her skin and committed to that journey for 7 years until realising that feeling comfortable in her skin had nothing to do with makeup after all.

For decades upon decades like everything else beauty standards in the form of makeup has been dictated to us by a powerful unseen collective. Each decade presents what is considered beauty; in the 1950’s the vibe was dainty and ladylike which consisted of a heavy face base, blush, eyes and lips all fully enhanced.

In the 90’s/00’s the standard was less heavy with subtle trimmings. People till this day comment on the natural beauty of the 90’s but if makeup isn’t the definition of beauty what is?

The cliche statements like ‘beauty is in the eyes of the beholder’ and ‘beauty runs skin deep’ are both true but how vital are the physical products that we spend an immense amount of money on to keep our skin tight and glowy, define our cheekbones, draw on our eyes and colour our lips?

Makeup for most is an enhancement of physical beauty and a choice depending on the time of day and occasion just how enhanced.

The battle of makeup or not shouldn't be based on how you measure your beauty but the choice should simply come down to whether spending money on that enhancement is worth how it makes you look and feel.

Ignore those pertaining to being catfished by your choices and instead consider that caking on that amount of makeup is suffocating your pores and potentially ageing your skin, but you know, it's your choice, so go off!

The definition of beauty can only be defined by you. Physical beauty can be drowned out by ugly behaviours and awful characters and no makeup or surgery can fix the internal struggle of ugly.

If you find yourself grappling with discomfort in your own skin, delve beyond the surface. Before deciding to alter your exterior, consider cultivating inner strength to ensure any changes won't compromise your well-being in the long term. But never let anyone tell you wearing makeup is the deciding factor of how you value your natural beauty, just be honest with you.

Written by: Marina Townsend