Snowstories

Shout out to the girls who have never worn makeup and don’t want to “just try it, you feel great”

Shout out to the girls who used to love wearing makeup and now don’t

Shout out to the girls who know nothing about contouring and highlighter and winged eyeliner

See, I used to wear makeup for YEARS. I SUCKED at it, mind you. And I HATED it. Eyeliner was impossible to me, and somehow I would always put on too much blush. But I still wore it. And that's because I was always raised to believe that women were not pretty or even professional if they didn't have makeup on. And I'm not talking about just being corrupted by media; my own mother insisted that I had to wear makeup wherever I went. Even to the gym. To go out without makeup was like going out without any clothes on. It was scandalous to her. And I believed that.

Then, my best friend (a guy) started to get onto me about the makeup and insisted that I didn't need it. That I looked beautiful without it. That I was HEALTHIER without it. After all, guys (typically) couldn't wear makeup and they got by without, right? Why was it a requirement for women to wear it? He convinced me to begin going without makeup, just to try it. And you know what? I did.

I began with removing a little at a time. A few days without eyeliner, then without blush. Without powder and foundation, and then without lipstick...

...at first, I was self conscious. I felt like a slob, or like a child. To go into public, or to work, and not have my mask on? To walk past beautiful, painted face girls and know that I was literally pale in comparison? I felt embarrassed for my own appearance. I felt ashamed. And what was worse: my mom only continued to criticize me for my TERRIBLE decision.

But then I began to count the pros of leaving makeup behind. What was I getting out of it?

For one, I wasn't spending a FORTUNE on foundation and cover up and god knows what else, only to have it run out in a couple of weeks. I mean, I have more important things to spend that money on right? Makeup isn't cheap.

Secondly, my skin was healthier. After a few weeks of no makeup, I suddenly realized that: wow! My skin was CRAP before. Always dry, always blocked. Now it could breathe, now it could shine on its own! And hey, I'm still young. I'm only 24! Makeup really ages the skin, so it's good that I've cut it out so early into my youth.

Third: THE TIME! I can't tell you how much TIME you get back when you cut makeup out. Jesus, I can actually get ready in only a few minutes now. Leaving the house doesn't feel like such a chore anymore because I CAN JUST GET DRESSED AND LEAVE! No more spending an hour or two in front of the facial mirror, trying to get the eyeliner on the left eye to match the right. No more trying to decide if this outfit I'm wearing requires a pink lipstick or something a little more bold red. No more going BACK to the mirror because - DAMMIT - I accidentally smudged my mascara when I was rubbing my eyes. And hey! Now I don't even have to spend the time CLEANING UP after my makeup adventure too.

Fourth: This. Is. The. Most. Important. Lesson. I actually have CONFIDENCE in myself. After getting over my initial self hatred, I was able to look into the mirror and see ME. The real me. And suddenly, I no longer hate how I look without the mask. In fact, I feel like I look weird WITH makeup on now. I like how I look. I like my complexion. I like my eyes being clear of any shading. I like that my skin feels healthy and young. And now, when I go in public and feel like people are staring at me, I no longer fear that they're criticizing me for going practically nude. No, now I feel like they're impressed - or jealous maybe - that I have the confidence to go out without covering my face in layers upon layers of powder, liquid, and color. I feel GOOD. I feel happy. I feel - dare I say it - free.

To those of you out there that truly enjoy wearing makeup, I applaud you. It's a true art form, and if it is what you like to do, go for it!

But for those of you who hate wearing makeup but feel like you have to, I want you to understand this: you DON'T need it! It is YOUR money, YOUR time, YOUR face, and if you don't enjoy masking it, then don't. Appreciate you for you. Love how you look without the help of any cosmetics. We women have been conditioned to believe that we need makeup like we need shirts or bras. We are considered indecent without it. BUT THAT IS NOT TRUE. The only GOOD reasons for us to wear makeup is that we TRULY enjoy doing it. The only GOOD reason for us to wear makeup is that we WANT to wear it for ourselves, not for random strangers we will never see again.

So next time you're about to put on that foundation, I want you to stop and truly look at the mirror. Look at yourself.

Exciting times! It’s not long to go until The Hollow Boy is published in the US (15th Sept) and the UK (24th Sept), and I can’t wait to see it on the shelves. I’m doing a UK tour later in the year, but in 10 short days’ time I’m off to America for a week of public events with the fabulous Eoin Colfer, whose WARP 3: The Forever Man is published at the same time. Not only that, at our first event, in Boston, we’re joined by none other than the great Rick Riordan, and later, in St Louis, the marvelous Ridley Pearson will be with us on stage. During the course of the tour Eoin and I will be visiting Boston, Rochester, Washington DC, St Louis, Chicago and Houston, and if you’re anywhere near any of those cities, it would be a DELIGHT to see you. 

Here’s the latest run-down of the public events of our tour, with contact details. As more info comes in, I’ll add it on my EVENTS page. 

The Hollow Boy - US Tour

Boston – Sunday, September 13, 2015 at 14.30

Tenacre Country Day School, 78 Benvenue Street Wellesley, MA 02482-5714

“Mega Awesome: London Calling - Rick Riordan, Jonathan Stroud & Eoin Colfer, organised by the Wellesley Bookstore”

Book tickets here: http://store.wellesleybooks.com/event/mega-awesome-london-calling-rick-riordan-jonathan-stroud-eoin-colfer

Rochester – Monday, September 14, 2015 at 19.00 - 21.00

Irondequoit Public Library, 1290 Titus Avenue, Irondequoit, NY

Greater Rochester Teen Read Week: Let’s All Meet Eoin Colfer and Jonathan Stroud!

For tickets call: 585-336-6060

Rochester – Tuesday, September 15, 2015 at 10.00 - 12.00 noon

Brighton Memorial Library, 2300 Elmwood Avenue, Rochester, NY

Greater Rochester Teen Read Week: Let’s All Meet Eoin Colfer and Jonathan Stroud!

For tickets call: 585-784- 5300

Washington DC - Tuesday, September 15, 2015 at 19.00

Event at Politics and Prose, 5015 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington DC 20008

Eoin Colfer and Jonathan Stroud present their new books at Politics and Prose

For tickets call: 202-362-2408

http://www.politics-prose.com/event/book/eoin-colfer-warp-book-3-forever-man-jonathan-stroud-lockwood-co-book-three-hollow-boy

St Louis - Wednesday, September 16, 2015 at 19.00

St. Louis County Library Headquarters Auditorium,1640 S Lindbergh Blvd, St. Louis, MO 63131

“Young Readers Showcase with Eoin Colfer, Ridley Pearson and Jonathan Stroud”

Call for more details: 314-994-3300

https://www.evensi.com/young-readers-showcase-featuring-eoin-colfer-ridley-pearson/158540626

Chicago - Thursday, September 17, 2015 at 19.00

Cossitt School, La Grange, Chicago, IL 60525,

‘An Evening with Eoin Colfer and Jonathan Stroud” organised by Anderson’s bookstore

For tickets call Anderson’s La Grange store: 708-582-6353

http://andersonsbkshp.tumblr.com

Texas - Friday, September 18, 2015 at 17.00

Blue Willow Bookshop, 14532 Memorial Drive, Houston, TX 77079

Eoin Colfer and Jonathan Stroud will discuss and sign THE FOREVER MAN and THE HOLLOW BOY, their new books for kids.

http://www.bluewillowbookshop.com/event/eoin-colfer-and-jonathan-stroud