Janetta Mackay: No Way I'm Going Nude

Viva
Antonio Berardi AW15. Picture / Eeva Rinne, British Fashion Council.

I had been sitting at my computer for a few hours, without a skerrick of makeup on my beauty editor mug, until the usual writing procrastination took me upstairs with a new mascara to try. How handy, not, to have those tempting beauty products lying about on my desk waiting to be tested.

As anyone who works from home will attest, avoiding distractions is hard work, although I can at least claim my distractions are often work related – albeit badly prioritised. Putting on make-up is one of them. I’m happy enough to start the day by walking the dog wearing only sunscreen, but I prefer to delay stepping out to add a bit of foundation, mascara and lipstick to the face that fronts the world.

It’s important to feel comfortable with how you look, both in and out of makeup – and in and out of the house – but having written a recent spate of Viva stories about the whole “no makeup” look, it’s feels high time to take cover and admit that’s so not me. Sure, sometimes I can’t be bothered, but when I do I feel better for it, even if I’m only presenting myself to the screen. I particularly love wearing bright lipstick. Just now, I wasted more time during which I should have been writing to look for a red one I wanted to give a go.

However this sounds, my approach is mostly low maintenance, but I do figure if you are applying makeup it doesn’t hurt if people can actually see it. Either the good results from making your skin look better than it actually is – without being too obvious – which is my takeaway from the “no makeup” look, or just for fun and a fillip to your appearance.

Last weekend I tested the theory on an old friend. She felt dull and washed out. She looked a bit that way too, but nothing we didn’t easily remedy. Her colouring is similar to mine, so it was easy to sort some options. It wasn’t about taking her into unfamiliar territory, she has a corporate job and regularly wears makeup, but a few quick updates with more suitable products that are effective and easy to use had her going away feeling refreshed.

Nude is all very well, but don’t strip off if you feel exposed. Colour is enlivening, especially at a certain age and when chosen correctly.

Share this article:

Featured