I would have never posted this photo a year ago, but I faced my fears and posted a “no makeup selfie” to Instagram.
A few weeks ago I watched Jordin Sparks on the Today Show go bare and embrace natural beauty. She said it made her feel more confident and posted photos and went in public without makeup as part of their Love Your Selfie series. This inspired me and I have LONG been a beauty junkie, tanning, piling on the makeup, wearing fake lashes and extensions and I’m not really sure what happened but now I am just over it.
I really feel great when wearing a lot of makeup, but the heavy foundation ruined my skin. Lashes ruined my eye lashes. So to fix these, I had to get facials and now am using Latisse to fix my lashes.
Bottom line is, was it really worth it? To ruin my face just to look more pretty? Not really. So I am now trying to embrace a new kind of beautiful and to me, I now think less is more.
So after getting monthly facials with the AMAZING Shani Darden since October, she has really made me feel confident to go without makeup. She also does Jessica Alba and Rosie Huntington Whitely. If you are in the LA area I would HIGHLY recommend visiting her.
If it wasn’t for her, there is 100% no way I would feel OK to go without makeup. Having a great skincare routine and a clear complexion, makes it bearable to go out of the house without a cake face. This my key to feeling confident without makeup.
I’ll share my products in another post, but for each person this is different. Meeting with an esthetician to get a customized routine for you is really the best route. It is an investment, but totally worth it. I never knew I was using all the wrong products!
Anyway back to the point of this post, I did this because after only posting photos with a full face of makeup, I wanted to share that I’m a real person too, that doesn’t need to be glammed all the time. I have dark spots, acne scars and dark circles too. But despite that, and without all the glam, to be confident to show off how you look in your natural skin. I don’t want girls to feel like you need to really be this perfect person with a bunch of makeup to look and feel great about yourself and it isn’t really reality.
As I have worn less makeup, my skin texture and appearance has improved. Guys compliment me more on wearing no makeup and honestly it is much less time consuming!
I got tons of great support and feedback and wanted to share them, because that was really the whole point of the photo, to inspire others to embrace their own beauty and be happy in their skin.
@vanessajoylehman Real women love this. And real women would never disrespect this kind of natural beauty.
@ldavis423 Love you for posting this. Inspiring self confidence!
@swatts887 @marianna_hewitt u go girl! Beautiful!! Some ppl are such haters but good for u for posting this bcuz we all are our true selves under the makeup 
I also got this touching message from a girl on Instagram. This meant so much to me that a post like this could have this much of an affect on someone. That really is what this post was about, so if you felt this way too I am truly so grateful and happy I could help you feel more confident!
And this is what I was hoping would come from the photo. To inspire others to feel confident in their skin. Am I perfect? No. Will I ever be? No. I will age, I will get wrinkles, I will get another pimple, I will be glam again and wear tons of makeup at some point – but at the end of the day I really do feel more beautiful without all the stuff on my face. It took time, but I felt confident enough to post this photo and not be ashamed to be bare faced.
I hope you guys take this and decide to post a makeup free selfie too or to feel OK walking out the door in the morning with just a bit of mascara. Embrace who you are, take care of your skin and know no matter how you look you are beautiful.
You are just as gorgeous without the make-up! Cosmetics are purely an “enhancement” of our natural beauty and features! On my days off, I am always bare-skinned to allow my skin to breathe renew itself! Thank you for posting! xx
thanks Angela!!!
you’re so inspirational marianna! I always spackle on the makeup-and like you, my skin and lashes have taken a beating. I’m definitely considering taking the ‘less is more’ pledge. You go girl!
-Liz
appreciate it so much liz!! glad you are doing the same
You look fabulous without makeup! I am happy you are embracing your true beauty. More women need to see this so that they too can feel comfortable in their own skin sans makeup!
I would love to know more about your transition back to balayage/ombre hair color! I have recently dyed my hair lighter (after always dying it dark), so I would love to hear about your experience and the products you use to maintain/preserve the color!
XO,
http://www.brittanymichele.net/
I almost messaged you the other week as i feel all this focus on makeup and looking a certain way is not positive for the next generation of girls. Thankfully when i was in my teens i did not feel pressure for these things but now i am coming up to 34 there seems to be so much emphasis on looking perfect its unreal. Its even affecting me and at times i can feel extremely depressed because i dont like something about myself. Its a sad sad world when everything comes down to what you look like. Dont get me wrong i adore makeup and can watch tutorials for hours. Anyway to cut a long story short i just think you look fab with your natural skin and lashes x
….oh and just an add on….you look so much younger without makeup too!!!! x
I commend you for becoming aware of your own naked beauty and realizing your platform. I’m a reporter too and I know what it’s like to get caught up in this whirlwind of hair, makeup, fashion etc..then you take that to social media and you have to live up to whatever “face” you had while working. The most important thing is you aren’t afraid anymore…you’re gorgeous and maybe now the millions of girls and women that look up to you will feel a bit better about embracing their own natural beauty! keep it up Mar!
Marianna,
I think posting a make-up less pic is beautiful and inspiring . You are a great role-model who is clearly beautiful with and without makeup. Thanks for being so open and honest, its probably one of the many reasons I, along with so many other people enjoy reading your blog! Tons of love from CT
xoxox
– Maria
Hey Marianna! I am in love with the floral jersey you put on instagram, and I am desperate to get a hold of it. I can’t find it on boohoo.com or anywhere else. Do you have the style name or a link to the jersey?? I hope, you can help!
Thank you for an amazing blog
Love from Denmark
You look beautiful with or without make up!!
You look AMAZING! You’re gorgeous!
hi thank youu for posting your pic simetimes i feel like without my mask im not me and that makes me sad because makeup shouldnt define women we are beautiful without all the stuff . i love uu
Love this post! Your skin is glowing and looks great! When will you be posting about the products you use?
Had latisse helped your lashes? I just stopped using lash extensions as well and it ruined my lashes and I was thinking of using latisse aswell
Didnlatisse work .. My eyelashes are currently ruined from extentions and literally barely there ! I need something that works and fast !!