In this day and age, sometimes it’s difficult to remember what people look like without their usual social media filter or vast amounts of make-up plastered on their face. It must be a total culture shock to go travelling with just the items on your back and no room for a suitcase of beauty products.
We wanted to know what it would be like to go from a self-confessed, short-skirt-wearing full-face-of-make-up heels-24/7 city girl to a natural sundrenched traveller carrying nothing but the clothes on her back and dirtied feet from barefoot living. So we’ve asked ex-admin slave turned nomad, Lauren about the big change.
1. What was the thing you changed most between city life and travel life?
Probably my shopping style, the way I see myself and other women. It became hugely noticeable in between travelling when I’d come home, how much make up women wear these days. I don’t think I noticed it very much before. I suppose I learnt to recognise peoples’ natural beauty.
2. How has this changed your outlook on beauty products and fashion?
I definitely judge products on durability and comfiness, as opposed to statements of fashion these days. Heels are a pretty rare thing in my life now, whereas I used to wear them day in day out. You would NEVER catch me in a pair of flats unless they were my slippers. And with beauty products, I invest in very few. Just a simple, trusted face wash, moisturiser and lip balm is all I need.
3. How have you changed?
Well my body has changed the most. My office-life pancake bum has toned up, I’ve grown hips and my arms, legs and core have become much stronger. Active living has changed my body so much more than any diet I tried ever did. I also no longer wear a full-face of make up each day. I reserve it now only for special occasions and have rekindled myself with touching my face and rubbing my eyes again so even if I wanted to, I wouldn’t be good at actually wearing make up any more.
And obviously my outlook has changed. I don’t feel the same pressures that I used to. I wouldn’t leave the house without wearing some kind of make-up but now the thought doesn’t even cross my head. I suppose travelling helps to put your brain in perspective and allows you to see the bigger picture. In reality, it really doesn’t matter if someone down the road sees my real life eyebrows.
4. What would your advice be to women going travelling?
You really don’t need to take make up. In other countries you just don’t feel the same pressures that you do at home to look good. It’s not really about that when you’re travelling anyway. And you end up looking a different kind of good anyway – happy and adventurous good instead of glammed up fake good.
5. Do you miss getting dressed up?
Not really. It’s all a lot of effort for something that will end up smudged all over my pillow. I do enjoy dolling myself up for special events and it almost makes it more of a special occasion because of that.
6. What are the benefits of living make up free?
Well it’s cheaper that’s for sure! You don’t have to carry as much stuff with you, you take less time to get ready and your skin benefits from it hugely! It definitely gives you a big self-confidence boost and actually makes you very accepting of yourself.
7. How has your wardrobe changed?
Dramatically! I’ve gone from chiffon shirts to oversized men’s t-shirts. It’s always comfort over tight waist bands these days. But that doesn’t mean I don’t enjoy my clothes anymore, I just have found a new appreciation of them.
8. What’s your favourite item of clothing?
My Bro! snowboarding hoody. I can cocoon myself in it. Or my floaty black midi skirt that’s perfect for hot weather.
9. What’s your favourite shoe?
My trusty vans. Although they’re not that grippy on rocks and things like that, they definitely are a comfortable travelling shoe.
10. Could you ever go back to city life?
Definitely not. The thought of the effort I used to put into my hair actually makes me tired. I also think I wasted a lot of my time worrying over how I looked and I think that was down to a lack of self-confidence or approval of myself. Going make-up free on my travels has helped me appreciate my body. I nurture it and take care of it now, rather than covering it up and forcing it into clothes that in hindsight probably weren’t that comfortable.
I find it bizarre that I let my image of myself, quite often, dictate my life for me. Now I’ve let go of those worries and embrace the way I look naturally there’s room for so many other things!
Sounds like you made the right choice then lol!