You Don’t Have to Wear False Lashes

People often ask why I don’t wear false lashes. After all, falsies, eyeliner, and circle lenses are the holy trinity of making your eyes look bigger. Eye shadow? Not really—it rarely enlarges the eyes, especially when it’s something like blue. But here’s the truth: I wear blue eye shadow and skip lashes not because I’m anti-pretty—but because I enjoy the act of makeup more than the result of fitting into a “beauty formula.” Of course, I’m not above vanity or the pressures of appearance. I’ve worn the formula—fake lashes, sculpted shadows, overlined lips, even high-arched brows. It looked good. It looked like her. But it didn’t look like me. I analyzed every “flaw”: Was it my puffy eyelids? Long philtrum? Should I contour harder? Change everything? But with every tweak, I felt more lost. More detached from myself. I even tried stopping makeup altogether—thinking maybe that would fix the dissonance. It didn’t. I missed the fun. If I followed the formulas, I’d say: puffy lids need falsies. Olive skin needs coral blush. Thick lips can’t wear purple. But when I actually do all that? It doesn’t land. Truth is, falsies flatten my eyes. Heavy blush clashes with my undertone. And yes, my lips are full and my mouth slightly protrudes—but those same lips once won me a watermelon-eating contest. That has to count for something. I’m not saying the formula’s wrong. It’s just not law. You can follow it. Or not. You’re allowed to make your own rules. Makeup isn’t a competition—it’s a conversation with yourself. And in that quiet space, I’ve found a little freedom. #beauty #makeup #eyemakeup