Natural Beauty- Where has your appeal gone?

Born on October 5, 1990; I, Star B, has always been a fan of *Natural Beauty*. Since I was a little girl I always thought that make-up was a good source of Beauty/Fashion........If you are a celebrity that is. I never understood why make-up was sooooo important to girls around me (more likely at school) .Growing up in the 1990's and new millennium, we grew up with matured adolescences whether that's sexually or physically quite early. Myself, being the once beloved basketball star, didn't want nor see any reason for wearing make-up. After all I was a pre-teen (10-12) and a full teenager like I am now (13-19). What I meant by make-up being so important to girls around me at school is that the girls in my neighborhood, didn't get the opportunity to purchase or have make-up purchased for us therefore, we didn't wear make-up. The other girls who did wear it saw it as a NECESSITY that they couldn't and didn't want to live without, LOL! I recall having a plethora of conversations with them asking why wear make-up at such small ages.....around this time I was about 14. Their reasoning would be "Because that what celebrities do" or "Because it makes me feel older" and the most infamous, "To get or to impress guys". Talk about a need for more feminine esteem, right?! Lol.

To each his own, but just like I feel that make-up can make or break you and is a necessary thing for numerous occasions, I don't agree on girls engaging in 'making themselves up' just to catch the eye of any man. For he shall be interested in you and your character, rather the oils, mineral and chemicals on your face.

I've always had to deal with problems relating to the pigment of my skin, in other terms, my complexion. I'm a fairly dark skinned young lady but with skin as smooth and soft as a baby's bottom!! :)

Men tell me all over that I have pretty, beautiful skin even though I have battled myself for years about my complexion (I never did except it, but I'm maturing now). May I add that I have NEVER used any type of make-up, skin cream, nor beauty enhancements.

Yes, I know not everyone can be born with great skin, but after going to school with plenty of 'Make-up Needy' girls, I've come to the conclusion that make up is partially to blame for tarnished and acne problem skin types.

Kim, one of the make-up girls, was in my 6th grade literature class and HAD....no exceptions, she HAD to wear make-up to cover the damage on her face due to using make-up consecutively at a young age. In case you're wondering, we were 12 in the 6th grade.

I'm only 19 years old now, and a college student may I add, and you'd think that make-up would matter a lot here. If I'm going to class, going on a date or just hanging out with my friends at a club, I still get the same treatment from men and others with or without it.

My picture above is a view of how well my skin is without any enhancements like make-up, therefore arguing that you don't have to use make-up to be 'Made Up' :)

I'm not saying or concluding that the use of make-up is bad or something that I disagree with but I just want to put out the idea that 'Make-Up' isn't a necessity of life for a young woman.