We Need to Talk About Makeup and Empowerment

The sky was still dark, but my alarm was buzzing relentlessly. I rolled over, grumbling in protest, and opened one eye to check the time. 5:30 a.m. Better get started. In my early years of high school, each day began with a ritual-a ritual that will probably be familiar to many women. I reached into my bag of tricks and transformed my face from sleepy 15-year-old to hallway-ready. Foundation, powder, blush, eye shadow, eyeliner, mascara, and a touch of lip-gloss to top it all off. While I was finishing up my makeup routine, I would heat up my straightener, ready to flatten out my natural waves and destroy my ends in the name of a little extra shine. By the time I walked out the door, I was not the same girl who hid her face in the pillow at the sound of her alarm. <a href="https://medium.com/athena-talks/we-need-to-talk-about-makeup-and-empowerment-ae9d82ff2012">Read More</a>