DIY Manicures Changed My Life

As a kid, I'd bite my nails whenever I was nervous. As I got older, I'd pick at my cuticles during panic attacks, completely unaware of what I was doing until my fingers were bleeding or infected.

But this isn't a post about dermatillomania (though I have been meaning to write one). It's not about bad habits from childhood, either. It's about how changing one little item in my beauty regimen has boosted my self esteem.

After an entirely sucky period in my life, I was left drained and insecure (especially in my appearance). I felt ugly more often than I felt acceptable, and I could probably count the number of days I spent feeling pretty on my hands.

I struggled my way back to self-love and self-confidence, but some days are still a battle. That's why the little things I do to make myself feel happy and beautiful are so important.

I recently began painting my nails; spending hours selecting a shade of polish, painting on coat after coat, covering it in glitter and admiring my handiwork. It's been worth it. This tiny change in how I take care of myself physically (and, I suppose, splurge on nail lacquer from time to time) makes me feel good.

What little something do you treat yourself to for an ego boost?

Image Source: RebeccaEsther.com

How To: Look Gorgeous Without Makeup

A happily makeup-free Becca, with her love, Kamen.

I first started wearing make-up in junior high. It began with super-girly pink lipsticks and pastel eye shadows, then progressed to Goth-esque red lips and tons of eyeliner. I've definitely toned down my look since then, to the point that instead of 'putting on my face' every morning, I sometimes step away from the cosmetics completely.

The idea of going without oodles of black eyeliner used to petrify me. A lot of girls are afraid to be seen without makeup, and with good reason: we're expected to look perfect at all times-- slender, stretch mark-free, poised and polished, like the pages of a magazine. So can we afford to skimp on makeup?

Absolutely.

Here are some ways to rock the no makeup look.

1  Take care of your skin. Moisturize daily, exfoliate regularly + be sure to drink lots of water.

2  Groom those eyebrows. Extensive tweezing or waxing is not required-- simply pluck enough to enhance your brows' natural shape. This will give your face more definition and draw attention to your stunning eyes + cheekbones.

3  Most important of all: confidence is key! Know that you are beautiful + you do not have to look like a supermodel. In real life, even supermodels don't look like supermodels! Pounds of makeup and tons of photoshop contribute to that flawless look-- a look that's 100% unattainable. Even if it were possible to look that way, would we want to?

Your inner beauty shows outwardly, with or without makeup + a confident smile is more compelling than any computer-generated, idealized image ever will be.