A morning fight with the mirror is a regular occurrence for university students. Whether it’s due to an all-nighter to finish that paper or becoming the beer pong champion last night, the person staring back at you the morning after often looks a little more haggard than you remember.

Putting the pieces back together can often be a struggle but women have something at their disposal that can make it easier: makeup. Like a magic marker, makeup can erase those tell-tale dark circles and make it look like you got eight hours of sleep when in fact you only got two. There can be too much of a good thing, however, and too much makeup can make someone look like she belongs on Jersey Shore instead of at university.

Girls are introduced to the concept of wearing makeup as early as 12 years old and with each passing year the idea of wearing makeup becomes more and more acceptable. While some girls will fall into the habit of wearing makeup on a regular basis, there are also those who refuse to wear any. For every woman who spends hours in front of the mirror primping to perfection, there is a woman who can’t be bothered to put on more than chapstick. It’s always a personal choice whether or not to wear makeup and there are pros and cons to each side.

Makeup is an easy way to have fun with how you look, as well as an easy way to look put-together. However, makeup can be time-consuming and often the idea of hitting the snooze button is much more appealing than getting up to curl one’s eyelashes.

In the makeup versus no-makeup debate, I fall squarely in the middle. While I love makeup, I also feel perfectly fine leaving the house without any on. It always seems odd when women insist on wearing makeup everywhere they go. The most obvious example is the need to wear makeup to the gym, as it will either wear off or run down your face within five minutes of setting foot on a treadmill. Neither of these are particularly appealing options, but every time I go to the PAC I see at least a handful of girls wearing makeup, which always makes me wonder why they feel the need to do so.

There is a line between liking to wear makeup and needing to wear makeup. Wearing makeup can be an easy confidence boost but it should never become the sole source. If going outside without makeup starts to become the stuff of nightmares, there’s a problem. Wearing makeup should never become a security blanket that is needed to face the world. There’s no reason to be terrified of leaving the house without makeup on — in fact, it should be embraced.

Makeup-free Monday is an easy challenge to accept. If you’re more adventurous, try going a week without it. In a culture that seeks perfection, it can be difficult to feel comfortable in your own skin but being comfortable going to class or to work without makeup can be the first step to getting there.

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Photo: re_/Flickr