Why I Started Wearing Makeup in 2026: A Journey of Confidence and Transformation
After a challenging 2025, I made an unexpected resolution for 2026 – to embrace makeup as part of my daily routine. This decision wasn’t about vanity or following trends; it was about rediscovering confidence and honoring wisdom shared by two remarkable mentors.
The Catalyst: A Difficult Year Behind Me
2025 was, to put it mildly, a rough year. Between my PhD corrections, work pressures, and personal challenges, I found myself struggling to maintain the confidence I once had. I was going through the motions, feeling disconnected from myself.
Two Teachers, One Message
The turning point came from an unexpected source during the Tzu Chi musical adaptation performance I joined. With 108 performers on stage, I was nervous about being in the spotlight. A dharma sister, noticing my hesitation, took me aside to help with makeup.
“Makeup isn’t about changing who you are,” she told me gently. “It’s about presenting your best self to the world. When you look confident, you feel confident.”
Her words resonated, but I didn’t act on them immediately. It wasn’t until my feng shui master mentioned something similar during a consultation that the message truly sank in. Two completely different contexts, two trusted guides, same wisdom – the universe was clearly trying to tell me something.
The Decision: No More Wasted Potential
Looking at my neglected makeup items collecting dust, I realized I was wasting more than just products. I was wasting opportunities to show up fully in my life. If I had these tools to boost my confidence, why wasn’t I using them?
So in 2026, I made a commitment: wear makeup to work every day. Not elaborate looks, just enough to feel put-together and intentional about how I presented myself to the world.
The Unexpected Transformation
The results surprised even me.
Within months of starting this practice, I secured a spot at the Google Hackathon – something I’d been working toward for years. Was it the makeup? Not directly. But the confidence it gave me showed up in how I presented my ideas, how I carried myself in interviews, and how I believed in my own capabilities.
Then came Code Without Barriers, another career milestone I’d been chasing. Again, the makeup wasn’t magic – but the version of me who took time for self-care each morning was more prepared to seize opportunities when they came.
More Than Cosmetics
My career trajectory has noticeably improved since I started this practice. But more importantly, I’ve reclaimed a sense of agency over my life. Taking those 10-15 minutes each morning to apply makeup has become a ritual of self-respect.
It’s not about the lipstick or the eyeshadow. It’s about the message I send myself every morning: “You’re worth the effort. You deserve to feel confident. You’re ready to face whatever comes.”
For Anyone Considering the Same Journey
If you’re skeptical about makeup (as I was), consider this: it’s not about conforming to beauty standards. It’s about finding tools that help you show up as your best self.
For me, that tool happened to be makeup. For you, it might be something else entirely – a particular outfit, a morning routine, a confidence mantra. The key is finding what helps you step into your power.
The dharma sister and the feng shui master were both right: confidence is a practice, not a personality trait. And sometimes, that practice starts with something as simple as not letting your makeup go to waste.
What’s your confidence ritual? I’d love to hear what helps you show up fully in your life.
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