Traveling without make-up in Asia

by Amanda/Backpacking Tips Asia
(Oslo, Norway)

What are your must-have make-up while backpacking in Asia? Do you have any? Do you wear make-up at all while backpacking in Asia?

On my first backpacking trip in Asia, I had packed everything and wore the full package: concealer, mascara, powder, eyeliner and rouge. I wore this at home, so quitting wearing make-up abroad was just out of the question.

I mean come on, I gotta look great while backpacking! ;-)

Well, the result: It all melt away. Due to the humid climate in Asia, the make-up just... evaporated. Seriously, it didn't look good and all it did was clogging my pores. After a month I just quit wearing full make-up, even mascara. OK, I felt naked without it, people could actually see the real me. And THAT was freaking me out.





Me wearing make-up in Chiang Mai, Thailand


But frankly it was also liberating to not wear make-up. And with time, I kind of got used to not wearing make-up and I didn't even miss it. As long as I cleansed my face, brushed my teeth and used deodorant, I felt good. I no longer needed make-up to feel good.

So, it's all about making a new habit. If you're backpacking for a while, you'll get used to it.

Of course, If I'm having a really bad day while traveling; hangover, bad night and don't want to look like a junkie, I apply a little concealer under the eyes. I maybe throw in an eyeliner or some mineral powder for dinners and parties. But that's it.





Without make-up in India

Just because I don't use make-up, doesn't mean make-up itself is totally alien in Asia. On the contrary, lots of Asian women wear make-up despite the tropical climate. They also use skin-whitening products to lighten their skin. There's a "beauty pressure" in Asia, but in a different way than the Western version. Westerners like to get tanned, while Asians like to get lighter. Ironic, huh?

Like they would say in Southeast Asia: "Same, same but different."

When I returned home, I felt it was weird returning to my make-up routine again. Those 20-25 minutes I used in the morning to apply make-up were greek to me. When I got back to Oslo I didn't wear make-up for at least 2-3 months. I used those extra minutes to sleep or make a good breakfast. It didn't take long though before I was applying powder and rouge again.

I got to admit that if you're surrounded by vanity, it's hard to ignore it. You slowly become part of it (again). And honestly, old habits die hard.




Amanda

Posted: March 03, 2013

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