Makeup-free Mondays

Casual Fridays has a new sister! Web site The Beauty Bean announced this month the commencement of their "Makeup Free Mondays" movement, the beauty and wellness website’s latest effort in their mission to remind women of the importance of real and inner beauty, promote better body image, prevent eating disorders and encourage conversations about the unrealistic body ideals currently promoted and prevalent in the United States. Beyond foregoing makeup on Mondays, The Beauty Bean also encourages women to donate unopened, fresh makeup to their local women’s shelter, Dress for Success or similar women’s program.

"Here at The Beauty Bean, we all obviously have a deep love for our makeup and beauty goods. That being said, we ultimately value inner beauty and wellness considerably more than we do our smudge-free mascara. This Makeup Free Mondays movement is our way of letting women across the country express their support of these commitments in their own lives, in a tangible way while giving back to other women in their communities," says founder Alexis Wolfer.

Another reason to tone down the makeup - beauty experts say that as we age, we need less makeup, not more!

How to Show Your Support:

1. Don’t wear makeup on Mondays (or use less for those who need to do this in baby steps).

2. Stop apologizing for not wearing makeup, no matter what day of the week it is.

3. Organize official Makeup Free Mondays at your school, place of employment or with your friends.

4. Encourage conversations about real beauty and better body image within your own families and friendships.

5. Share your photos with TheBeautyBean.com via Facebook and on Twitter @thebeautybean with the hash tag #makeupfreemondays

6. Donate unopened and unexpired makeup to your local women’s shelter, Dress for Success chapter or similar women’s program. Though TheBeautyBean.com focuses on inner beauty, they know that the confidence a polished look can give is something all women deserve.