It’s the morning after Election Day, and I’m scared. The nation’s future hangs in the balance as votes flip states from red to blue and back again. As I write this, I’m live-streaming the news in the background and paying more attention to it than I probably should. I have a wine glass that’s becoming sticky with abandoned rosé sitting on my desk from last night. I haven’t brushed my hair, and I’m lucky that I mustered the strength to wash my face and put on sunscreen this morning. That being said, my beauty routine is virtually nonexistent for the time being — but that’s OK.
At this time (Tuesday, at 11AM EST), electoral polls favor a Biden win. Nevertheless, Trump still has a one-in-ten chance at re-election. It’s hard to focus on anything other than what the final verdict will be, especially with police sirens blaring nonstop from the ground below my 30th-floor studio apartment. Political unrest wasn’t unexpected, but I didn’t imagine that it would be this loud.
Even though today is …complicated…I still have to do my job as a beauty editor. It’s my duty to test products, talk to experts, and scour social media to learn about celeb beauty routines. But the fact of the matter is that makeup isn’t a priority right now. As my co-workers and I scroll through my Instagram feed in pursuit of up-to-date beauty news, we’ve noticed that many celebs have traded glam for messy buns and natural skin. They’ve ditched the eye makeup and have traded their accessories for “I Voted” stickers and voting-inspired merch. All I can say is thank God, because I’m clearly doing the same.
Celebs have used their social media influence to get people to the polls, but they’ve also normalized everyday beauty. Seeing Halsey snap an up-close photo of her face with sleep residue still in the corner of her eye makes me feel better about sleeping twenty minutes past my alarm today. And watching Selena Gomez go makeup-free to chat with Stacey Abrams on Instagram is exactly what I need to do for my Zoom meeting this afternoon. It’s refreshing to see that we’re living in a time when celebs don’t feel the need to look good when they’re feeling bad.
We’re all different; I know that. Some stars are still rocking a full face of makeup right now, and I would never condemn them for it. I’m well aware that many people swear by a ten-step skincare or makeup routine to catch some zen and if that’s your thing, then please carry on. Beauty only matters right now if it brings you joy. If it doesn’t, then ditch it.
This essay might not have been what you expected to find while trying to distract yourself from the world’s happenings this morning, but I’m just trying to be real with you. I want you to know that we at GRAZIA don’t expect you to be your best self right now. Not to be corny as hell, but we’re all in this together. It might not be pretty, but that’s OK.
