Renfrew asks women to forgo makeup for a day

    Foundation, mascara, rouge: Many women use makeup to enhance their features and add a splash of color. But according to new research, for some, makeup is a way to conceal poor self-image. A local organization is asking women to go without makeup on Monday.

    In a survey of more than 1,000 women, Philadelphia’s Renfrew Center Foundation found that 44 percent feel badly about themselves when not wearing makeup. Half said they wear makeup to hide flaws.

    Philadelphia art student Aimee Gilmore says she used to wear makeup to mask her insecurities.

    “I felt that I looked very ugly, very sad, very unsure of myself,” Gilmore said.

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    The “barefaced and beautiful” campaign is meant as a way to start a conversation about makeup, beauty and self-image, says Leslie Toomer from the Renfrew Center.

    “We should really not be relying on outside factors like makeup to make us feel pretty, or to make us feel good about ourselves, or to make us feel accepted,” Toomer said.

    The center is launching this campaign as part of “Eating Disorders Awareness Week” because poor self-image is a risk factor for developing eating disorders.

    They are asking participants to post pictures of themselves without makeup on their social media sites.

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