You know what surprises me sometimes? The number of people who tell me I look beautiful. And here’s the twist—I’ve never worn makeup. Not once in my daily life. Not for work, not for events. I’m not against it at all. In fact, I admire those who can carry it so effortlessly. But somehow, makeup and I just never hit it off.

Let me take you back to the beginning of this unusual relationship—or should I say, non-relationship—with makeup.

It was my wedding day. May. Hot, sweaty, typical Indian summer. And there I was—young, innocent, clueless about how makeup behaves in heat. I didn’t know a thing about touch-ups or fixing smudges. Every time my face felt sweaty (which was often), I wiped it. Like a little girl who didn’t know she was melting her entire look. And honestly, by the end of the day, I probably looked like a cross between a tired clown and a lost schoolgirl. That experience stayed with me longer than my bridal glow. I never touched makeup again after that.

Fast forward to three years ago—my brother’s wedding. I thought, Let’s give it another shot. Maybe things had changed. Maybe I had changed. I went to a professional, got the full look done, spent a good amount of money… and then looked in the mirror.

Who was that? Because it definitely wasn’t me.

I tried to go with it for a while, smiled through the photos and rituals. But inside, I just felt off. Disconnected. As soon as I could, I quietly slipped away and washed it all off. And in that moment, I felt like myself again.

It’s not a statement. I’m not trying to prove a point. I just genuinely feel more me without makeup. I don’t know how to sugarcoat things, be it in words or on my skin. I like showing up as I am—barefaced, but confident. Honest, but soft.

And maybe, just maybe, that’s the glow people see. A glow that doesn’t come from highlighters or foundations, but from comfort. From alignment. From being real.

Do I mind makeup on others? Not at all. I love watching people play with colors and looks—it’s an art. It’s just not my canvas. I’ve lived more than half my life this way, and I don’t see that changing anytime soon.

But hey, if someday I do walk into a salon and say, “Let’s do this,” I’ll be open to seeing that version of me too. Until then, I’ll continue embracing the skin I’m in. Because when I look in the mirror, I like who I see. And that, for me, is beautiful.