I got addicted to makeup, hated my natural look- Mona

Umutoni Monalisa, the CEO Mona faces

She came, saw and conquered. Umutoni Monalisa, commonly known as Mona is the brain behind Mona Faces, a studio that took the makeup scene by storm.

When she started this journey in 2015, Mona reveals that she had to do a lot of practice on herself, to prove to clients that she was good at the job.

Makeup can prompt an array of sensations. It’s seductive, it’s indulgent, and it’s perhaps a bit pleasure-seeking. Mona reveals that with time, she got addicted to wearing several layers of makeup.

“My skin never had any issues. I have always had a good skin, but when I had just started doing make up, I had to do a lot of practice on myself. People had to see me order to trust that I am good at my job,” she revealed in a YouTube interview with Crystal Newman.

“Wearing makeup is fun. I found myself wearing make up every day. Not just powder and a simple foundation, but a full face with eyelash extensions, she added.

Slathering on mascara, cover-up, or blush doesn’t just increase how pleased a woman can feel about her appearance. Wearing makeup can significantly alter others’ perceptions of a woman’s personality.

“Time reached and I got addicted to myself looking like that. I could not look at myself in the mirror with no makeup. I would feel awkward. Even people who found me without make up would ask if I was sick, or if something was wrong.”

Accepting herself

Getting to a point where she can show up with no makeup or hair extensions has not come easy for the makeup artist. Mona says it has taken her a lot of time and hard work to get to that point.

Mona during an interview with Crystal Newman

“It has to do with my building my confidence over time, finding myself and owning who I am. At first when I dared myself to go a month without makeup, everyone thought I was sick, so I did it for just one day and gave up.”

But her point of no return, was when she chose to ignore what people said to her. Today Mona shows looking all natural, with just a simple lip balm and of course well shaped eyebrows.

On why some women get addicted to wearing makeup, Mona says, “Make up gives you that much confidence, and if it finds you in that phaze of not being so confident or trying to hide something. It gets worse.”