XO Jane Morning Faces Project: Women Reveal What They Look Like When They Wake Up

A few months back our friends over at XOJane.com asked readers to send in photographs of their bare, unphotoshopped bellies, along with brief notes about how they felt about those bellies. If you saw the result, you know: It was both brave and totally fascinating.

This week XOJane revisited the theme by asking women to submit photos of what they look like when they wake up in the morning, pre-shower, pre-makeup (unless they're still wearing last night's), totally uncensored. (To encourage participation, the XOJane staff published pics of what their own faces look like when the alarm goes off.)

Once again, the results are pretty awesome. Visit XOJane to see all 75 faces, but here's a preview:

SLIDESHOW: What I Look Like First Thing In The Morning

 

Follow Margaret Wheeler Johnson on Twitter: www.twitter.com/mwjohnso

Comments

[Delia Yeager]

05:28 PM on 02/28/2012

totally beautiful. actually beautiful. like Kate Winslet beautiful, but moreso. real is so much more beautiful. present is the most alluring, attractive thing there is.

[lensamy]

11:37 AM on 02/09/2012

when i first get up in the morning i usually look like i was hit by a truck, puffy eyes, straight/curly hair you name it...not pretty lol but oh well still me! lol

[Stephanie Gustafson]

10:34 PM on 02/07/2012

I don't think Julie looks 41 at all...I would've guessed 30-32 :)

[B Peter Brandt-Sorheim]

02:28 PM on 02/07/2012

I am not much concerned about how the woman next to me looks when she wakes up provided that a) she is my wife and b) she is glad to see me. My dad remains my model of real macho: Macho is not how many women you can do, but how well you do by the woman you have.

[BlueBird55]

03:02 PM on 02/05/2012

Lipstick and rouge, makeup and paint
Make a woman what she ain't.

[Anne Peterson]

02:32 AM on 02/07/2012

Love it

[husky22]

03:50 PM on 02/03/2012

I was skeptical at first, but these people actually look very cute!

[Lovenhugs]

12:55 PM on 02/03/2012

Kind of reminded me of some mug shots we have seen online over the years.

[sogeill]

04:02 AM on 02/03/2012

You must be logged in to comment.

[she says stroke her ego]

05:47 PM on 02/02/2012

Number 7 looks good!

[Allena Tapia]

01:49 PM on 02/02/2012

julie has on lipstick

[Julie Armstrong Sullivan]

03:57 PM on 02/03/2012

No lipstick, just naturally red. :)

[librarianesque]

12:44 PM on 02/02/2012

Enjoyed this article and the pics. As an ex-diva in recovery, I have stopped 'wasting makeup' for runs to the coffee shop and grocery store, everyday stuff. I'm finding that I prefer to be without, and get more attention from the opposite sex without it. I like the message about appreciating your individual beauty and being comfortable with yourself, first thing in the AM or not.

[MexiChick67]

03:13 AM on 02/02/2012

This is why the first thing I do when I wake up is B-line it to the bathroom. Get my hair in check with a handy-dandy hair tie and brush the teeth. Let the day begin.

[traceymarie]

04:31 PM on 02/03/2012

can't brush my teeth till after I had my coffee.

[DavidEvan]

08:04 PM on 02/01/2012

Yawn

[gamorrison]

03:43 PM on 02/01/2012

Loved this article! This is an insightful new perspective on the harmful media created beauty standards that permeate popular culture. How about a follow-up piece where these same women are allowed to be realistically presented as they might wish to be seen during a regular day in their lives? I'd especially enjoy reading what 'Kiah' (aka Morning Face #1) might have to say about the beauty paradox. Oh...and I wouldn't mind discovering what her regular every day look turns out to be either : )

[imonlyhereforthelaughs]

09:52 AM on 02/01/2012

Any non-hungover or post surgery photos?