Make up

I have never worn makeup, I think all makeup looks weird and clownish. My husband agrees so I don’t waste the time and money on it!

@MiniTheMinx mate you’re overthinking it. I’m pretty sure no other woman is thinking anything like that about your make up = you have insecurities (or not!) and that makes them friendlier towards you. No offence (and I genuinely mean no offence)but you’re not that important. No one thinks that deeply about another casual acquaintance bc they just simply don’t have time. Everyone has a rich inner life and most other people don’t factor too deeply on that scale.

if the increased friendliness was to do with costume/wearing make up, it was probably just an entry into rapport building.

Idgaf if other people choose to wear make up, but for me personally I don't think I look objectively "better" with (or without!) make up on, I just look different. I'm pretty casual in my dress sense, and for me, make up doesn't suit my usual look. If I'm glammed up for a night out I would consider it as it would work with the outfit (albeit at present I think I would only have one ancient dried up eye shadow anyway!).

I think it's probably habit forming. If I'd got used to wearing it I'd be more familiar with how to put it on, so it would be quicker, etc. At which point maybe I'd wear it more often because it was part of the routine if that makes sense. Because it's not part of my routine, the idea of starting something that costs money and means getting up earlier is a no-go 😁

Yes every day, even if I'm just at home. It takes me 5-10 minutes and is just part of my morning routine.

I rarely wear it because I can't be arsed and with two small children, I have about 1.5 minutes to get ready in the morning.

Does that help?

I discovered something odd last year. I belong to a society who put on a public event each year. We all dress up in costumes. I don't wear much make up, and when I have I've always worn very little and kept it natural. Last year I went all out and wore a fairly dramatic night time look. For the first year ever most of the other women were friendly towards me. In the past I'd spent the evening with my husband and a group of guys and none of their wives even so much as smiled at me! I think it boils down to two things.....I look good without make up, and have the confidence and audacity to 'know' it, how dare I be comfortable in my own skin, and secondly I do indeed look older with it, but perhaps most pertinent with it I fit into the club because I signal to others I do indeed have some insecurity and lower self esteem.

It was odd because I'd always assumed the opposite. But mostly it's more to do with the fact I just can't be bothered with make up and wear just enough to look like I've made some effort. So in reality I do care what others think, but probably do look better without it, but will continue to wear just enough to feel "I've made some effort" and somehow wearing more of it seemed to convey to others that I lacked confidence.

We've all noticed those naturally beautiful people who look beautiful without even trying. I'd love to be one of them. But since I'm not, and most of us aren't either I think I'll just settle for acceptance and it seems I'm more acceptable to other women if I wear make up.

I wear make up for me, not for my partner. Plus he prefers me without anyway. I look older when I wear eyeliner etc as most people do. At work I definitely don't bother, only if I'm going out somewhere nice nowadays.

I second @TheOGCCL ’s review of the Romand Lip Stains. Also love their Ash mascara. It’s dark grey and would stay on through a hurricane. (Needs to be removed with oil)

On the one hand I am fully aware that we have been manipulated to the hilt, driven by the need to keep repopulating and the value our society places on youth and fertility. If women feel content as they are, well done to them, particularly if they are not naturally, conventionally attractive. It takes a lot to tune out our conditioning. It would probably help us all if more of us could do this.

On the other like the OP said, it’s just makes me feel better and I wear some make up every day just to gently enhance what nature gave me to stop me looking like the sick kid out of The Secret Garden.

I wear lip stains that I get from South Korea (Highly recommend Romand brand) and that’s about it. I may, if I feel like it, add a bit of pencil eyeshadow, but lip stain is enough for me. I don’t wear foundation but think I don’t need to and have never found a colour that I felt suited me or didn’t cause break-outs after a few hours. I’m happy with my skincare routine of moisturising micellar water, moisturising toners, essences, and sunscreen which takes me about five minutes to do start to finish with my lip stain at the end. My skin is relatively clear and glowy and I prefer a natural face with a bold lip. I do enjoy watching make-up tutorials on YT, and would probably do a touch more if I felt up to doing so or going somewhere that I felt warranted it. Tbh, the thought of having to remove more than my lip stain and sunscreen is off-putting and too much of a hassle.

I wear makeup every day of the week. Would not dream of even going to the local shop without it. I wear it for me. Husband doesn't care whether I wear it or not.

Very true, as soon as I read the OP I thought... here we go!

I do. The only days I don't is if I'm 100% not going to leave the house, in which case I'll do some kind of skincare treatment like a mask etc.

Just a bb cream and blusher, and filling eyebrows a bit

Well agreed. It's not like I spend the time I'm not putting makeup on reading russian novels 😆

Good job I don't GAF what random men "prefer" with regard to my face then.

I’m not stunning. Nor do I need to wear my feminist credentials on my face. And I can be free and still wear lipstick. Meanwhile I don’t judge other women for what they do to their faces. Try it. It's a great way to live.

I don't need make up to feel stunning, it's taken a lot of years working through some serious internalised misogyny to realise that. Honestly, it's so freeing to be here mentally, I wish it on everyone.

My husband thinks I'm stunning 24/7, with or without make up. I think he'd find it insulting if I suggested I needed to "look my best" for him by hiding myself.

Try it. It's a great way to live.

OP's posts are pretty judgemental so it's hardly surprising that people feel defensive.

I wear very little make up everyday, always the same. The same way I get "nicely" dressed everyday. There are rare days where I'll just put trackies on, but most of the time, even if it's just to go to the park and the local coffee shop and do work calls, I always get dressed and wear a bit of make up. Nothing very fancy though. Mascara, blush, lipstick.

In my area, I see a weird phenomenon: young women wearing A LOT of make-up, fake eyelashes, contouring, etc...but dressed with tracksuits and Crocs with socks. I don't really get it...

I wear basic makeup everyday ,mascara eyeliner and lipstick

I always wear makeup, like you say, it takes 5 minutes and it makes a massive difference

I do think a lot of that is backlash from the tone of the op. She really did get my back up.

I can’t be arsed every day, if I’m not working or doing something public facing I don’t bother with make up. My cat doesn’t care if my eyebrows are defined and my eyelashes are done, it’s nice not to have the pressure to look my best all the time.

Maybe we should all LTBs for not making an effort for us?