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Original poster

To think most make up is a waste of time?

233 replies

HuckleberryBlackcurrant · 11/03/2024 19:03

I've never been a girly girl, never seen the point of tanning, nails, fashionable clothes, makeup etc. I do wear makeup on occasion, but it takes me 5 minutes to apply- some powder, a little mascara and maybe some lip tint.

I used to use more makeup to cover blemishes when a teenager.

But I know so many women who spend hours a week on their face. The time, the effort and the expense seems to be immense. I just don't get it. Why spend so long applying expensive paint to your face? Why not just look how you look? Men don't go through all this nonsense and somehow we are able to stand to look at their bare faces.

I know some people are going to say makeup is their hobby, they enjoy it, fine. I'm more addressing those who feel they have to put it on before leaving the house every day.

Help me to understand!

OP posts:
Original poster
HuckleberryBlackcurrant · 11/03/2024 19:17

@HappierTimesAhead

That makes sense

OP posts:
GalileoHumpkins · 11/03/2024 19:16

HuckleberryBlackcurrant · 11/03/2024 19:13

@GalileoHumpkins

I'm sure no one is thinking that I need to 'let' them wear makeup. I'm just trying to understand a different perspective is all.

But there's nothing to 'understand', it's a matter of personal preference.

Original poster
HuckleberryBlackcurrant · 11/03/2024 19:16

@Midnlghtrain

Fair, I suppose everyone has their hobbies. I'm not trying to boast that I'm not like other girls haha. I just don't have much of an interest in stereotypically female things and I'm curious to understand what makes others tick. I suppose I've always felt like a bit of an oddball in that way. Idk.

OP posts:
HappierTimesAhead · 11/03/2024 19:16

Most of the time I don't wear make-up but when I do I feel really good! I feel like it enhances the features that I already have plus the right foundation and a highlighter improve the appearance of my skin x1000.
I assume that people who feel compelled to wear it all the time are just in the habit of doing that and couldn't imagine not doing it? Or feel quite insecure about the way they look without it on?

Purplebunnie · 11/03/2024 19:15

Because as an unattractive woman I look slightly less unattractive and also having reached old age, I look slightly younger

Mrsjayy · 11/03/2024 19:14

but people who wear it don't "have to" they want to because they like it/enjoyit/give them confidence/makes them feel nice. so it's all wants really.

Midnlghtrain · 11/03/2024 19:14

I mean the time someone else spends doing makeup you might spend doing other things - sleeping, cleaning, doing your hair, scrolling on mumsnet etc

I get my nails done (an hour every 3 weeks is hardly a hardship!) and enjoy makeup / doing my hair. It's fun, I like how it makes me look and it's enjoyable to peruse new makeup and try new things.

I often find the people saying "oh I couldn't imagine spending that much time on my insert typical makeup / hair / nails comment" are playing the "I'm not like other girls" card.

Some people feel like that have to wear it for confidence issues, due to anxiety, because they don't like certain parts of themselves etc.

BranchGold · 11/03/2024 19:14

I feel like I have to have a shower before leaving the house. Not everyone does. Is my daily shower a waste of time/life??

Blueblueblueblueblu · 11/03/2024 19:13

HuckleberryBlackcurrant · 11/03/2024 19:11

@GoodVibesHere

Right. I feel like hrs a week is a waste of life honestly.

That's what sounds like judgement... Because it is. It literally effects you in no way and isn't your life 'wasted' yet you wanted to 'waste your life' posting a thread about it which sounds a far weirder 'waste'...

WhateverMate · 11/03/2024 19:13

HuckleberryBlackcurrant · 11/03/2024 19:11

@GoodVibesHere

Right. I feel like hrs a week is a waste of life honestly.

But you're wasting your life right now, this very minute by bumping your gums on a chat forum.

So you do understand that one person's waste of time is not the same as another's?

AhBiscuits · 11/03/2024 19:13

I'm not a make up person either.
I guess a lot of people are very insecure about their appearance and it makes them feel a bit better.

Original poster
HuckleberryBlackcurrant · 11/03/2024 19:13

@GalileoHumpkins

I'm sure no one is thinking that I need to 'let' them wear makeup. I'm just trying to understand a different perspective is all.

OP posts:
Original poster
HuckleberryBlackcurrant · 11/03/2024 19:12

@Mrsjayy

I said in my OP I understand that people enjoy it. I'm asking why some people feel that they have to wear it.

OP posts:
takealettermsjones · 11/03/2024 19:11

HuckleberryBlackcurrant · 11/03/2024 19:08

@Gibs0nGirl

I understand that some people enjoy it. As I said in my OP, I'm more addressing those that feel compelled to wear it before they leave the house.

The faux naiveté is silly. Google social conditioning.

BranchGold · 11/03/2024 19:11

Because they want to.

Because they feel that projecting a certain image is what makes them feel happy, in control, confident, gets them where they want to be in life etc.

Because they are different to you.

GalileoHumpkins · 11/03/2024 19:11

What do you need to understand? For the love of god just let women do things they enjoy!

WhateverMate · 11/03/2024 19:11

Exactly @LordEmsworth

So obvious.

TheChosenTwo · 11/03/2024 19:11

I don’t think you need to understand it really, I don’t either but just accept some people prefer wearing it.
When im wearing makeup (maybe once a month so not never but not often) it takes me a maximum of 5 minutes, I think I look
better barefaced and I feel self conscious with makeup on so just don’t bother most of the time.
Some people will spend an hour putting makeup on and I can’t figure out what they’re doing that I don’t 😂 but it’s their prerogative!

Tiredanddistracted · 11/03/2024 19:11

It evens my skin tone, makes my eyes look bigger and makes me feel more confident. I walk the dog without it, but couldn't imagine going to work bare-faced. A bold lipstick allows me to pretend to be more bold myself, in a strange way.

No issues with those who don't wear make-up. I rarely notice tbh.

Original poster
HuckleberryBlackcurrant · 11/03/2024 19:11

@GoodVibesHere

Right. I feel like hrs a week is a waste of life honestly.

OP posts:
WhateverMate · 11/03/2024 19:10

"I do wear makeup on occasion"

So you already understand, so what's the point of the thread? 🤷‍♂️

Mrsjayy · 11/03/2024 19:10

HuckleberryBlackcurrant · 11/03/2024 19:08

@Gibs0nGirl

I understand that some people enjoy it. As I said in my OP, I'm more addressing those that feel compelled to wear it before they leave the house.

you are contracting yourself you say you understand but then don't understand, which Is it?

LordEmsworth · 11/03/2024 19:10

Call me a cynic, but I don't think the point of your post is to "help you to understand" - it's just slagging off.

Fine not to wear make up. Fine to wear make up. Not fine to look down on people who make different choices to you on the matter of make up.

GoodVibesHere · 11/03/2024 19:10

Yep I'm the same OP!

For work days I do wear mascara and a tiny bit of blusher, out of habit really because I started wearing it when I was about 17 yrs old and never stopped really. But I just can't be bothered with anything more than that. Outside of work I'm bothering less and less to even do mascara.

For me the biggest waste of time is nails. I can't imagine sitting there for half an hour while someone paints my nails! What for?! I see so many women with long polished nails (gel fakes I guess).

Original poster
HuckleberryBlackcurrant · 11/03/2024 19:09

@HellersK

Haha definitely can relate to that, I have a 6 mth old that wakes me up multiple times a night so I'm sure I look absolutely dreadful

OP posts: