Boyfriend doesn’t want me to wear makeup “hates it”

Until my late 20s/early 30s, I was lucky enough to have never had problems with my skin, so my makeup routine consisted of grey eyeshadow and dark lip liner and gloss (it was the 90s, so don’t you dare judge!!)

Then following years spent TTC, where I had to come off birth control pills, I had a horrible period of spots and post acne dark spots/melasma that led to me using/overusing full coverage foundation, thinking that was the best way to cover the parts of my skin that really made me feel the most self conscious.

I’ve been with my DH for almost 15 years, he’s been witness to all of the ups and downs with my skin. At NO time has he EVER commented on the amount of makeup I should/should not be wearing.

I don’t say this lightly @itsprobablyjustaphrase but please LTB! The type of man who feels comfortable enough to pass comment on your makeup will soon be the type who’s ok to tell you what you can and can’t wear, then what he’s happy for you to spend your money on and finally who you can or can’t be friends with.

Start critcising him all the time. Point all things he does all the time and see if he likes it.

Or better yet, show him the door. You don't have to put up with this. He isn't going to change no matter what he says.

@itsprobablyjustaphrase I'm surprised your boyfriend knows so much about makeup and fashion. That's highly unusual.

The majority of straight men are clueless. I've been surprised on a few occasions when I assumed women were wearing makeup, but it turned out that they weren't wearing any makeup at all.

First your make up, then your clothes. Then perhaps your friends and your job ..... Your family. How you parent. Then perhaps how you speak and your very ideas.
OP if your boyfriend is one of those controlling assholes ( so many out there) telling you what make up or not to wear may be the tip of the iceberg. See above.
Tell him to stop it and that you will do what you like. And repeat. If he persists you have your answer.

He sounds controlling and behaviour like this tends to escalate. Have a look at this image and see if you think any of it is relevant.

Well, what are you going to do? Because in your heart and in your head you know what he's doing. Are you going to wait around and allow him to control you bit by bit? Or are you going to run and not look back?

Its not his face

I'd tell him that you've realised you also have terrible taste in men but you're going to do better starting now and dump him.

what You’ve described is the start of a coercive and controlling relationship

Op it’ll only get worse if you marry him one day, you will never be able to
anything right!! Please dump him he sounds awful, you can do better

Well, you could stop wearing make up. You could ask him before you go out if he's OK with the top you're wearing or if he'd prefer you to change into something more modest. You could take more care when relaxing at home or going to bed to make sure your clothes were on perfectly at all times. You could listen very carefully to his opinion and change everything about yourself that wasn't to his preference. Or you could free yourself to wear what you like, when you like, and maybe in time start dating one of the millions of men who wouldn't dream of telling you what to do, and would appreciate you exactly as you are. Tough choice isn't it?

He says you can't take criticism but carries on criticising you. Do you think he does this because he's a kind supportive person? Or maybe he's an insecure knob.

I think you know what needs to be done

He sounds awful.

Not relevant here, though.

Also : not the same as “don’t wear cheap shoes or a beard” are arguably about sexual attractiveness to the woman. Don’t wear makeup is associated with humiliating, controlling, and socially isolating the woman in order to make it less likely that she will attract male attention and be able to cheat or leave.

If he hasn’t directly criticised your makeup, he might just prefer a more natural look but that’s not his decision. Unless he’s a makeup expert, he probably can’t tell the difference when natural-style makeup is done well. It’s fine for him to have a preference, but criticising how you do your makeup isn’t OK. He can have opinions, but the final choice is yours.

@itsprobablyjustaphrase bit of a red flag for the future! becoming controlling!

This really isn’t about colour palette or application. He’s a dominant bully trying to berate you. Using make up as an excuse

There’s a great perfume from Lush called KARMA. He’ll probably hate it.

It’s the start of being controlling.

It’s not about your make up. It’s control. He’s dominating and asserting himself
Posters are spectacular missing point , it’s not about colours,or application Literally doesn’t matter . He’s a bully who’s chipping away at your self worth. Get the fuck away from this boorish bully before you end up broken and disheartened

It sounds like he’s controlling. As others said, tell him you will continue using makeup because you like to.

Then see how he responds.

I'd be gone long before this..

I’m sure you look beautiful anyway. However it’s up to you if you wear makeup. Lots of girls do.

It’s whatever you feel comfortable with xxx

You don’t have to justify wearing makeup. Also, six months of this constant criticism? I’d go to a cosmetics store and buy myself a huge box of numerous kinds of makeup this weekend.