Women who don’t wear makeup, what do you honestly think about women who do?

[ifigoup]

I wear makeup every day apart from rare days when I’m not going to be leaving the house at all. In my line of work, it’s more common for women not to wear makeup than to wear it, and I often wonder what those women who don’t wear it think of me. (I have almost zero interest in what men think about women’s choices of makeup, dress etc.)

When I see women not wearing makeup, I occasionally think, “Gosh, she looks a bit tired”, or “Her skin looks a bit sore”, but my overwhelming thought is either nothing whatsoever, or vague jealousy at women who can put their public “work” selves on without feeling the need to wear makeup.

I don’t wear super-heavy makeup, but you’d definitely know I was wearing it: I like a 50s style with winged eyeliner etc., and sometimes bright lipstick. It’s part of my “look”, and I feel a bit naked without it.

That said, I do realise it’s not unproblematic that I feel unfinished without it on. It bothers me that I know I objectively look better with it (because if I ever don’t wear my signature eyeliner, for example, people always ask if I’m feeling ill). It bothers me that men are allowed to look as shit and haggard as they like and nobody suggests they should pretty themselves up, yet women who look shit and haggard often become objects of pity.

If you’re a woman who never or rarely wears makeup, what do you think of women who always do? My assumption is that you either don’t care, or that you probably feel a bit sorry for us for having to put “war paint” on to face the world. Or maybe you feel like women who wear makeup are a bit superficial.

But am I wrong? Do you actually feel intimidated, or suspect makeup wearers are judging you for not wearing it? Or something else entirely?

(I know this sounds a bit like stuff a journo would ask, but I promise I’m not the Daily Mail and am just curious in my own right.)

I see a lot of women with far too heavy make up. I do often look at them and feel sorry they feel they need to do that. So much time, money etc spent trying to alter how they look. I always see the man beside them looking perfectly fine and normal with no make up and it just makes the woman look weird with their fake coloured face and exaggerated features. I feel sad for women. We are just conditioned to think it’s nice to love overdone like that.

OP asked so I answered honestly.

OP, just like anything there are some of us who do shave, dye hair etc and others that don’t.

It’s not one box. Just like anything. Some people like pasta and not pizza...

I very rarely wear make up but I do get waxed, eyebrow/lash tint and my nails done on a regular basis.
Since contouring became a 'thing' I've seen a lot of women with much more noticeable make up on. On occasion even the DC have remarked, it looks that bad. Then I think 'why hasn't a friend/family told you this looks awful?' but never badly of the person themselves (it's obviously not my place). Otherwise I don't really pay any mind to it either way - each to his own! 🙂

I wear makeup nearly everyday, but the tiniest amount: eyebrow pencil and a dab of cheek tint. I find it totally transforms my face! I do feel I am hiding a bit though, and envy women who never wear any. I feel a bit of a fake with the very small amount of makeup I wear.

I don’t wear make up. I often think make up looks lovely. Heavy ‘insta make up’ I do think looks grotesque often. I think that is a feminist sadness and not ever a judgment about the woman - sometimes about the man she is with actually no not the specific man. I am just upset we seem to have gone backwards with woman looking false being an ideal. Only talking about heavy mask like makeup here.

I only tend to put make up on for parties or events, and usually a discreet amount.

I hardly notice what other women put on unless it's very heavy or cake like.
I tend to notice when they don't wear make up because they often look worse, true. But I don't think that women who don't wear make up look bad. I just register the difference of appearance. Like if someone usually dresses in a certain way suddenly changes their style.

I only notice if it looks awful or if it looks out of place, like a full sparkly do on a supermarket cashier.

I wear bb cream & mascara for work, but hate lipstick on myself.

I wear make up most days but happy to also not wear it (although not at work, that would only happen if I was very ill). Like op if I don't make as much effort with my make up I get asked if I'm feeling as I look ill. I don't think I really go over the top although I wear foundation, bronzer, blusher, eye shadow, eye liner, mascara and bright lipstick every day which I know many will think is a lot.

I don't feel me without my make up.

I don't judge women who do or don't wear it. If I think women who don't hit wear it to go out looks amazing when they wear it and it's more noticeable so they have a more wow factor on a night out (only to those of us of course who see them with no make up).

The only women I slightly judge are those with terrible make up. Really huge or bad eye brows will also get my attention but ultimately so long as women are comfortable in what they wear/look like that's what matters.

I sometimes wonder how much time I must make to apply it every day. I’m also really not liking the current trend for enormous dark eyebrows!! Other than that I don’t really care.

*how much time it must take!!!

I notice really obviously drawn-on eyebrows, but other than that I just don't think about it.

I don’t often wear make up but if it’s not my face then it’s got nothing to do with me whats on it.
I like to see women doing their own thing whatever that may be.

Nothing? It's up to people what they wear.

Never worn make up but I always get complemented on my clear skin. Which I find strange

I wear a little make-up just eyeliner and lipstick not foundation or mascara but I can tell when a woman is heavily made up and sometimes it can be like a mask and makes them look better and different. Other times it makes them look worse and older. I think now that as you age... Less is more and that too much make-up looks dreadful as it settles into lines. I'm sure that's why women stop wearing as much as they age.

I love make up but don't wear it to work, I'd just sweat it off on the train and don't want to get up earlier.
I do judge women who apply makeup on public transport.
Otherwise I don't pay attention unless it looks really good or really bad.

I don't wear make-up apart from for nights out. When I see women with nice make-up I generally think, I wish I could be bothered to do that, it looks pretty! I think I do look better with a little on but obviously I don't see it as very important.

I do tend to think those with heavy make-up have problem skin and/or self esteem problems. But generally its up to the individual. I touch my face/rub my eyes (have hayfever) too much to wear it regularly, it would definitely end up smeared!

That said, I do realise it’s not unproblematic that I feel unfinished without it on. It bothers me that I know I objectively look better with it (because if I ever don’t wear my signature eyeliner, for example, people always ask if I’m feeling ill).
Guaranteed this only happens because you always wear it! So you look different, less dressed up, and often when that happens it's because people are ill.

I feel pity if someones wearing makeup because they feel they can't go out without it. Occasionally I feel envy that they look polished, often I think people look worse with makeup than they likely would without it. If someone has fancy makeup on or is making a statement with it, I think they're obviously having fun with it.

O generally don't pay attention unless it's very thickly plastered or the colours are very Gordy/bright.

I've never worn make up and have no thoughts about women who do. I sometimes wonder why but that's about it.

I really don’t care either way. Men don’t generally have to wear it and I don’t think it should be the norm for women to either.

I don’t think women look tired or sick without it and would never say so. I get told I look tired without it and it’s annoying as fuck. I only wear winged eyeliner and red lipstick anyway, I have no idea where to even begin with contouring and all that shite .

it's interesting how many women on here don't wear it, I wonder if middle class generally =access to better diet, better skin products has any link, when I was dirt poor young mum my skin was awful, wore make up to cover, vicious circle etc I wonder if on say net mums you'd get different responses.

The question was specifically to women who don't wear make up. I don't think you can establish the percentage of women who don't wear make up on MN from this thread. And many women who posted wear make up daily, even if just eyeliner and/or lipstick.

I literally could not care less either way. I think the older you get, the less you care!

I don't care really. If you want to wear make up, wear it. I do sometimes wonder how long it takes to apply it all, but that's more a musing about how much of that time could be spent asleep instead!

I only tend to notice if it is very badly applied. Or if the person makes me feel bad for not wearing any.