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 used to wear make up out of a fear response I think; I am not pretty, have quite a large, oblong face, bad skin, just not great facial features. I wore make up to try to hide / correct this because I didn't think my face was acceptable in it's natural state. I was scared of people humiliating me because of the way I look. (Teaching teenagers does not help with this! Kids can be total bastards.) I never thought I looked 'good' with makeup, just less bad. No longer comment-worthy levels of ugliness, just fly-under-the-radar levels of mediocrity.

I stopped wearing it in part due to a femisist anger at the inequality of it - that men dont have the same pressure or judgment of their looks, that I had internalized these expectations of women. In part down to laziness - I would rather have ten more minutes sleep - and in part, I realise in retrospect, because I was sinking into quite serious depression and I didnt feel like there was any point in doing things to look after myself.

It took me about 4 weeks to stop feeling scared of being bare faced. I hated that I responded in that way so I refused to give in to myself! Set myself a 6 week target, by the end of it I was able to feel relaxed about not wearing any.

Now I dont wear any on a day to day basis because I have got out of the habit, and because I don't want to become reliant on it again. I will wear makeup for a (rare!) evening out or an event/special occasion, and I definitely look better with it, but I have reached a 'don't care' state of mind day to day.

I notice if women are wearing make up but don't have an opinion either way. My main concern would be if I thought I was being judged for not wearing it, because I don't like wearing it and only do for special occasions. Fortunately for me, where I work no make up is the norm.

Different things depending on the situation

On the school run to the mum who wears a heavy full face; it's a bit much

To my friend who is always in make up but v subtle I think, good fo you.

A lot of the time it makes me wish I could be bothered myself, but I like having the confidence to not need it.

I usually think I wish i could be bothered to do that.

I sometimes think people go over the top and more often than not they really don't need it.

I do understand how it makes you feel better though and when I do wear it I usually feel pretty good it's just not the look I go for.

Fwiw my dm never wears make up only when going out like me. I was just never around it.

I am sort of tied at the minute too with the popularity in facial treatments and procedures that are becoming more and more mainstream and thunk it doesn't matter how much make up I stick on I'll never look like everyone else with their full lips perfect eyebrows high cheek bones and so on and so on.

Oh and to mention about class i definitely wouldn't say i was middle class although I'm never entirely sure of the definition.

I generally don't think about it much (I wear makeup approx 5 times a year). I am impressed with really good eye makeup but hate massive eye lashes. I don't like caked on makeup though and fake tan. I think it looks dirty. I used to wonder what my old childminder would look like without the layers of makeup.

I notice if someone is wearing it, I don't make any value based judgement. I'm inclined to think many women would look lovely without it and don't really need it.
I often do wear it to work, I think it's a defensive thing to look more deliberate and put together. I've been told I don't need it and I get more male attention when I'm bare faced. Women are more complimentary when I do, so I guess there is quite a lot of social pressure to engage in beauty practices and it isn't as straightforward as saying it's because we seek male approval. If anything life is smoother if we have the approval of other women.

I couldn't care less but I'd notice if it was overdone the orange foundation with caterpillar eyebrows and huge spider eye lashes then I'd think you'd look better without
also had a dental nurse that wore so much foundation that flakes of it fell on patients it was difficult telling her this really wasn't on

Generally, I wonder how on earth women with makeup and perfect hair find the time! I don't mean that in a jealous way or a snarky way at all.

I only wear a tiny bit of makeup on special occasions (lipstick and eyeshadow). My skin is soft and without blemishes.
I am 75 and have never worn makeup for everyday.
If I see someone wearing a lot of makeup I wonder if it feels sticky and how long it takes etc but each to her own.

I only notice if its badly put on. And even then I don't judge as I am sure I've had my fair share of shit eyeliner.

I notice heavy makeup, and generally think WTAF do you look like? Of course I wouldn't say anything. Its entirely up to the individual how they want to express themselves. Its just my inner judgey pants coming out.

I notice friends who always wear makeup, and generally think 'god I wish I could be arsed' because they look more 'polished' that I ever do. I also have this inner niggle that they are more 'grown up' than me, even though we're all in our 40s. Its not true, of course.

I don't think I notice my colleagues. There are only a few women in the office and I have no idea if any of them have makeup on today. .

I don't bother myself, unless I'm going out. If its a small going out, I'll put on eyeliner. If its a special event, I'll throw all the stuff in the makeup box at my face, including false eyelashes. I love how it looks, I just honestly cannot be bothered.

I don't bother much with other grooming methods either. I have my hair cut every 6 months. Ditto gel nails (toes) - I just wait till it grows out then have it done again.
I wax my own brows and upper lip. Shave underarms. Shave legs when I can be bothered. Nether regions get no attention at all.

I think nothing.
Rarely I will see a woman who has quite a lot of make up on, that I think is well done. Then I think: I wish I was as skilled as her/could be bothered.

I rarely wear makeup. It’s the over done makeup I notice, the yellow/orange drag queen look. I’m certain those wearing that type, would look way better without.

I'd rarely notice, I couldn't tell you say to day what anyone in my office was wearing/how they had their hair etc.

I’ve never worn make up. Not even a bit!

I’m not interested in what make up other women wear, unless it’s absolutely trowelled on with those silly eyebrows. Then I’ll think “blimey, they’d have looked better if they hadn’t bothered” for a second or two.

Am beyond caring what anyone looks like.
Am beyond caring what anyone thinks of me.

Women just don't seem to wear it much or at all it seems during the day in the horsey world so if you do wear it noticeably then it would mark you out as being more urban than country iyswim.

It's often only an evening/ party/ nightclub/ urban/ city/ dress up/ going out thing to do.

Even when young I was drawn towards natural looking women and wouldn't be that comfortable around made up women: something about what is it they are hiding behind the mask?

I often admire a really beautifully drawn eyeliner or a nice eyeshadow or lipstick colour or whatever on other women. Otherwise, on an individual basis, I don't really notice unless I'm standing/sitting close enough to someone to really see if e.g. they've got obvious 'crusty' bits of make-up covering spots or whatever.

In general terms, I admire and envy women who can apply make-up properly as I can't! I wore it for years but my foundation would always sink in/rub off and become redundant in about half an hour, mascara was always clumpy, concealer ineffective etc, so eventually I admitted defeat and stopped.

I only wear it for weddings or big nights out so about 2-3 times a year.

Don't usually think anything unless it's really thick but I do get really irritated at people applying it on public transport because I don't get it. If you care about wearing it why not get up 10 minutes earlier? And if you don't care enough to get up earlier why bother at all? I just find it weird.

generally couldn't care at all. I do wonder how anyone could have that much be-bothered first thing when all they're doing is the school run and they're wearing a LOT of it, though!

I really couldn't give a shit what another women puts on her face.

I notice someone else mentioning that they don't like the feel of it on - I get something v similar too. My brother once spent money on a beauty voucher for my birthday( god knows why!) and i had to spend it by a certain point so my mum and I went and got our nails done and I hated the feel of the shellac stuff on my nails. Its the same as when I wore those 'impress on nails' www.ebay.co.uk/itm/163547574193?ul_noapp=true for his wedding - I hated the feel of them over my nails even though they were on essentially with just a little glue sticker that could go on/off without any damage left to the nail.

When I paint my nails I don't like it either and if they last over 24 hours I'm doing really well once painted.

Weirdly I'm the same with jewellery too - once I walk in the house from where I've been out it's off immediately.

Don't really think anything.

If her makeup looks nice, I might think she looks nice.

If it looks bad, I might think eek her makeup looks bad, I wonder if she has bad lighting in her house or just likes being the wrong colour. 🤷🏻‍♀️

I feel rather sorry for people who are so obsessed with appearance that they waste so much valuable time on make up etc that could be spent doing something far more interesting or important

Christ that's a patronising statement!