Would you refer to this person as attractive or unattractive

[user43]

If you know someone who is really beautiful when they have made an effort with their appearance, when their hair is done, bit of makeup, dressed well etc. But looks really really bad when they haven't made an effort- no makeup, scruffy hair and clothes etc

When you thought about them/ if you talked about them, would you describe them as attractive or not?

What I mean is, what version of them do you think of.

Just as most men look better in a well-fitted suit, most women look better with professional makeup.

For me, a true measure of physical beauty is how someone looks in their natural state, i.e. without any artificial assistance. A really beautiful person still looks beautiful without makeup and wearing scruffy, shapeless clothes. Typically someone blessed with good bone structure, good skin and a certain amount of confidence.

Someone who transforms with the help of good makeup and clothing is someone who "scrubs up well."

I wouldn't typically describe someone's appearance, but that's how I'd think of it in my head.

I honestly don't think anybody looks better with make up and a flash hair do.
Even the 'ugliest' person is more attractive with the confidence to go out and not hide behind a mask.
I know this is a controversial opinion though.
Personally I have never worn make up I will put my hair up and put on a dress for a night out but this doesn't make me anymore attractive than I am in my pyjamas. The over made up, leave your face on the pillow isn't a good look for anyone.

Attractive to what? Men? Women? Dogs? Flies? See how ridiculous your question is, OP?

You mention your daughter... most of us think our daughters are attractive. It's in our make-up to think so, partly for vanity (our genes, etc.) and it's a safeguard to protect them. Whether other people think your daughter is attractive isn't something you can know.

I like Plantsitter's response, it's about so much more than what is on the surface. People spirit, their essence, their joi de vivre, the cut of their jib for myriad reasons, that's what makes them attractive to other people and it's not something you can apply with a brush.

If we would stop judging and quantifying other people's worth based on their looks this world would be a better place.

The vast majority of people look more attractive with make up on (to much make up in and it has the opposite affect imo)

Coupled with wearing nice clothes and having there hair done etc... they will look their best version of themselves.

It’s nice to make an effort and feel nice when going out somewhere, so on a night out etc I suspect most people have made effort and look their best versions.

(When I see reality shows and they look like they’re going to a wedding (dressed up to the nines with their fancy dresses on, false eyelashes etc to go to the shop) I personally couldn’t be bothered to put that much effort in. I don’t put that much effort in for a night out tbh)

I also think people with dark features have a slight advantage without having to put as much effort in. If you’ve got dark eyebrows/eye lashes you don’t need to put mascara etc on as your eyes are already defined. Faired complexions can look a bit washed out without eye make up. It makes their eyes stand out more. So they may feel they need to put a bit of eye make up on for work etc...

I think if someone has a nice face, make up will enhance it definitely. I’d still say they’re attractive without make up though. That can’t be said for everyone.

An attractive face is an attractive face regardless.

It depends on who and the scenario you are talking about .

For example my dh . Hes attractive to me wether he's just got out of bed or going on a date night and all dressed up .

A celebrity your used to seeing them perfect most of the time . So when you dont see them "dolled up" you may think. They look so different but not necessarily unattractive your just not used to seeing them that way .

Some people are naturally beautiful , both men and women, which to me is different than being attractive to someone .

@Porridgeoat

What really sways new about people’s looks is how nice they are. Someone can be traditionally as ugly as sin and grow beautiful as I get to know them. Hard to explain. In the same light someone traditionally beautiful can become quite sickly and unattractive in my eyes looks wise if they are nasty or self absorbed

This is very true.

Perhaps your issue is, you only deem women as attractive if they have a full face on.

If I new her from going out, 'Sarah, long brown hair, wears a lot of make up'
If I knew her from walking the dog, 'Sarah, long brown hair, quite pale'

I wouldn't agree with the statement people who need make-up aren't attractive that one poster made. I feel a lot more attractive with make-up on (I am not naturally stunning in terms of bone structure or natural good looks, like the majority of the population) and so I act more attractive, so people find me more attractive.

Attractive isn't just about superficial appearances, it's about a way of being, charisma, an excitement about life, intelligence that shines through. Not all very superficially good looking people have this- see David Beckham who is good looking but not attractive (to me).

Beautiful is something else, and few people have beauty, lucky them!

I am only attracted to men. I wouldn't use the word 'attractive' for females at all, since I don't fine them attractive.

Men I find attractive don't wear make up so I would find them attractive or not - all of the time, there would be no difference.

Women might be pretty etc and look more 'polished' with hair and make up done but I think if someone is pretty then they still look pretty without. To me the really made up look and over the top styling of hair doesn't look pretty etc.

We are all different - to some the big lips, large coloured in brows that dominate the face, orange skin, tons of the make up and shading looks false and so to me not pretty at all. Currently there are quite a lot of people who love this look though.

Windswept hair and minimum make up on fresh skin looks the best.

Everyone, and I mean everyone. Looks better when wearing for example a nice fitting dress, make up, hair done properly or a man in a well fitted suit, hair cut nice.

Nobody is absolutely stunning when they roll out of bed in the morning. Nobody looks good with greasy hair, baggy clothes, unwashed face.

The ugly people of the world however are definitely those that judge others on appearance.

Thanks everyone for the answers.

I don't think it's wrong to have an opinion on how someone looks. And I'm allowed to decide what I think of there appearance.

It was a simple question, could of been hypothetical if you don't know anyone like it.

I know that personality can make someone attractive, but it wasn't a question about personality.

I think the general answer is how ever you see them most is how you think of them

I doubt they are unattractive actually. I think the kind of look you might be describing is striking - so very unusual features that could be perceived as ugly by some people (especially I suppose if they are scruffily dressed) but stunning by others. I think lots of models probably fall into that category. So I guess I would think of them as striking (which to me is a good thing) or attractive.

[quote Rollergirl11]@Riddikulusness are you talking about Jade Goody?[/quote]
No not Jade Goody.
Although I do remember all that coverage (from her original time in BB) too. If everyone recalls, Jade was called ‘Miss Piggy’ in the media amongst other extremely unkind things. For no other ‘crime’ than not being particularly attractive. Love her or loathe her (she behaved appallingly and disgraced herself on ‘Celebrity BB’), Jade went on to have an extremely lucrative career so kudos to her.

@Riddikulusness I absolutely remember this!! I can't think who it was

I can't picture how that would happen? If someone is scruffy or fancy with make up, you can still tell what they really look like?

@LyingWitchInTheWardrobe I didn't mention my daughter I was replying to another post

I imagine most people are going to look better when they’re scrubbed up, nicely dressed, make up well applied and dressed in a style which suits them.

I also can’t imagine that doing all that would turn someone really plain or without good features into head- turningly beautiful.

Let’s face it- it comes down to bone structure. It’s the structure of your face which dictates how you look. Even if you’re a bit spotty, you’re still going to look good (though of course make up to hide spots will improve your look.) likewise if you have good cheekbones, they look good naturally. They might be enhanced even further with carefully make up but you’re not going to completely change how you look.

I can honestly say I’ve never seen anyone who looks awful when they’re without make up, hair in a mess and bad clothes, but transforms into stunning when they make an effort. I might think they’ve glammed up, but it’s not changing their actual look

I think attractive is about your features though? So eyes, distance between eyes, shape of nose, lips, whether your features are symmetrical etc. So she must have attractive features to look good with makeup.

I disagree that anybody can look amazing with makeup due to the above reasons.

Tbh most really good looking people can also look absolutely awful on a bad day, look at bad photos of celebs etc. I think if someone looks good most of the time (not just with lots of make-up ) then that's what I describe them as. I don't often wear make-up or make much of an effort but can look very good when "done", and generally get told I look good/am attractive with no makeup, just clean hair/clothes, but occasionally look absolutely awful and wonder who that witchy old lady in the mirror is

I'd think the person has issues with their self esteem. I wouldn't be judging their appearance at all. I'd assume you are quite young and haven't really grown into yourself yet - especially if you are the one doing the judging. A beautiful personality will go a lot further in life than a beautifully applied foundation and contour...

Anyway, no-one goes from "really beautiful" to really bad(ugly)" with makeup as the deciding factor. I've seen the before pics of girls with acne or scarring, they still did not look ugly.

@ktp100

Why the fuck would it matter?!! They're a fucking person, not a shop window dummy!!

Everyone looks better 'done up' than when they're dragging their kids to school with their hair scraped into a sumo bun on and trying to hide that they forgot to put a bra on and categorising people by attractiveness is twattish as feck!

This ^ x100

I don’t think I have ever described anyone as “unattractive” in my life. Only an unkind person would.
Quite apart from the very subjective nature of such a judgement, why would you be talking about someone in this way, unless they’d asked for your opinion?
I actually find most people equally as physically attractive/unattractive, think true attractiveness (to me, at any rate!) is more to do with personality; be it because of someone’s kindness, sense of humour, charisma etc.

@user43

Thanks everyone for the answers.

I don't think it's wrong to have an opinion on how someone looks. And I'm allowed to decide what I think of there appearance.

It was a simple question, could of been hypothetical if you don't know anyone like it.

I know that personality can make someone attractive, but it wasn't a question about personality.

I think the general answer is how ever you see them most is how you think of them

Ok so you referenced somebody else's daughter.

You then say that you don't think it's wrong to have an opinion on how someone looks - and that you're allowed to decide. Yes, you can.

As soon as you decide to voice that pointless view then other people, who also have the right to comment, will pull you up on it because your view is vapid and shallow and many of us don't like that. Of course your question wasn't about personality, that doesn't figure with you, just how they look.

I'm annoyed because my daughter will run into people like you, just as I did. It's bad enough coping with 'male gaze' but actually, it's not nearly as bad as 'female judgement' and my anger about that is genuine.

I've never met anyone like this.

I would describe someone in terms of how I see them day to day but I don't know in what context I would be saying someone is attractive or unattractive - I've never described any friends / family like this