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Original poster

Do you think you look better with or without makeup?

191 replies

Furrbly · 28/12/2020 17:52

I think I look terrible without make up - ugly and old (which I am now but even so) and terribly self conscious.

I will never leave the house without any make up on unless I absolutely have to, and I would be really embarrassed if anyone dropped by unexpectedly (remember those days?!).

I wish I had the confidence to go without - but I don't.

OP posts:
Jennygentle · 29/12/2020 09:33

Better - more defined and visible features (I’m very pale). But I don’t wear it 50% of the time because it doesn’t really matter to me.

Drivingho · 29/12/2020 09:34

Better with but I only wear minimal for work and a little bit more for going out. Happy to leave house for shops/ school run without any.
I’ve never done the whole shebang a lot of people do now. Wouldn’t have a clue how to contour etc

Indecisivelurcher · 29/12/2020 09:37

I don't wear any. However, I probably ought to. I would like to even out my skin, in the last couple of years I've developed a melasma dark patch on my forehead that I'm self conscious of but needs quite a bit of coverage. My problem is, if I put proper foundation on then I feel like it looks odd without mascara, and that looks odd without blush, and I don't want to start wearing all that every day. So not quite sure where to go...

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TwilightSkies · 29/12/2020 09:37

With 100%. Im 35 but have had 5 years of broken sleep and the past couple of years have been very stressful generally. It shows on my face.
I wear a fair amount and even then the tiredness still shows through. I naturally have very dark circles and Irish skin which shows everything.
I wish I didn’t need so much. But I’d rather not cringe at my reflection so I’ll keep wearing it.

MrsHugsxx · 29/12/2020 09:38

I look better with just a little bit of natural make up.

thecatsthecats · 29/12/2020 09:41

If my skin is clear/I've slept well and my hair is behaving, I think it's a matter of opinion as to whether I look better with a little eyeliner.

I think most people look their best with clear skin and shiny hair, because it's a basic signifier of health. (that I rarely achieve simultaneously)

BounceyBumblebee · 29/12/2020 09:42

I'm yet to see a woman over 25 look better without any make up.

I'm not talking full face, but eyebrows and eyelashes and skin. Like someone said up thread, if it didn't make us look better - there would be no market for it.

You don't need to trowl a bucket load on, but wearing none just makes women look like they've given up.

DappledThings · 29/12/2020 09:46

but wearing none just makes women look like they've given up.
🤣

Ihaventgottimeforthis · 29/12/2020 09:53

I'm a non make up wearer, I don't worry about what people think of my face.

I'm just fed up of double standards, women generally being expected to improve their appearance whilst no one thinks men have 'given up' if they don't wear make up.
Plus it's expensive & time consuming.

marmiteprincess · 29/12/2020 10:06

I look terrible without. Totally different. On the few occasions people have seen me without I think they're quite shocked.

nevernotstruggling · 29/12/2020 10:07

You don't need to trowl a bucket load on, but wearing none just makes women look like they've given up.

Er.....where to start with this!!

Valkadin · 29/12/2020 10:14

I have hardly ever worn make up. I had an interview that included a medical for a job when I was really young and the Dr told me how bad make up is for skin and I took it on board. I’m mixed race and my eyelids are naturally darker and I have an even skin tone. I never felt the need really.

MummBraTheEverLeaking · 29/12/2020 10:21

With. Not a lot but definitely a good eye concealer, setting powder and brows. Most of the time I'm indoors so don't bother at all, but I always do skincare; moisturiser and high SPF minimum.

WeBuiltThisBuffetOnSausageRoll · 29/12/2020 10:22

I'm just fed up of double standards, women generally being expected to improve their appearance whilst no one thinks men have 'given up' if they don't wear make up.

I completely agree with you, but from quite a few of the comments on here (with the exception of the genuinely ugly-from-within men that YouJustDoYou has had the misfortune to encounter), it seems to be women themselves setting the 'standard' that a woman's natural face is not acceptable without some form of 'improvement'.

If you prefer the way you look with makeup, or just like finding a style(s) that you think suit you, by all means go ahead; but it's so sad to read the comments suggesting that the average woman (even all women) are by default plain/ugly/unfit to be seen in public without modifying themselves first.

I also don't understand why it's controlling or a red flag if a man expresses a preference for no makeup (whether what he thinks is 'no makeup' is actually no makeup or just subtle makeup). Are we not allowed to have preferences of what we find physically more attractive in a partner/other people? Controlling would surely be if he tried to force you to wear makeup, ban you from wearing it, tell you how ugly/ridiculous/whatever you look with/without it - but what's actually wrong with commenting that you find the more natural look more attractive? Is a woman who comments to her husband that she prefers the clean-shaven look being controlling, just in case he prefers having or might one day decide to grow a beard?

MrsFluffyMuff · 29/12/2020 10:25

I don't wear any but I think I look good without it. I can't stand any of the fake stuff like fake eyelashes and fake nails etc. And because I have four children I always find myself rubbing my eyes because I'm tired, if I had mascara on it would get smudged 50 times a day 🤣

8lue8ird · 29/12/2020 10:25

I'm the same as you OP, I feel that I will never leave the house with make up as long as I live! Who knows, it could be due to the horrific acne I had as a teen. I don't suffer anymore but that period did get me into some specific make up habits I don't think I could ever let go.

Ironically I definitely don't think women need make up to look good, in fact I'm so envious of those beautiful shiny polished faces you see with not a scrap of make-up on that look absolutely gorgeous. I'm just not one of those women In my eyes.

AccidentallyOnSanta · 29/12/2020 10:35

I do look better with makeup. Without it I'm not ugly, but I am quite plain,spotty,freckley and tired.

Since I don't give a shit what other people think , I rarely wear makeup.

Ginfordinner · 29/12/2020 10:35

I dislike men who say they prefer the no make up look...I find it weirdly controlling and a bit of a red flag.

I'm not sure about this. I think these are men who dislike the orange look plastered on with a trowel, sharpie browed, fake eyelash look, which IMO looks so overdone and fake that it doesn't add anything to someone's looks.

I'm willing to bet that they wouldn't say this about a woman who wears understated make up to enhance her looks.

In answer to the OP's question I am not wearing make up these days. I WFH and go to the supermarket or out for country walks. I have no need of it right now.

I have dark eyes and eyelashes, have old and wrinkled eyelids and wear glasses. Eye make up is just not flattering on me anymore. I would look like Barbara Cartland if I wore it.

thisnthat · 29/12/2020 10:42

I look much better with makeup - I have mild rosacea and need to cover the redness. I also really enjoy the ritual of applying it - it feels vaguely creative when the rest of my day is work / chores. However in my old age (50!) less is definitely more and I have adapted what I wear. I also never would have left the house without make up when I was younger but now I probably would if just to go to the shops / pick up one of the kids from activities.

WalkingMeAway · 29/12/2020 10:46

Better. I have really uneven dull skin tone. Just makes me feel ‘fresher’

OccasionalNameChange · 29/12/2020 10:47

Hame changed just for this thread.
Do I look great,fresh,young,bla bla bla ? No
Do I look ok enough not to send children running? I think so.

But then again what do I know, I was told I looked 56/60 on one of those "guess my age threads". Grin

Do you think you look better with or without makeup?
Do you think you look better with or without makeup?
IloveJudgeJudy · 29/12/2020 10:48

I definitely look better with makeup. I'm like you, OP. I don't really leave the house without it on.

I've got a DD who's got a big interest in makeup so with her encouragement/(bullying Wink) I do keep changing my style/what I use.

StarlightLady · 29/12/2020 10:48

I don’t wear lots. But If l haven’t got any makeup on at all, l get told l look ill. I suppose that says it all.

Namechangeme87 · 29/12/2020 10:50

but wearing none just makes women look like they've given up

Given up what ? Wearing make up ? So like 99.9 percent of men then ?! Who, incidentally would also ( men ) prob look a bit fresher faced with some concealer and a little mascara tbh

PlanDeRaccordement · 29/12/2020 11:05

I prefer my men to not wear make up. Doesn’t make me controlling, so why should a man preferring no make up be a red flag or controlling?
Incidentally, my DH prefers no make up and I prefer not to wear it, so that simply makes us compatible. If all men are supposed to prefer women with make up, then there would be no men for we women who don’t wear make up.