I'd love to go make up free...

[uglymcbugly]

But my goodness I'm a complete catfish without any on. I have ruddy cheeks, fair eyelashes, tired eyes, no eyebrows and dark circles under eyes. It's depressing 🤣 I also have a short neck and a cone shaped head which means I look dreadful with my hair tied back 🤣🤣🤣🤣 I'll not be entering miss world anytime soon

How's all my fellow cat fishers mood today 😀

Presuming you're an ordinary human being and not a celebrity, then look at all the men around you. Ordinary men manage to do this their whole lives. So surely we can too? Having said that, this is totally something that's a struggle for me too. When I go without make up people ask if I'm hot or have caught the sun (rosacea), and when I put foundation on people say I look more rested. I feel more at ease with foundation on but i look guard to a time when i can embrace my actual ruddy face!

Yes definitely a normal person here. I almost wish I'd never started wearing make up then the difference wouldn't be as extreme 😂

Yes it funny how men never have that 'tired eye' look that woman get

I very rarely wear make up. Definately not for everyday work.

I work with many women in senior positions in academia and within my profession. I would say from my team of 9, only 2 wear make up. Its similar in the other teams.

None of the men wear make up either 😁

Honestly, you'll just get used to your face without make up. I used to dislike my face without make up. It was dull and pale and boring so I always wore a bit of foundation and a bit of powder, sometimes eyeliner. Gave up on make up during maternity (10 years ago) and now I can't stand the feel of make up or the faff. I've put a bit on a couple of times for weddings and now I dislike my face with make up!

I can't wear makeup as it irritates my skin, also I'm just shitty at doing it through lack of practice. If I do try and wear some from work I just get comments like "are you ok? You look different!" People will get used to how you look, and you'll get used to how you look. Just the same as it takes a few days to get used to a drastic hair colour change.

I had to stop wearing eye makeup a couple of years ago when I suddenly became allergic to it. Never really bothered with foundation since I quit office jobs over a decade ago, so now I go around completely barefaced. At first I felt really self conscious and thought everyone must be looking at me thinking “what an old hag”.

But once you get used to it it’s very liberating. And as a bonus, when I do put on makeup for special occasions (my eyes can usually tolerate it for occasional short periods) people often say “Ooh you look nice”!

I think I wear makeup less than 20 days a year as I typically only put a small amount of eye makeup on at night on holiday.

I just can't be bothered with it any other time. Yes I look different without it but this is me and my face and I don't really want to hide it behind makeup (and no I am not some fresh faced young women).

when I was on maternity 3 years ago I decided that I wouldn’t have time to do makeup in the mornings when I returned to work. I use a tanning water on my face as I am pale and would get red blemishes on my face. The tanning water works so well and I’ve never worn makeup daily again.

I only wear make up if going on a night out.

I'm 48

The cast majority of women i know don't wear make up. The ones that do are mostly young - early 20s.

If you don't want to wear make then don't.

I've never worn makeup really - dabbled at it when young, but couldn't be bothered with the faff in the end. And expense!

The only makeup-y thing I do these days is dye my eyebrows. I prefer the definition it gives to my face, especially as they seem to be fading away as I age. A 15 minute job every 6-8 weeks I can just about handle.

I use to be the exact same OP and now I'm 37 I only wear makeup if on a day or night out. Never wear it for work, I don't care anymore lol.

I don't wear makeup 99% of the time. But I'm fair too so I have my brows shaped and I dye them at home and also lash tint. Makes all the difference!

Yes it funny how men never have that 'tired eye' look that woman get

They do. And worse.

You're just not noticing.

I stopped wearing it when Alicia Keyes did . I do occasionally put on mascara and blusher when I go out. I was an utter make up addict in my late teens/ and twenties- full face every day even at Uni. Then it dwindled in my thirties ( work and out out only) and then I finally just stopped buying it.

However, in interest of transparency, I do get Botox brow shapes and highlights so I’m not without vanity. I just don’t think make up makes me look better now I’m in my late forties. I think I look younger without.

If you really feel self conscious but don’t want the daily faff, what about getting semi-permanent eyebrows done, and having your eyelashes dyed?

I know all the arguments about men not having to, and I agree with them, but we are where we are, and I too hate myself without makeup, so I have my eyebrows and eyelashes done for those days when I truly CBA.

I still remember a make up book I got when I was about 13- so late 80’s. It had a before and after and said “imagine Jennifer going to a job interview with no make-up!” Omg! The horror of Jennifer not meeting patriarchal standards of beauty when applying for a job where looks have zero bearing on her relevant skills and is done by men who also don’t wear make up 🤣

You could just get your lashes and brows tinted and then use a mineral powder foundation just to tone your cheeks down?

I used to wear full makeup and felt like I couldn't be seen without it. I'm very pale with light lashes and brows. Now I tint them myself once a month, just fill in any remaining patches on my brows with a brush, and use mineral powder foundation that works well without looking like it is there. I do wear mascara too as my lashes are still fine. Takes about 3 minutes. I mean, I'm still wearing makeup obviously, but it's a much lighter look and looks very natural.

I don't wear make up but have Under eye filler for dark circles and lip blush. You could always get your eyebrows and eyelashes dyed

What tanning water do you use? I could fancy trying that!

I agree with lashes and eyebrows tinted and then none. I have mine done occasionally and it makes a difference.

I think it's one of those things where the more you do it the less it bothers you. I put makeup on yesterday for work but can't be bothered today.

However sometimes I put this on, could be a good compromise for you.

www.beautybay.com/p/niod/photography-fluid-opacity-8/?gclid=CjwKCAiAqt-dBhBcEiwATw-ggA7H73zo6CLt6vM7gMhxAnSoVCqrXcrDQIcw8lTE1CTEIDcS0-enKBoCnFYQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

It's like a really subtle bronzing fluid which gives you a little bit of a pick me up. I've had people tell me I look well rested even when I'm not feeling it.

It lasts ages, 1 bottle lasted me a year! I get mine from beauty and the boutique but it's a dangerous place, I want to buy everything and have to restrain myself!

‘I have ruddy cheeks, fair eyelashes, tired eyes, no eyebrows and dark circles under eyes.’

Gradual fake tan will even out your skin tone. You can dye your eyelashes and eyebrows at home. When you do your eyelashes it will pick up all the tiny hairs on your skin and reduce sparceness.

I don't wear makeup day to day.

I don't care what people think of me tbh. Just stop wearing it. It's much quicker to get ready.

I've tinted my brows and lashes today as a result of this thread. Been meaning to get round to it!

I find eyeliner and lipstick takes seconds and makes me look a bit more with it. I'm pale and interesting with nothing! In an ideal world a touch of concealer on my chin helps too.

I wear less now than I used to but I've always worn at least a bit. I used to love bright lipsticks but since getting to my late 30's it feels over made up with anything bright and think it ages me.
I don't look good with no make up at all. My skin is very oily and without make up it just looks really pasty and greasy (nice!) A bit of foundation and setting spray helps control it.
I also mangled my eyebrows in the 90's/00's so have to draw those on too!