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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to wonder why some women don't wear make-up

608 replies

MeganCherry · 11/01/2013 16:00

I'm sure I will get flamed for this but -

I don't mean trowel it on every morning, 3 lots of foundations, eyeshadow, eyeliner etc.

I have quite good skin, so on a usual day I'll wear - mascara and a lipstick/glass. On a bad day I'll probably wear concealer too.

I think make up is about enhancing your features and making the best of them. Me after a sleepless night I look like a zombie, add some concealer and I look like a human being again.

I like to wear make up for me and not to impress my husband or friends or strangers. I just know that I look better when I'm wearing it.

OP posts:
chibi · 13/01/2013 09:38

people don't do things i like to do, and don't think like meeeeeeeeee

what is wrong with me for giving a shit them? Sad

Psammead · 13/01/2013 09:38

I really have a hard time getting my head around these kinds of 'issues'.

If you want to wear make up, wear it. For whatever reason you like. If you do not want to wear make up, do not wear it. For whatever reason you like.

Live and let live. How do people not get that?

As for pleasing the men in your life, if that's your priority, fine. If it isn't your priority, fine. I imagine most men and women are happy when their partner is feeling happy and confident. Make up, or lack thereof, contributes to this.

ledkr · 13/01/2013 09:39

Why is everyone being so defensive on this thread? The op has gone and he opener was ridiculous and provocative but it has now become a battle for people to justify what they do or don't do.
People have made a great case for the reasons they do not wear it which are as I said oddly similar to the reasons people have given for wearing it.
It maybe true that people who wear make up lack confidence and self esteem but surely the fact they can improve on that is fantastic.
I personally mostly wear it but am equally as happy to go out without it.
Especially on the summer when I find my skin problems settle down.
I was in the house all day yesterday with the dc. Nobody called in and I didn't go out but I wore some makeup as I'd had a sleepless night and looked tired. It just made me feel better but I certainly didn't feel obliged to put it on.
As I said up thread I work with vulnerable females and have in the past helped them apply some make up to give them confidence in attending court or going out for the first time on a while.
The smile on their face when they look in the mirror is living proof that the right make up can improve ones confidence even if just for a moment.
To me it's no more significant than wearing nice clothes or shoes and having your hair styled.
If make up is so evil then so are nicely cut dresses or a haircut.
If you actually cared so little about how you looked to society then you would be happy in the same drab clothes which were functional and warm and a comfy pair of shoes with long straggly hair which is never cut or brushed. All those things are equally as fake as make up.

carmenelectra · 13/01/2013 09:40

Nah, I can't. I'm a fick bimbo.

Salbertina · 13/01/2013 09:42

Ledkr, reckon all thus was exactly what journo op wanted! Lots of juicy material for their article! A cat-fight transcribed into cut and paste article, easy money...

seeker · 13/01/2013 09:44

"Like I said a while ago the people who say they don't need make up are the very ones who do!"

I think it is this sort of line that riles people a little!

ledkr · 13/01/2013 09:45

The name is oddly contrived too isn't it?
Well if she prints my posts I shall either want royalty s or celebrity status lol

chibi · 13/01/2013 09:46

yes. if you don't wear makeup, you must roll in filth before donning your burlap sack, or you are a hypocrite or something. Hmm

i am glad the women you work with feel better with makeup. that's great. not everyone does. there is no makeup that i could put on that would make me change and suddenly wear it all the time. that is fine too, surely?

ledkr · 13/01/2013 09:50

make up is dirt on your face. if you need it, ask yourself why

Seeker- likewise

Hyperballad · 13/01/2013 09:51

I'm haven't worn make up for over a week, it's shoved in a carrier bag, which I can't find.

I always wear makeup for work and I rarely wear makeup for days off.

I can't find my hairbrush either so I haven't brushed my hair for about 5 days! What's MN think to that then?!

ledkr · 13/01/2013 09:52

Chibi I never said it wasn't . I don't always wear it. My clients don't always want it. It's not right for everyone but if you do wear it your not suddenly a man pleasing simpering wreck of a woman.

WallaceWindsock · 13/01/2013 10:00

When I was ten my mother started putting blusher on me for school because in her opinion, I looked "ill and sickly" and she didnt want the school to think I was ill. I developed cystic acne at 13 and got into the horrid agressive cycle of covering it with as much make-up as possible, making the acne worse so then applying more make-up etc. Its taken me years to get to a point where Ive weaned myself away from the belief that I need to "hide" my horrid skin and am now in a place where I chose to wear it if I want to but equally chose not to if I dont. Funnily enough the acne has disappeared now Grin although I do have a lot of scarring which Ive been told would need a chemical peel to tone it down so its less red and obvious.

I have a 2yo DD and will be careful not to impose make-up wearing on her in the same way that my mother did. Other than that its a choice - some women want to wear it which is fine. Some dont which is also fine. Surely in an age where women are scrutinised in every aspect of their lives, appearance and role in society, threads like this are destructive. We shouldnt be picking holes in each other and passing judgement on those who do differently to ourselves; there is enough judgement in the world already.

MushroomSoup · 13/01/2013 10:03

The OP is so a journalist!

wendycraigsmini · 13/01/2013 10:05

Well bully for you love.

I don't give a flying fart what you think of me at the school gates as I turn up bare faced, I'll take comfort in the thought I'm not as vapid as you.

sashh · 13/01/2013 10:50

I know some of you would benefit from learning how to take care of your skin and apply makeup though.

I know how to take care of my skin.

I know how to apply make up.

When people find out my age I have, a couple of times, been asked what creams / cleansers I use because my skin is clear and looks healthy (well my face, I have psoriasis elsewhere which doesn't look so good).

digerd · 13/01/2013 11:19

I know 80 and 90 year-old with beautiful complexions and skin like a child - it's all in the genes. Some wear make-up and some don't

AnnieLobeseder · 13/01/2013 12:18

"Like I said a while ago the people who say they don't need make up are the very ones who do!"

Um, carmenelectra, no-one, and I mean not one person anywhere ever, needs makeup. 'Tis true. You will continue to live and breathe if it should all vanish overnight.

Mimishimi · 13/01/2013 12:20

I've always worn some since my late twenties, usually concealer, mascara and lipgloss. Recently I've started wearing a bit more (36). I really don't care whether others do or not nor wonder why they choose not to.It's sort of like saying "I eat eggs for breakfast everyday, I like eating eggs for breakfast everyday. Why don't other people like eating eggs for breakfast everyday?". Ridiculous. My mother looks gorgeous with makeup yet most days she does not put a skerrick of it on, even though she knows she looks tireder without it. She simply can't be bothered putting it on if all she's going to do is break up the daffodil bulbs or something. Honestly, my dad hardly notices either way..although he will say she looks nice - he'll say it if her cheeks are flushed from a walk or if she's dressed up for an event.

Aspiemum2 · 13/01/2013 12:50

Another issue I have is mascara, if I wear it I forget its on and when I rub my eyes I look like someone's just punched me! Pretty sure that's not the look I should be going for!

Foggles · 13/01/2013 13:05

I definitely look better with a touch of make up because I am pale with fair eyelashes. If I was born during Elizabeth I's reign - I probably would have been considered a beauty with my naked face Grin

I wear make up every day for work because it makes me feel a bit more polished - in the same way I wear smart clothes.

Out of work, I like to be make up free and slouch around in comfy clothes.

Feminine · 13/01/2013 13:16

If this hasn't totally run its course now,can I ask, those that don't bother with make-up...do you?

shave your legs?

colour your hair? cover your greys?

wax?

Use scents/deod?

Psammead · 13/01/2013 13:21

Feminine - legs - sometimes. I dislike tights with hairy legs!!
Hair colour - have done as I love red hair. Do not have greys.
Wax - never have.
Use scents - have done. Will do again for nights out once Dd2 is a bit older. I use deoderant each day.

Why do you ask?

JustAHolyFool · 13/01/2013 13:35

Why do you ask Feminine ? I do some of those things and not others. The thing is I can see it as a social construct and don't care if other women do or don't do it.

alexpolismum · 13/01/2013 13:35

Feminine

since you ask:

I don't shave my legs
I don't colour my hair/ cover greys (look at my profile pic, I'm not ashamed!)
I don't wax
I use deodorant and I occasionally use perfume.
I never use make up, don't even own any

And guess what, I don't straighten my very curly hair either.

arghhelpme · 13/01/2013 13:44

I think i need to wear make up. I rarely do but if i am putting make up on it's normally only mascara and bronzer.

Have even been on nights out with a bare face, hate seeing myself in mirrors on nights out after a few drinks with make up but then i'm glad i don't bother wearing it most the time. Quite a few men have said how good it is that i don't wear make up. They seem to think i'm more confident for it when really i'm not and i'm quite insecure.

Didn't even wear make up to go on my first date with my DP! Much better waking up next to someone looking the same as they were the night before instead of seeing an un made face.