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

[MeganCherry]

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.

Much better waking up next to someone looking the same as they were the night before instead of seeing an un made face. ... or still with smudged makeup from the night before!

You answered your own question all by yourself in your OP when you stated that your wear makeup 'just for me'

Ummmm ..... so there you go then.

I sometimes wear mascara and eyeliner. I dont ever really do the full face of make up but I would do a lot more if I had bad skin/looked very old/had wrinkles so Im not against it

shave your legs? No - but wax

colour your hair? cover your greys? Yes definitely - I work in a field where to be old is a dreadful thing, regrettably. And as I want my business to stay in business, this is something I invest money in

wax? Yes - legs, armpits, bikini line - a social construct, but which I feel uncomfortable about if I don't 'conform'

Use scents/deod? Always deodorant. Why would I want to smell? Perfume - when I feel like it.

Not quite sure what the point of the questions is, because these are things I do. Just like I don't wear make-up very often.

Oh, and I have my eyelashes tinted regularly, because:

• I'm too lazy to put mascara on
• mascara can irritate my contact lenses

Anything else you'd like to know about my daily hygiene?!

Not read thread yet but I've also wondered about this. My sister very rarely wears it. I don't have the self confidence to go bare faced though. I feel I can't look people in the eye it's weird as I'm fairly confident otherwise. I do love all things makeup but sometimes wish I looked good enough to manage without it. I think I look ill without it on. Off to read fred now!

Mascara really confuses me. When I put it on I never look much different from my unmascara'd self (I know, I know, I must be doing it wrong). The adverts for it are very peculiar.

Thanks all. :)

Just wondering really. See, I do wear make-up (as you have prob seen in this thread )
But, I only shave in the summer...I have a tiny amount of grey ~but I won't dye it...ever!

I've never waxed.

I wear perfume.

I cut my own hair, haven't been to a hairdresser for 12 yrs.

I think many of us do ,do things to enhance ourselves. Its just not always make-up.

You say you wear mascara and lipstick on an average day. Minimal make-up like that doesn't actually make that much difference. So I guess a lot of people probably don't see the point.

floaty the mascara ads should be banned.
They are based on lies. The models have been found out to be wearing falsies in many cases.

Mascara just highlights how short the few eyelashes I have really are. My sister didn't believe me, until she tried putting her super duper, all singing all dancing mascara on me!

Don't see the point really,and I'm not convinced I look better made up.Different,yes...
Also,in the dim and distant past I did wear make-up to work,and stopped because my skin couldn't cope (allergies/sensitive skin) Maybe if I'd tried lots of different brands of all the separate bits I'd have found something my skin would tolerate,but I have so many other things I'd rather spend my money on.

And I hate lipstick - the feel and the taste.Someone recently told me it was better now,so I tried again - no,still horrible!

I do shave my legs though - I tried to stop last summer,but I couldn't.

Feminine
"haven't been to a hairdresser for 12 yrs"
Great! Something to agree about!
I wear my hair long, with a fringe. No need for a hairdresser - I trim the fringe, DP keeps the ends trimmed at the back.
I don't understand the comments about hair straightening. Mine is naturally straight and I plait it when wet to set in some waves.

I messed about with makeup a bit in my teens, but then had lost interest by the time I left university. if other women enjoy using it that's fine but I can't be bothered.
DD (12) is really getting into it now and it does seem like a progression from when she was small and got her face painted because she liked the way it looked and all her friends were doing it.

Pride
So agree with you about lipstick. I have tried a smear from time to time as an alternative to salve, but it tastes vile and DP complains about it too.

And Feminine, I use deodorant but that's it from your list.

Taking a deep breath. Someone's got to do this.

Everything on mumsnet is turned into a political or feminist issue!

That would be because everything is. Mumsnet is one of the few general-interest women's forums to foster informed political discussion and, perhaps because of it, features a gorgeously high proportion of intelligent, outspoken members.

The fact that you, apparently, can't understand that everything's political marks you out as one of the less rigorous thinkers on the site. While that's not necessarily a bad thing, it might be smart not to advertise this fact so blatantly. Apart from other considerations, it tends to reinforce the stereotype of makeup-wearing women as empty headed. We know that female grooming and intelligence are mutually independent, but a lot of men people believe they're inversely proportionate.

That, by the way, is a feminist and political issue.

Well done garlic. I was thinking it but wasn't brave enough to say it!!

Hi Empress - I've had a very similar experience. I tried it out a bit in my teens, had a nice creamer blusher, some lip gloss, and mascara - possibly different colours, and eye shadow and eye liner. But had more or less stopped using it by time I was at Uni. DD (13) has recently been experimenting with make-up on sleep-overs with friends, and wears it for her dance shows too.
It's very natural to explore how our faces can look with a bit of painting I guess.
She may or may not stick with it - I'm OK with whichever choice she takes !
I'm sure it's a nice bonding thing to do with friends

Phew! Thanks, Annie!

I understand garlic is excellent for the complexion!

Hi Juggling, yes I think so too! I was trying it out in the late 80s so lots of brightly coloured eyeshadows. DD and her mates love wandering round the shops trying out testers.

The latest thing, though, is eyebrow pluucking...
"So you want to pull your hairs out with tweezers."
"Yes."
"And you know that's going to really, really hurt."
"Yes."

My consolations are that she's high in her class and we spent a whole morning last week playing football. At least she's rounded...

DS2 looks lovely in make up.

He doesn't wear it every day though.

So are we guessing Matthew Wright or the Mail?

Hopefully my DD won't feel the need to do much with her eyebrows as they are very fair and almost invisible - unlike my bold, bushy affairs !
I've never plucked mine, possibly because my mother plucked hers and they never really grew back and she said she regretted it, so warned me against doing the same ...
Possibly I could have rebelled more and gone for tidying them up a bit at some stage - might still consider it now they're getting grey and wirey