Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to wear makeup to work everyday?

111 replies

Nicebucket · 13/10/2015 22:16

Ok, bear with me! I know it's a silly question but I'm curious to hear your opinions on this.

I wear makeup five to six days a week. I'm very particular about getting it off and I follow a good skincare routine once I'm back home, but I do wear it to work and for special occasions on weekends.

A friend of mine, who has perfect skin, criticised me today and said that I'm ruining my skin, causing it to age and darken. The conversation with her has really terrified me and I'm seriously worried about this now.

Do you agree that wearing makeup everyday is very bad for the skin? How many of you wear makeup to work everyday? Have you found that it has affected your skin badly?

And how much of it do you tend to have on on a daily basis? I wear light foundation, under eye concealer, eyeliner, blush, mascara and lip balm. If I have time I'll do a nice eye makeup, mostly because it's fun!

I have never had the best skin- it's sensitive to environmental changes so tends to go blotchy or spotty in the sun, wind etc. I also have slight pigmentation, so I just feel more confident and groomed with some coverage on. Does that seem unreasonable?

OP posts:
Spartans · 14/10/2015 06:08

I am 32 and completely grey naturally. Just one of those things.

Make up does not ruin your skin. ahe is talking shit.

I wore make up for most days from being about 16 to 30. I work from home now so very rarely wear it. Make up for me is one of those things that's filed under 'do what the fuck you want'

I hate when women are moaned for wearing it, I hate when women are moaned At for not wearing it.

If you start using a product and notice that your skin is reacting bad, it's reacting to the product not all make up.

RavioliOnToast · 14/10/2015 06:11

I wear makeup every single day! Every day since I was about 14, I'm now 22. I know I'm not old but I have really nice skin for wearing it everyday if your friend thinks it damages skin Hmm

I wouldn't dream.of leaving the house without it.

Damselindestress · 14/10/2015 08:37

Since you follow a good skincare routine, make-up shouldn't affect the condition of your skin. I am surprised your friend picked on such a small detail to make you feel bad. Is she perhaps a bit jealous that you look more groomed? Personally, I only wear make-up occasionally but don't care how much my friends wear and wouldn't interfere.

Picklebird · 14/10/2015 09:56

I second Bof , my skin has never looked better since I joined Mrs Gloss & the goss over on FB

GoblinLittleOwl · 14/10/2015 10:29

Good for you. In my opinion there are very few women whose appearance isn't improved by wearing make-up, and constant creaming and cleansing actually improves your skin. I still wear make up every day, because I like it, even though I am retired, and recently, much to my surprise, was complemented on my 'lovely skin' and asked what products I used.

specialsubject · 14/10/2015 10:40

never wear it and I look ridiculous wearing it anyway - I am much more attractive without slap, thank you. As are most in my opinion - sticky red lips and vampire eye liner makes most people look a decade older and half dead. But wear it if you want, free country and all that.

more bollocks: the constant farting around with products with french names does nothing. Wear sunscreen, don't smoke, eat properly, choose right parents.

TaliZorah · 14/10/2015 10:41

I wear makeup almost every day, I have really nice skin because I look after it. Wearing makeup doesn't damage your skin there's nothing wrong in wanting to look nice

TaliZorah · 14/10/2015 10:43

Special any need to refer to people who wear it as sticky vampires? And skincare (a good cleanser and moisturiser, retinoids, and so on) will definitely improve your skin.

specialsubject · 14/10/2015 10:49

bollocks - no proof. If farty french creams did anything noticeable, no-one would have wrinkles. Retinoids apparently do a little, but I can never see a difference even in the most heavily photo-shopped before and afters. Don't care anyway, we get old - better than the alternative. Better learn to live with it.

I don't have many wrinkles and have rarely worn slap, and moisturiser (for itchy days) is the cheapest stuff possible. It's all the same. I do wear sunscreen and I've never smoked, also never dieted (not fat either)

and do read properly. I didn't say makeup wearers were sticky vampires, I said sticky red lips and vampire eyes is the look. Opinions are allowed, although I won't give them in person unless asked. I also wouldn't tell someone without makeup that they looked ill!!

no bloke bothers with all this shit.

squoosh · 14/10/2015 10:50

I wear makeup every day and my skin is bloody gorgeous. Couldn't give a fiddler's fart if random bods think I'd look better without it.

Dogzeyes · 14/10/2015 11:06

Tbh I think the most important things that affect skin are diet, hydration and genetics!

saucony · 14/10/2015 11:19

I do find that some women are abnormally judgmental about make up and it goes both ways. I sit right in the middle, like the vast majority of people, I suspect. It's just the loud people that shout their opinions. I would definitely go to the shops without make up and in fact, I'm leaving to do so in 20 odd minutes. I also like to put a bit of foundation on for work and social events as I am hideously pale and thinks it brightens up my face.

I find it bizarre that in real life, I get the odd person sneering for how little make up I wear but then on MN, you get the equally scathing comments. Why do some women care so much about what others do to their face?

BolshierAryaStark · 14/10/2015 12:11

Well I don't know if what your friend said is true but I can tell you the only time I haven't worn make-up since I was about 15 is on holiday or if I'm ill & I have a good complexion. I'm approaching 37.

MrsMook · 14/10/2015 12:28

I rarely wear make up and my skin is in good condition. As a teenager I was prone to eczema and stage make up was a trigger so I never got into a habit of wearing it. As my skin is otherwise decent, and my features defined enough, I've never felt the need to start wearing it regularly.

Unless a person finds makeup aggravating, you'd probably find those with skin issues more likely to use make up to manage or hide them, rather than it being the cause.

Make up is better quality than it once was.

If you want to wear it, then go ahead.

trilbydoll · 14/10/2015 12:29

It's a standing joke that only about 5 people in the entire world have seen my mil without eyeliner on. Her skin looks ok to me.

I read an article that claimed women who wear makeup to work are paid more than those who don't. So if you're going to wear makeup anywhere, work seems a good place to start! (I suspect it wasn't a particularly scientific study!)

NanTheWiser · 14/10/2015 12:37

I am 68, and have worn makeup 6 days out of seven for over 50 years - the full works, foundation (now use mineral powder as it's lighter on the skin), eye makeup, blusher and lipstick. I'd feel naked without it Smile. I have pretty good skin, very few wrinkles (although my face is going south these days). My mother had remarkably good skin well into her 80s, so I think it's down it genetics really.
Your friend is talking a load of rubbish.

Happfeet2911 · 14/10/2015 13:24

Good god, you're easily terrified aren't you! Of course YANBU - it's your choice and you certainly will not damage your skin by wearing it. Personally I wouldn't dream of going to work without make-up but would not think any less of anyone who didn't.

Janeymoo50 · 14/10/2015 13:31

I don't wear make-up, never have really. The reason why, well I never ever got to grips with putting it on (back in the early 80's etc when I was a blossoming teen). My mum never either, so I never picked up tips from here. PLus, I couldn't see what to do as I wore/wear glasses and that was a hindrence really. I have some friends who've always had a full face of make-up and they look lovely, some are older than me (well into their 50's) and they have lovely skin. I would imagine that as long as the products are good quality and you have a good cleaning regime (and keep hydrated) then surely it's not doing any harm, but I'm not an expert (clearly).

MyFavouriteClintonisGeorge · 14/10/2015 13:56

Your friend is what is known in my family as a Job's comforter.

WaggleBee · 14/10/2015 14:59

Yes she's talking balls.

Taking heaps of vitamin D will really help your cystic acne clear up btw. As will zinc. Mac foundations have always caused skin break outs on me. An oil free one might suit your skin type better.

Make sure you're cleansing properly every night. Other than that, wear as much or as little as you fancy.

I love waking up haggard and grim and thinking I can look better than this! WE HAVE THE TECHNOLOGY!!!-AnnaRose

I love^ this! Grin

Justmyluck1 · 14/10/2015 15:03

Your friend is a bit of a silly cow isn't she op?

Grazia1984 · 14/10/2015 15:05

I don't often wear it and it cannot be that great to put fake manufactured junk over your face but lots of people do and seem fine so go ahead if you like it.

specialsubject · 14/10/2015 15:57

one more time for the hard of science - makeup is heavily tested; lots of cute furry animals have suffered for the cause although they don't now, in the EU at any rate. Unless you are allergic to an ingredient, or using something dodgy off the internet, it will do neither good nor bad for your skin. Or your appearance.

wear it if you want.

TaliZorah · 14/10/2015 16:04

Special it isn't all the same. There are some products which are overpriced however if you know about skincare, some creams really are wonderful.

I can tell the difference in my dry skin depending on what cream ive used.

There is science behind a lot of it - alpha hydroxyacids for example, humectants and so on

ConstanceMarkYaBitch · 14/10/2015 16:09

If you think what you put on your face can't affect your face unless you're allergic or its dodgy, you're the one hard of science! At a basic level, a lot of make-up is comedogenic, ie pore-blocking, that can easily cause you to break out in spots. And that is just one thing!