To ask: if you don't wear make up regularly, what do you genuinely think when you see someone who does?

[Mingewithafringe]

Really interested to hear people's views on this as it's something the socially anxious person in me has always wondered.

I wear a lot of make up by most people's standards. It stems from my teens where I developed bad skin and was just desperate to cover it. It's a lot better now but I have scars and patches that I feel insecure about.
So as well as a concealer and powder foundation, I also fill in my eyebrows daily, wear liquid eyeliner on my top lid, kohl pencil on my waterline, mascara, bronzer and either matte lipstick or a tinted lip balm. Without the eye make up I look tired or ill (people have actually said that!)

This is most days unless I know for sure I won't be going out that day. I have applied it for so many years that it only takes me about 5/10 minutes to put it on in the morning, and the amount of money I spend on make up has just become one of those accepted expenses, although I don't actually spend a lot because aside from my foundation, the rest is usually affordable stuff like Maybelline, Bourjois etc

I go through phases where I just hate the fact that I feel like I have to wear it and so I try to wean myself off it e.g. By not wearing eyeliner or by going for a subtle/minamalistic look. But I just don't feel confident and end up reverting back!

I have always wondered what ladies who don't wear make up are thinking when they talk to me. If I walk in to a room, 99% of the time I am wearing the most make up out of any woman. So ironically, I wear make up so that people don't think "look at her scars", but now have developed this insecurity where I feel that when I talk to someone, all they are thinking is "jeez how much make up is she wearing, it's a toddler and baby group for crying out loud"!!

Am I being silly?

I am not the person that you are asking but I would say that you shouldn't feel conscious - people notice that - wear with absolute confidence. I wear make up all the time and I LOVE eyeliner. I am fascinated by people wearing make up, their style etc. It is great to kook different, to express yourself through clothes, hair, makeup, however you want to. People aren't all.meant to look the same. Where's the fun in that?! If questioned about why I wear makeup I explain that it is the most creative part of my day, using different colours, styles etc. It is only your business, you don't need to justify it to anyone. X

YANBU if it makes you feel good. I don't suit a lot of make up. Foundation highlights my wrinkles and lipstick makes my tiny mouf look wizened. But a bit of eyeliner plus eyebrows and some pink lipgloss and I feel a ton better. Please yourself x

It is a funny thing that make-up is such a common thing in so many different cultures. It doesn't really make much sense if you think about it. Covering up an imperfection such as an angry spot is more understandable but why do so many people 99.9% of which are women think their eyelashes are not quite noticible enough, that their lips natural colour needs enhancing or that their cheeks are not rosy enough.

I took this photo last year after a night out, took one side off to see the comparison!

Most of the time I don't notice. Really thick black and red circles, eyelids with stripes and so on are of course noticeable.

But I never comment because it is a boring subject. And no one looks tired or unwell without makeup and not so with it, it doesn't do that.

People who make negative comments on appearance should be told not to be so rude, given that a well deserved arse kicking is not allowed.

It's only really your lipstick and on closer inspection, your eyebrow, that gives it away Offler. Your skin looks flawless on both sides!

Re the photo - I can see lip stain and if I look hard, spider lashes. Only the lip stain is noticeable because of the colour contrast.

Other than that, no difference.

I don't wear it as I said above (or very rarely) but I don't go round judging people based on if they wear it.

I suppose all of us should be saying if you see someone with make up what do you think of - Donald Trump I am afraid comes to mind at the moment; fake, pointless and shows people overly caring about things that don't matter but i really don't give it a much of a thought. I do think my philosophy os spending the same time as a man would on appearance over the last 30 years has been absolutely marvellous and worked out very well well and that vanity is a sin.

You know what, I just love looking at Muslim ladies who wear the hijab. OMG they look amazing, their makeup is just the biz. Probably to make up (sorry) for everything else being hidden away.

Just an observation on their make up, not racist or anything like that, before the though police might decide to descend upon me!

My mum always said that you cannot polish a diamond. So we are stuck with what we have. If you are gorgeous there is no need for make up really, but if, like me you are just an average Janey Mack a little more effort is required for special occasions. But I don't bother much day to day.

I hope your mum didn't say that about you, beggin.

I wear the same as you OP and often get comments from non make up wearers asking how I can be bothered to do it every day and they call me glamorous. I don't see it that way at all it's just who I am, I've been wearing it every day for twenty five years.
So I guess that's what some people might think. Most probably don't even notice or care. Don't worry about it!

One thing I judge is when I see someone who is following a fashion, which clearly doesn't suit them.

The huge dark stencilled eyebrows and the false eyelashes the size of a crow's wing as a fashion statement for example.

That's insecurity speaking.

Thanks Eggs 😁

That's my 'heavier' look too 😆.

I do try eyeliner and eyeshadow occasionally, but I think my eyes are too deep and maybe that's why it always ends up creasing? But at 41 I sometimes think I've missed the 'glam' boat!!

@Assassinated,

What mum meant was perfection cannot be perfected, but we are what we are. She has amazing skin and never used anything but soap and water all her life, and a quick slick of lippy was all she ever used when going out.

Her three daughters didn't inherit this marvellous skin, but we are lovely just the same!

Sorry, I misread the phrase!

But, diamonds absolutely can be and are polished... so I don't really understand the phrase anyway...

I love make up.
But then I love fashion, I love doing stuff to my hair. I love perfume.

I like to enhance my natural attributes but also to project myself creatively by my appearance.

I don't mind what others do or don't do.

I don't even mind the orange foundation, contouring, dark eye brow look. I wouldn't wear it myself but it's a fashion statement for the younger generation. Disliking it probably shows our age .

Can't people just wear what they want though? Why myst we all look 'natural' and not experiment or look plain weird if we want? Why not make something about you a bit more interesting? I am not a subscriber to 'natural beauty' or whatever. Some of the most interesting and revolutionary people in history and culture have been a bit odd. (Step up David Bowie, Boy George, Lady Gaga, Vivien Westwood, Jimi Hendrox, Sid Vicious, Freddie Mercury etc) Do what you like with your body I reckon, you only live this life once.

@Assassinated,

It is just a thing Mum used to say, probably meaning that diamonds are perfection, and they cannot be made any better. Well that's the meaning I got from it, and Gran used to say it too!

No worries, I got my meaning from it. Onwards and upwards!

I always wear mine, mostly as a mask. Even when my MH is horrendous and I'm in the middle of a break down no one would know by looking at me.

(Last time I was hospitalised the second thing I enquired about after my DD's was my makeup bag)

I dong care what other women (or men) do, whatever makes people happy. Lots of trends are daft but makeup ones don't really do anyone (except the person wearing it) any damage.

Ladies, we're all beautiful as we are.

I kind of wish we could get rid of make up altogether so we didn't have to have this idea that we must improve on what we are, when what we are is just fine. And real.

Sorry if I'm being a crunchy twat, I've had a wine. But it is how I feel.

I've never worn makeup at all. Even got married without a single scrap on.
But I don't think anything of it at all.
If someone wants to wear makeup that's their choice. If they don't, that's also their choice

Minge for relevance I wear Primer, tinted moisturiser, concealer, foundation, bronzer, blusher, highlighter, eyeshadow primer, eyeshadow, eyeliner, mascara (x2) eyebrow pencil, eyebrow gel, lip primer, lipstick, lipcote and finally setting spray.

Takes me 15 minutes for everyday wear.

I tend to be impressed and feel quite slovenly. Part of it is laziness but also i never got into contouring etc - wouldn't know where to start.

Do most men wear make up? I doubt it. A shave and shower and they are out the door!

So maybe, just maybe, the make up we wear is (jeez I'll be flamed I know this) is to attract the non make up wearing male.

Just a thought, and now I will duck down!

I know a few men who wear some make up. Doesn't bother me.

I never wear make up for a man or anyone else, just me! Another quite crass assumption sadly. I do find some of this mildly offensive. No man has ever cared about me with or without make up. My BF says he likes seeing me happy, regardless of what is on my face.

I wear foundation, contour, blusher, mascara and do my eyebrows. I might wear eyeliner for a night out.
I agree there is a degree of creative happiness in it, like an art. I have spent time teaching myself new things like nails and countouring - why should this be any less creative or valid than painting on a canvas? Drawing on paper? Making a blanket? You create those things because you enjoy it. I enjoy make up and learning new styles. I also enjoy a multitude of other things. I'm not vain in that I spend hours or a fortune, it's a little hobby or a little luxury. It actually can be FUN