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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to think that most women look better with a little make-up?

141 replies

CatastropheKate · 09/11/2017 11:23

Not a lot, just a little tinted moisturiser, mascara and a lip colour. I know I do, but I don't do it often - just evenings out and certainly not for the school run/work or daily life.

So why do people trowel it on? Once you can see the make-up it's like wearing a mask. I know that people get used to seeing themselves with a fake face, but surely easing off a bit would be beneficial?

When did it become the norm for young teenagers to wear a full face of heavy make-up?

It seems such a peculiar thing to do.

OP posts:
Tippz · 09/11/2017 12:57

Not really any of your business how much make up people put on is it? Hmm

Just another stick to beat women with! Angry

@Sienna33

Only woman I know who doesn't wear make up looks 17 at 33

I doubt it. No-one looks a generation younger than they are.

Eolian · 09/11/2017 13:02

YABU to not understand that it's about the dictates of fashion, not about what objectively looks good (which is, anyway, a matter of opinion).

You can look back on practically any trend over the decades and centuries and say "Why the hell did they think that looked good?!"

And as for 'women look good with a little make-up', presumably so would men if fashion had gone that way and it were the social norm for them to wear it.

I think heavy make-up looks awful. But I know that my view has been formed by my background, upbringing and social circle. It's an opinion, not a fact.

Ahardmanisgoodtofind · 09/11/2017 13:14

I wear a fullish face daily, Foundation, concealer, mascara tiny bit of eyeshadow, and blush. Either tinted balm or a deep red lip depending on what I'm doing/wearing. I look exhausted and quite ill if I don't. Apart from the red lips it all looks quite natural. I once went to work with no makeup and was sent home despite my protests because they thought I looked so ill. I'm yet to find anything other than foundation that evens out and brightens my skin tone and I have hereditary dark circles and prominent dark veins on my nose and either side of my lips, without cover I look bruised. I love people watching and seeing how different everyones make up style is, and I feel more confident in my self with my slap on wish I had the time and patience to contour

SummerRoberts · 09/11/2017 13:14

I wear a lot of makeup every day. I like to think I know how to put it on well enough that it makes me look like a better, fresher version of myself. I like the way it makes me look and most of all I love putting it on and playing with different eye/lip looks when I have the time. I don’t do it for anyone but myself, so wouldn’t really expect anyone else to have an opinion or even a second thought about my makeup.

PolkaDottyRose · 09/11/2017 13:18

I never wear make up, only because my skin gets so oily that it slides off after an hour, whatever I use. It does mean that on a night out I look like I haven't put much of an effort in, which is a bit sad, because I really have.

Original poster
CatastropheKate · 09/11/2017 13:30

I wear a fullish face daily, Foundation, concealer, mascara tiny bit of eyeshadow, and blush ... I once went to work with no makeup and was sent home despite my protests because they thought I looked so ill.

Which I do understand - everyone was used to you looking a certain way, 'normal' and you looked different, but if they'd never seen you in make-up, your 'normal' would be perfectly fine, and you'd only look different when you were actually ill.

OP posts:
pasturesgreen · 09/11/2017 13:31

I'm certainly no teenager, well aware of the dictates of fashion and society and yada yada and wear makeup every day.

Ah, and I couldn't give a flying fuck whether you think I put on too much, OP.

formerbabe · 09/11/2017 13:32

I wear a full face everyday. It looks natural. Stops me looking exhausted and ill!

Original poster
CatastropheKate · 09/11/2017 13:39

And to those advising that I should 'get a life' and telling me it's 'Not really any of your business how much make up people put on is it?' - you really need to chill a bit - I can reassure you that I don't give it much thought at all, but I was saddened to see some of DS's former classmates with their lovely fresh faces (12&13) covered in the stuff.

OP posts:
Sienna333 · 09/11/2017 13:40

True story, we all think it. She has good skin and is petite which helps.

Auburn2001 · 09/11/2017 13:43

I go through phases where I take a great interest in makeup and applying it, but then it starts to feel like a tyranny, so I go back to doing the minimum for me (eyebrow pencil, powder, concealer)
Then I get bored with that and start prowling the makeup displays in stores.
I have sparse eyebrows (and am allergic to eyebrow tinting) and hormonal skin. I would love to feel confident leaving the house without makeup.

Auburn2001 · 09/11/2017 13:45

I also have a couple of friends in their 50s with lovely skin and nice thick eyebrows. They have never worn makeup in their lives.

Do they look younger than they are? Not in the slightest.

I think genetics have a lot to do with it. Nothing to do with wearing or not wearing makeup.

Ahardmanisgoodtofind · 09/11/2017 13:50

I have been out with out make-up, I like to give me skin a break and strangers have been known to ask if I'm feeling ok, because I look bruised and ashen, my skin although mostly clear can mostly be described as a sickly colour. I got beaten up during a robbery last year and couldn't wear make up, people were pointing out the different bruises. Embarrassingly several "bruises" were actually just veins.

RoseWhiteTips · 09/11/2017 13:51

Aside from some teenage girls who sport slug brows, an unearthly sheen and some muddy shadows, I think all women look better with make up. In fact, I think they can look ten years younger easily in before and after pics.

Queeniebed · 09/11/2017 13:53

Personally I prefer a little bit of makeup. Whilst some women look amazing with a lot of makeup - I would look unreal (as in fake). Its the people who wear orange foundation that really puts me off - I remember working with a girl as a teenage and she had a distinctive line and her face was very orange. The other girls loved it. I suppose I cant say much as I only discovered makeup in my 20s

Mamabear4180 · 09/11/2017 14:08

Yep agree OP. A little is nice. None looks too bare to me and too much looks daft.

sinceyouask · 09/11/2017 14:09

Their face, their choice, their business. Not yours Hmm

RoseWhiteTips · 09/11/2017 14:11

Someone upthread accused the OP of being “goady”! Unbelievable!

PricillaQueenOfTheDesert · 09/11/2017 14:12

Hey I’m sure we’re all adults here. Why not leave others to make their own decisions as to how much or how little make up they wear.
I’m happy with no make up for working from home.

I wouldn’t even consider going out with just a scrape of tinted moisturiser and mascara.

My philosophy is ; if it doesn’t affect you or your life, what the hell difference does another woman’s make up/fashion/ partner choices have to do with you!

Ollivander84 · 09/11/2017 14:13

My basic makeup is probably others peoples full face Grin but it looks natural, just more polished for me

WomblingThree · 09/11/2017 14:14

Define better though. You say ...women look better...
Better than what? Better is a comparative not an absolute.

I get sick of people slagging off women for choosing to wear lots of makeup or have thick brows or fake tan. It’s up to them, it’s none of anyone else’s business. It’s incredibly rude and bitchy to describe them as “slug eyebrows” or “rough as guts”. The great thing about living in a free country is that women can put exactly what they like on their faces, or nothing, as the case may be.

I love makeup. I like reading about it, buying it, looking at it, and putting it on. I like how I look with it on. I’m by no means an expert, and I don’t wear Insta-makeup because it wouldn’t suit me. My daughter does sometimes and she looks great. She also looks great with no makeup at all.

I don’t like the underlying sneering that my daughter and I are somehow less worthy because we enjoy a bit of slap. I mean, I’m not going to list the usual MN disclaimers about how academic/philanthropic/generally amazing we are (because we aren’t, we are ordinary and boring) but we aren’t shallow and vacuous either.

WomblingThree · 09/11/2017 14:19

Oh, and I genuinely don’t care if some random thinks I would look better without makeup. My face is mine, not public property. You go barefaced and I’ll wear makeup and we will both be happy.

canyouseemyusername · 09/11/2017 14:19

I don't wear makeup. I have a clear complexion but I do have dark undrereyes. I couldn't give a monkey's prostate what you think I should or shouldn't put on my face.

canyouseemyusername · 09/11/2017 14:21

My face is mine, not public property

Exactly!