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

[CatastropheKate]

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.

I'm not a fan of current make-up trends. On the occasions when I wear make-up, I keep it fairly minimal and just use a little subtle make-up to emphasize my features and look a bit more polished for a special event. I don't tend to follow fashion either enough to be in it or left particularly unfashionable.

80s make-up was very artificial, but looked fun and fairly honest that it wasn't a natural look. Artificial for the fun of being artificial doesn't bother me as much as obviously fake "natural".

Make-up that is well done and well chosen to compliment the person wearing it, be that looking natural or otherwise is great and doesn't particularly attract my attention other than observing that the wearer looks good. Current trends are easy to get wrong though. Bad choices of foundation that don't match skin tone, overly heavy eyebrows painted into a perma-scowl, tarantula eyelashes and odd looking contouring look strange. It's when it's done in a way that doesn't compliment the wearer that it becomes obvious that more is not always best. Heavy make-up can look good, but its not obviously heavy make-up when it's flattering.

Yes but Rose my friends don't want to look ten years younger. They are happy as they are and I wouldn't dream of suggesting that they start wearing makeup and watching makeup application video tutorials.
Just as I would be annoyed if they told me to stop wearing makeup. It is a personal choice.

I think for younger women especially, their make up is heavily influenced by social media.
The heavily made up eyes, brows, contouring does look good in a selfie picture and will probably receive lots of "likes" "You look gorge babe" on FaceBook or whatever. That seems almost more important than real life.

In the harsh light of day, it looks odd, almost like stage make up.

That said, I love make up.

Just leave people alone and be happy with your method.

Why do you care what other people do to their own faces?!

To be perfectly honest, most of the time I'm imagining how much better young girls these days would look with less makeup.

This aside, I feel transformed by a bit of bronzer, eyebrow filling in and a bit of lipstick. The no makeup look is not for me.

Serious question OP, do you think most men would look better with a little bit of makeup too? Maybe some bb cream to even out skin tone or concealer to hide dark circles under eyes?

Now I'm middle-aged I definitely look better with a little make-up - just blusher & eyeliner for daytime plus mascara & lipstick for evenings & occasionally a bit of brow pencil & even tinted moisturiser for a big night out.

I happily go about in my no-make-up-zombie-like state in the daytime though, as I often forget to put any on. It's just not a priority in the mornings.

My whole face is done everyday.

Brows, lips, eye-shadow, blusher etc and I look and feel good.

Puts a huge spring in my step.

I'd be quite happy to see more men wearing eyeliner.

Why should "looking a bit better" be the prime function of women though?

When people comment that those usually seen in full face make up look tired without, I wonder what they are referring to? A paler complexion than the foundation? Or shadows under the eyes?

I've never said nor heard anyone say that to a colleague unless in response to the colleague saying that they feel ill and tired. Surely saying "you look tired" to anyone but a good friend or family member in response solely to their naked face (not something they've said or the fact that they are falling asleep at their desk) is incredibly rude! I'm surprised so many people are told that simply when they don't wear make up.

Yes, it is a really rude comment. The response should be ' at least I'm not rude' or just a well deserved slap.

Well I have seen myself in the mirror and know I look better with more than just a little makeup. Thanks though.

It's incredibly rude, but happens to me frequently. With me though the "shadows" under my eyes are very very dark, bruise dark.actually my cousin does occasionally daily use under eye concealer because he has the same and people say it makes him look shifty.

Why should "looking a bit better" be the prime function of women though?

The prime function? You got that from this thread? I must have missed that bit.

People can what they like, male or female. I can't be bothered with make up and think I look better without it. Sometimes I put a bit on but not that often, a few times a year may be. If men (or women) want to put it on every day that's up to them.

Eighties makeup was worse than today's, I give you ..Twilight Teaser

I wear make up every day. I think most women look better for wearing some. Some of the scrubbed bun faces I see could definitely benefit from a bit of concealer or foundation.

Because it's trendy but mostly because of insecurity and low confidence.

It’s not a recent thing. As far back as the twenties heavy make up was fashionable, even the ancient Egyptians were fond of heavy eye make up.

I’m not a fan personally but what other people do to their own face is frankly none of mine or anyone else’s business.

I'm 50. I know I look better with make up and I love make up - I have since I was 14. I have ridiculous amounts of the stuff!

But I'm going through the menopause and am currently coping on about four hours sleep each night, no matter how early I go to bed, as a result of horrendous night sweats. I'm prioritising much needed sleep over getting up earlier to apply make up for work.

Five years ago, I'd have been horrified that I would go to work bare faced. Now, I couldn't care less. And has my standing at work as a Senior Manager changed any? Nope. In fact I'm being told I need to apply for promotion.

Each to their own every time. But I would love to see the 18th Century fashion for make up and fancy wigs for blokes come back. Let them get up early and make themselves look glamorous before work. A pit/ball wash and a smear of hair gel isn't really equitable!

I don't even own make up haha.

I think Noel Fielding look amazing in his makeup. Quite lovely.

The only thoughts I have regarding troweled on make-up is how much bigger a deal it must be when taking it all off with a new partner for the first time (the contrast will be huge!) compared to if they had a more natural look. A bit like wearing highly padded bras when you have small breasts. It's not to say that once it's off you'll be a disappointment, but it could come as a bit of a shock to the person you're "revealing" to. Personally I'm happier being more natural and not potentially seeing their face drop. What you see is what you get with me.