To think wearing make up doesn’t make you vain?

[Looklikewemadeit]

Interested to hear peoples thoughts on this. I always wear make up unless on holiday with close family or days when I’m guaranteed not to see anyone except dh/dc. We’re not talking a small amount - I wear foundation, bronzer, blusher, eyeliner, powder daily. It’s been suggested a few times recently by friends and Dm that wearing make up is vain.

I’m just wondering is this a common perseption? What do mumsnetters think of women who wear makeup regularly or do you do it yourself? Personally I wear make up because I was bullied at school for having acne and being ugly. This was when I started wearing it and now I feel really self conscious and embarrassed if people (anyone) see me without it. I don’t think this makes me vain? But as I don’t want to go into my reasons with everyone I know I wonder if a lot of people I know think i am.

I dont think it makes you vain. Women are under a lot of pressure to present their image carefully. Its hardly surprising many women paint their faces

I wear a bit of tinted moisturiser and powder on my face so I don’t scare children and dogs I don’t intentionally look like a zombie without it, it’s just comes naturally.

Not into the blow up doll look though

Well I’m vain too then. When I feel good, I have a better day. Although I wear similar to you, I don’t actually look very made up as I use natural colours. Lots of things we do could be deemed as vain, brushing your hair, having braces on your teeth, shining your shoes... it really doesn’t matter as long as it’s your own choice.

No, it’s not vain. I also suffered terribly from acne and have lots of scarring so make up gives me confidence. I also look like utter shit without it

I don't think it makes you vain. It's your face, your reasons, your decision. I wear make-up on occasion - big nights out only really - but I do it to express myself. It feels like a creative thing, a form of self expression, and why the bloody hell shouldn't I used the body and the face I have to express myself to the world? That's precisely one of the things I have the authority to do with my own body!

I wear full makeup most days. Always if I have to go out somewhere, and occasionally when I’m just at home with DP as it makes me feel better about myself as I don’t have great skin and I look exhausted without a bit of eye makeup on. I wish I could look fresh faced without any makeup on but it’s just not the case for me.

No! It doesn't make you vain at all, make up can improve your self esteem and confidence especially if you've had a rough time in the past with people judging you. Equally there's no issue with no make up or minimal make up either.

Personally, I don't wear very much when I'm just knocking around the house but I do like to do my make up and I enjoy wearing it and buying it. Do what makes you happy, wear whatever you want to, but I am sure you are beautiful with or without make up, it's what's inside that counts

Surely wearing make up is the opposite of being vain?
I wear make up because I feel I am not beautiful enough without it...i.e I don't think I'm beautiful, i.e I am not vain

In that case I'm vainer than a peacock. I won't leave the house without make up.

I love wearing makeup. Im not vain, i just like looking nice. Im very pale so without it I look ill.

I hate this. SIL and MIL don't ever wear make up and frequently say how vain it is to do so. I don't see why at all, perhaps if we missed a film at the cinema because I was applying mascara I could understand it but that never happens!

I don't think what you describe makes you vain. You do you.

Ok well this is a nice positive thread! Was a bit worried when I posted but there as obviously no need! Most of my close friends don’t wear any make up and think it’s odd that I do - same with dm. Suppose it didn’t hurt to get opinions outside of your circle once in a while

I think almost everyone is vain to a greater or lesser extent. I'm lazy so rarely wear make up, if someone wears it everyday I think they care more about their appearance than me, but not that they're vain to a negative degree.

YANBU. You can't win with some people - either you're spending too much time on your appearance or you're letting yourself go. The only sane thing is to do what makes you feel comfortable.

Wishicouldsleep - my feelings exactly

I don't wear makeup and feel sorry for people who feel they can't leave the house without it. I think they are self-conscious rather than vain.
Have you ever seen a man without makeup on and thought they looked too hideous to leave the house? Have you ever seen a woman without makeup and thought the same? I'm guessing not, so why judge yourself so much harsher than you would judge others?

Well it takes a fair amount of time and effort to research, purchase and apply it all - so I can see why it is seen as vain as it all shows a preoccupation with your outer appearance, I certainly see it as vanity in most cases. But some people wear it because of insecurity and because of the pressure in society for women to conform to an idealised image of femininity, to see ourselves as decorative objects, we know we are always being looked at and judged. Makeup especially routines that take multiple different products and application tools is realms beyond basic hygiene and standards of appearance, it is a choice.

I don't think it's vain, some of us need the extra confidence it gives us. I spent all my adult life wearing make up until I got to my 40s, and then I decided that I just didn't care that much anymore and started wearing less and less, until I got to the point I am now that I only wear make up if I'm going to a party or event. I don't wear any make up at all on a daily basis, not even concealer or mascara (I have blonde lashes). I guess getting older has given me confidence in a different way to the way make up did previously.

I wear make up because I feel it makes me look more wide awake and gives my face more definition - I'm very pale - but it's not heavy make up and I'm far from vain.

I certainly don't look at a women with make up and think she's vain, in the same way I don't look at a woman without make up and think she doesn't care how she looks.

Forget what other people think. You do what's right for you and what makes you feel happy. It's got nothing to do the friends and family.

I wear make up because I'm not vain if that makes sense !

I'm 24 the pressure to look "nice" is real!
I feel self conscious without my make up and with it gives me more of a confidence boost.

There's nothing wrong with or not wearing it xx

I don't think it makes you vain but I do think it's a shame when people feel too ugly without it to appear in public. My face is what it is. Maybe it would look less like a dropped pie if I painted it every day but I can't be arsed.

There's another thread running where the OP thinks you have no pride in yourself if you're not made-up so we can't win!

Do whatever makes you feel good.

Btw, my mum used to say I look ill without it. She was right!

Is it any more vain than wearing jewellery or colourful/stylish clothes?

We each decorate our bodies in a way that pleases us. Different people choose to do that in different ways.

“Vain” would be taking a million selfies, never passing a mirror without posing or thinking you were superior because of your appearance.

If anything, from your post it sounds like you wear make up every day because you are the opposite of vain about your looks.