Aibu to think you look younger without make-up?

[SalemShadow]

Just that! Been asked for ID constantly lately and not been wearing makeup as giving my skin a break. I'm 40. This never normally happens. Do you think you look younger without makeup actually?

I look younger without make up I have a "baby face" but I'm much more confident with make up on.

I know several people who wear heavy make up and they look older. They look so much younger au natural.

I haven’t been IDed since I was 35

scary how many don't like their real appearance.

yes, of course visible makeup ages - that's why kids wear it to get into venues. Check out Lucy worsley - a really young-looking 45 without the red circle round her lips, (even with thick tv makeup to play a serving wench) definitely her age with it (the rest of the time)

black eye circles add even more years. And BTW outside TV nothing conceal wrinkles, you are deluding yourselves if you think that a coating of beige hides them.

scary how many don't like their real appearance

I disagree. I enhance what I have. My make up takes less than five minutes to apply and I definitely look better. I don't think for a second it hides my wrinkles.

Don’t really care if I look younger or not. I want to look like I have eyebrows and not to resemble a ghost. That’s why I have makeup.

I think lots of women look a lot better than they realise, so don't often feel comfortable without makeup. I never wear any and whenever I've told colleagues etc my age they always say they'd've guessed 10 years younger.

I also think a lot of women are genuinely deluded on the effect make-up has on their own faces. They see heavily made-up celebrities, posing for professional photos with professional lighting, usually filtered, and believe make-up does the same.

In real light, it's not a magic wand, you really don't change that much!

It's also a matter of taste, the very heavy big dark eyebrows don't look so good in my own opinion. Even Kate Middleton didn't look that great on the photoshoot she did for a magazine. Her more natural eyebrows suit her a lot better. (and she is far from make-up free!)

I don’t think I’m deluded, I genuinely look a lot prettier with make up on. The difference is greater as I’ve got older. I’d say my face is about a 7.5 with make up and a 5/10 without any. I don’t wear thick or heavy makeup.

I have a few friends that hardly ever wear any make up and when they do (about once a year) the transformation is amazing. My DH was in shock at how different one friend looked with some make up on.

And if they are deluded and makeup gives them a pep in their step and an added shot of joie de vivre, what does it matter.

it doesn't matter. It's their time and their money they waste. (If only they could tart up at home, and not in a commuter train early morning) But no one said the thread was a deep philosophical topic.

Not sure why you think feeling good is anything subversive though

Why does that bother you, women 'tarting themselves up' (what a misogynistic slur, shudder) on public transport?
because personal grooming should be kept for your own private bathroom. It's not that hard, get up 5 minutes earlier if you have to.

What's misogynistic about that?

I'm 24 and get IDd for age 16 restriction items when I don't have makeup on

I'm 37 with three young kids, I've aged about twenty years since I was 30. I've never worn much makeup as standard and still don't generally bother, I like my face even if it's getting noticeably older! That said I have pale eyelashes and brows and these days a little mascara, brow definition and a subtle lip tint make me look far less haggard. People certainly comment that I'm looking well on the days I can be bothered. By contrast dramatic eyes or lips, which I wore very well when I was younger and smoother now make me look very mutton-y, and foundation is absolutely out of the question if I want to look anything under 60 so I no longer have an 'evening' make up look (or an evening social life to wear it to)

I would truly kill to know if there's a secret to disguising puffy dark eye bags without looking like I've trowelled on the polyfilla though.

@JusticeForSandra, the misogynistic part was the use of 'tarting up'.

What is a tart and how does what you do to your face make you one?

Yes. I get IDd still if I don't have makeup on (36). If I wear it, never get id'd anymore.

Sorry haven't read the full thread, but I genuinely can't imagine a 40 year old being asked for ID!? Even one who really looked good, make up or not. Bizarre!

Sweeping generalisation alert:

Women under 30 look younger without makeup.

Women over 40 look younger with makeup.

Women in their 30s look like women in their 30s.