When men say "I prefer women without make-up"...

[ThingThatIBring]

AIBU to think that when men say "I prefer women without make-up" that they don't usually know what they're talking about (and don't usually have a clue that women ARE wearing it)?

The reality of this statement is usually:

• I don't like it when women wear really obvious MAKE-UP make-up (loads of lippy and false eyelashes etc) or when it's badly applied (making it obvious);
• I like really good-looking fresh-faced young women whose complexions, etc., look smooth without it;
• I like to think of myself as very wholesome (and maybe a bit of a feminist).

What they DON'T mean (but don't realise they don't mean) is:

• I prefer the look of the average woman of my own age without any make-up on.

I know so many men who say this, and it always mildly irritates me as it's said like it's a kind of virtue.

As a post-mating-phase human, it's not like it really affects my life. But it always makes me feel for all the women who are still in a position where they're affected by this nonsense...

I've never had a man say this to me.

Yanbu...I really dislike it when men say this. I find it quite misogynistic.

Gosh, really, @PickAChew? The number of "leftie" men (especially in academic or related fields) I've heard say this over the years...

@Comedycook and do you have no feelings about make up on men? I prefer my men without make up.

Always reminds me of this from Amy Schumer

Amy Schumer skit that had me in stitches on this very topic

My friends boyfriend said he preferred women without makeup, I asked like who for example? He said Reece Witherspoon, Halle berry and Sandra bullock always look great and don’t wear makeup. Then said every man fancies at least one of the women from friends and every woman wanted to be one of them and they didn’t wear makeup but then the kardashians shot to fame and ‘the main one’ wear makeup and ‘another one’ sells it and that’s why it’s so popular now.

That was an interesting conversation.

Men rarely know what makeup a woman is wearing so have a skewed idea of what a natural beauty is. I've seen this comment made online and the women have had to point out that the model is wearing makeup like mascara.

A guy friend said this to me years ago, and then said “I prefer naturally pretty, like you!” (Cringing hard looking back, if he was trying to make a move on me it went right over my head)
All I said back was “I have a full face of makeup on right now”.

They’ve got no idea what no makeup actually looks like, they’re just thinking of “no makeup” makeup.

Well I do prefer men a bit rough around the edges.
All groomed and suited looks good, but I rather mingle with a man in jeans and shirt, with a bit of stubble on a daily basis than having to wait for them to get ready. A natural look is attractive to me. Not unkept, but not spending forever in getting ready.
Maybe is the same for some men, they like a natural look.

Tbh I wear makeup for me (and probably because I've been conditioned by society). But if I want to wear my heaviest smokey eye IDGAF what any man has to say about it.

I know plenty of women who look better without make up.

@Mumoblue nice one

YADNBU

I've known afew men to point at a picture of a celebrity and say "see, she looks so much better without makeup".... thats when I point out they are wearing makeup, just not heavy make up.

I think social media and filters has skewed men's (and women's?) idea of what natural really looks like.

I've heard it from loads of men...it can mean several things

They only want a woman who is naturally beautiful

They think women who wear a lot of make up are a bit loose

They don't actually prefer no make up.. they just think they're meant to say that

[quote Porcupineintherough]@Comedycook and do you have no feelings about make up on men? I prefer my men without make up.[/quote]
What an irrelevant comment

Yeah I hate this, they absolutely mean (intended or otherwise) that they like naturally beautiful, fresh face, clear skin, luscious lips, long eyelashes etc etc. In reality, if they saw a line up of us with and without makeup they would be mostly attracted to the makeup versions.

@movintothecountry

Thanks for reminding me of this great song but also this is going to get stuck in my head again now 😂

@Momijin

I know plenty of women who look better without make up.

Don’t believe you 🤣

I saw this ages ago and this thread made me remember it - www.reddit.com/r/feemagers/comments/crgoom/while_there_are_exceptions_a_lot_of_guys_who_say/

It’s a woman in four photos - what men think heavy makeup is, what heavy makeup really is, what men think no makeup is, what no makeup actually is.

That song is hilarious!

What men mean, of course, is, “I don’t fancy Barbara Cartland”.

DH said it to me on our second date completely unaware that I had extensions, false tan and a load of makeup on.
I told him frankly that if I wanted to wear a load of makeup I would and he sharp learned to keep his opinions on that to himself

A work colleague once used me as an example of how women look better without makeup. As the rest of the women in the group sniggered I politely pointed out that never, in 12 years, had he seen me without makeup. They really have no idea.

Conversely I’ve had a number of both men and women arguing with me that my hair is dyed. That actually is completely natural

It's like men who say they love it when a woman eats loads and pigs out with them...but stay a size 8 please. Unreasonable expectations. You want a slim woman...she probably has to work at it and watch what she eats. You want a stunner....she will probably need to put on a some mascara and blush. It's about male entitlement and how they want women to fulfill all expectations

I know my DH doesn't like heavy make-up but it's literally because the idea of having stuff on your face gives him the 'ick', like he refuses to have facepaint on 'cos it freaks him out. He also knows to keep that to himself if I want to wear strong makeup

But yes, I think a lot of guys who say they 'don't like makeup' actually like women to either look young and fresh faced, or with light makeup on if they don't look young and fresh faced without it.