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...

Grooming:

Clean teeth with toothpaste
Splash face with cold water & tiny dab of cleansing milk (I like the smell)
Shower with shower gel
Roll-on deodorant, which instantly fades to vague hint of baking & forest
Clean teeth again before bed.

Detangle hair with wooden comb before washing it, twice a week, with shampoo & conditioner. Braid or tie up

Trim nails with clippers as needed.(no filing, no polish)
Cut hair myself every so often (professional cut maybe once a decade)

Lip balm if lips get chapped in winter
Plasters on fingers, often

Summer, barelegged - might epilate lower legs
(Never remove any other body hair)

Extra special event - healthy food & exercise

That's it!

@Midlifemusings

Based on this thread it is mostly women who look at other women who don't wear make-up and think they are hideously disgusting, ugly, ill looking beasts who would look so much better with make-up.

I really don't care that women think I look awful or ill for showing my face. I don't even own make-up. My face is what it is. Just like a man's face is what it is.

I haven't seen a single post where anyone has said this about other women. Some have said similar about themselves, others have said women look better in make up, but have not insulted anyone for not wearing it. Any comments about women looking hideous have been directed towards those who do wear make up. As usual. Truth be told, most of us who do wear it couldn't care less what other women do, as long as they're happy. I wish that were a two way street.

Some have said similar about themselves, others have said women look better in make up, but have not insulted anyone for not wearing it

Several have said everyone looks better with make up.

Which I do find insulting, as it is saying women who wear make up look better than those who don’t, and those choosing not do could do with “enhancing”, as they aren’t good enough au naturel.

I am interested to know though, if everyone looks better with make up, why men and children aren’t expected to wear it.

I MUCH prefer the way the woman in pic 1 looks (but I bet she has some make-up on)

@irregularegular

I MUCH prefer the way the woman in pic 1 looks (but I bet she has some make-up on)

She has. Eyeliner is most obvious. Without any makeup, you'd look very washed out with the flash in a photo like that too. It'll look a bit heavier in real life.

Both beautiful women and I like both looks.

[quote MorganSeventh]Always reminds me of this from Amy Schumer

[/quote]

I was wondering if someone had posted this

The 2 pics I put up (at 20.13 last night,) were to illustrate how different the woman who I used to know, looked when I usually saw her, compared to how I saw her once when she was going out to a party. She looked lovely normally, but she looked STUNNING all made up.

I never said pic No 1 didn't have any make up on.

And of course the 'women look better with no makeup' brigade are going to say No 1 looks better (even though she is wearing make up!!!) Personally, I think they both look great, but the woman in pic No 2 looks more stunning and glamourous. That is MY OPINION.

For some reason, the 'no-make-up-brigade' seem to have an issue with people having different opinions them. Why IS that?

I have repeated myself over and over on here now, (and am boring myself,) and I am never going to agree with the no-make-up brigade, and they are never going to agree with me. So I am bowing out of the thread now.

Also, I am off out for a few hours, so have a good day everyone.

I like the first look more for daytime, and the second more for evening.

@Comedycook

It's just all part of unrealistic male expectations of women.

Be thin....also eat loads and slob out with me
Look amazing...but don't spend lots of time or money on it.
Work...but also be a housewife

Which reminds me of this:

Be A Lady, They Said: vimeo.com/393253445

@Nomoreusernames1244

Some have said similar about themselves, others have said women look better in make up, but have not insulted anyone for not wearing it

Several have said everyone looks better with make up.

Which I do find insulting, as it is saying women who wear make up look better than those who don’t, and those choosing not do could do with “enhancing”, as they aren’t good enough au naturel.

I am interested to know though, if everyone looks better with make up, why men and children aren’t expected to wear it.

But that's the point. They're not saying that. No one is comparing a woman in make up to a different woman without it and saying the first looks better than the second. People who think this are saying that they think the same woman would look better in make up than she does without. It's just an opinion, the same as those who say that a woman in heavy make up, false lashes etc would look better without.

Women without makeup can look more sporty and less precious, which is appealing to men.
Of course, some are lucky enough to generally not need it. I forget who famously quipped that a woman's best friend is a good moisturiser. Clearly, looking after skin is a great habit to have.

It was said Ingrid Bergman had a perfect skin, and at times used to go under the film camera without makeup, and even turned down a valuable advertising contract for makeup on that basis.

@Nomoreusernames1244

Some have said similar about themselves, others have said women look better in make up, but have not insulted anyone for not wearing it

Several have said everyone looks better with make up.

Which I do find insulting, as it is saying women who wear make up look better than those who don’t, and those choosing not do could do with “enhancing”, as they aren’t good enough au naturel.

I am interested to know though, if everyone looks better with make up, why men and children aren’t expected to wear it.

That’s the weird message I got too.

How are we defining better? To me everyone looks better happy in their own skin, even if they don’t look groomed or pretty. Obviously happy is the key word. If make up makes you happy wear it.

It’s been fun but I am going to sign off with this. If your man expresses a preference about your appearance, take it for what it is… his preference. And it’s ok for him to have a view on how you look

Is it though?

Is it though?

It should be illegal to post this without Thor.

Women without makeup can look more sporty and less precious

I assure you I don't.

Several have said everyone looks better with make up.

It's an interesting point of view. I don't like an excessively groomed look on either men or women.

I don't care if others think I would look "better" with makeup on. I like looking like myself as I am.

I find it laughable that men think I care about their opinion on me wearing make up or not

I am 45. I never use makeup, and I have had several male (and female) friends commenting on it positively. Several female friends did not believe I didn't use any makeup, any foundation, any mascara until they rubbed a tissue on my face. A couple of flings I have had commented on how nice it is to kiss a face with no paint/lipstick/mascara on it, and waking up to someone who looks the same as she did the previous night. Some people, men and women, genuinely do like unpainted faces.

I do have the theory that people who use makeup regularly have worse skin (as it cannot breathe properly), so they reason they look worse without it is precisely because using it every day has ruined their skin.

And I do look healthy and sporty without makeup... because I am healthy and sporty.

Some men do mean what they say, and even though they may not be able to tell if a woman has light or "natural" makeup, they still do like makeup-less faces when they get the chance to get close to them. I have the strong impression that some of the women commenting here feel the need to defend the fact they don't dare to go out in the street without makeup. There really is no need.

It's always interesting when someone who claims not to use makeup because they're not vain also tries to claim they're much prettier than people who do.

She says she looks healthy and sporty. Not prettier than everyone else. Why can't some people accept some women don't wear makeup?

@aurynne

I am 45. I never use makeup, and I have had several male (and female) friends commenting on it positively. Several female friends did not believe I didn't use any makeup, any foundation, any mascara until they rubbed a tissue on my face. A couple of flings I have had commented on how nice it is to kiss a face with no paint/lipstick/mascara on it, and waking up to someone who looks the same as she did the previous night. Some people, men and women, genuinely do like unpainted faces.

I do have the theory that people who use makeup regularly have worse skin (as it cannot breathe properly), so they reason they look worse without it is precisely because using it every day has ruined their skin.

And I do look healthy and sporty without makeup... because I am healthy and sporty.

Some men do mean what they say, and even though they may not be able to tell if a woman has light or "natural" makeup, they still do like makeup-less faces when they get the chance to get close to them. I have the strong impression that some of the women commenting here feel the need to defend the fact they don't dare to go out in the street without makeup. There really is no need.

Sounds like you are very lucky to have the kind of skin where people think you are wearing make up. And to have had the experience of life whereby you can consider that the skin problems of people who wear make up tend to be caused by the make up itself. Lucky you.

@lceni

She says she looks healthy and sporty. Not prettier than everyone else. Why can't some people accept some women don't wear makeup?

Eh? I accept it just fine. What, did you think I don't believe that some women don't wear it? I see women without it all the time. My boss doesn't wear it. I don't always wear it myself.

I'm just interested that some people, who place a moral value on it, are still not above telling us how much prettier they must be.

And to clarify: I've no trouble believing some random Internet person is prettier than I am. Lots of people are. That's fine.

Just interesting that it's not enough to choose not to wear makeup because you prefer it. People who don't radiate like you do clearly aren't fit and active like you. People who wear makeup must have worse skin than you. Etc etc.

It's not the only post on here to do it, to be fair. There have been loads. Just interesting to see that so many people who see a moral value in not using makeup aren't above claiming to be prettier than people who do.

@aurynne

I am 45. I never use makeup, and I have had several male (and female) friends commenting on it positively. Several female friends did not believe I didn't use any makeup, any foundation, any mascara until they rubbed a tissue on my face. A couple of flings I have had commented on how nice it is to kiss a face with no paint/lipstick/mascara on it, and waking up to someone who looks the same as she did the previous night. Some people, men and women, genuinely do like unpainted faces.

I do have the theory that people who use makeup regularly have worse skin (as it cannot breathe properly), so they reason they look worse without it is precisely because using it every day has ruined their skin.

And I do look healthy and sporty without makeup... because I am healthy and sporty.

Some men do mean what they say, and even though they may not be able to tell if a woman has light or "natural" makeup, they still do like makeup-less faces when they get the chance to get close to them. I have the strong impression that some of the women commenting here feel the need to defend the fact they don't dare to go out in the street without makeup. There really is no need.

How odd. I don't wear foundation either and have never had to prove it by letting someone rub a tissue on my face! It must be very important to you to prove how good your skins looks to allow that. Personally I wouldn't care less if they believed me or not, given good skin is not a virtue or achievement. As far as your theory goes, I understand it to be the opposite. Foundation and BB type creams actually form an additional protective layer between the skin and sun/pollutants. Just like a moisturiser, but coloured. As long as they are properly removed they don't cause issues. I've worn lipstick all my life and have none of the age related lip lines or shrinkage that can sometimes occur so I think that has been some protection from that.

Part of the reason my oh did wear make up when she was younger was having eczema and scarring on her face which she wanted to cover up. She's dark skinned Asian so scars and marks show up alot

The eczma cleared, the scars faded and she carried on wearing makeup but she started to develop non exma skin problems, she tried 11 million different products and brands but always ultimately with the same result so she stopped using it and her skin got better. For some people cleaning it off at the end of the day is sufficient but for some people it isn't. Or maybe she wasn't very good at cleaning it but that seems unlikely