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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Make up

433 replies

ettieb · 04/09/2023 08:17

Do you wear make up every day? I do...I know I look better and younger when I wear it and feel so much better. I know so many people who don't wear make up on a daily basis who look stunning when they put make up on to go out. Why wouldn't you want to look the best you can all the time? It doesn't need to take a lot of time...5 mins for basic eye liner..mascara.. blusher and lipstick...I have a friend in her 60s and if we go out she wears lipstick and mascara and looks 20 years younger! I also would wear make up if I'm just at home hanging out with my DP...I want to look my best for him. I find it baffling that people will do their hair and make up to go out with with work colleagues but don't do the same on a daily basis for their partner...

OP posts:
MonchichiMonchichi · 07/09/2023 19:21

Comment above was meant to be for:

IHeartGeneHunt · 04/09/2023 08:42

Mascara, because I have white hair and grey eyes and without it I look like an albino woodlouse.

BIossomtoes · 07/09/2023 19:51

sarah419 · 07/09/2023 19:14

what do you mean by “i put my eyebrows on”… don’t you have natural eyebrows?..

No, they were a casualty of over plucking in the 70s.

CrunchyToes · 08/09/2023 10:15

BIossomtoes · 07/09/2023 14:27

I look good with no eyebrows and pallid skin.

You don’t. You’re deluding yourself or arguing for the sake of it.

No need to be so nasty.

ellie09 · 08/09/2023 10:18

I would wear make up most days as I have quite bad skin with some scaring from acne and also bouts of acne (I blame BC and thyroid issues!)

I put it on for myself, as it gives me confidence. However, it only takes around 5 mins as I only wear foundation, concealer, do my brows and a bit of eyeliner and mascara. Nobody got time for that contouring crap!

Elphame · 08/09/2023 10:47

No.

I used to wear the full works daily until I stopped working. Now I rarely wear any at all. My skin has always been good so I have no blemishes to hide.

There comes a time of life when the full works looks very ageing.

LauraKat07 · 08/09/2023 17:28

I put a lot of work into my skin so I think the fresh faced look actually makes me look younger, but sometimes it's fun to do my makeup. When I was younger and quite insecure I wouldn't go out the door without makeup but happily I've come around to liking my face! Wear makeup or don't, whatever makes you happy, but I find the idea of judging someone for either choice to be really weird.

Namechange105 · 08/09/2023 19:47

I wear makeup every day even when I have no plans. It’s part of my routine like brushing my teeth. I don’t do it for anyone other than me. I don’t wear loads though, foundation, eyebrows, lippy, mascara and eyeliner. I don’t contour or bother with powder much unless I’m going out. I’ve good skin and don’t like feeling “caked”. My husband prefers me with my daily makeup than when I’m totally dolled up….not that I listen to him 😂

cherryscola · 08/09/2023 20:09

Because I'm not a barbie doll who's world revolves around making sure I look just so for my partner

BIossomtoes · 08/09/2023 20:10

The bingo card of insults must be just about full now.

Lucyh999 · 09/09/2023 16:33

What’s weird about your post is that it exists at all. You do you, but why are you judging anyone else. Do you, presumably a grown up, really expect someone else to explain to you that people have differing opinions and that some people might be comfortable in their own skin and might not strive to look younger or prettier?

LolaSmiles · 09/09/2023 16:36

I tend to wear something most days, but not a full face.

Some people wear no make up, some people love being creative with make up, some people prefer wearing a bit of make up, some people wear make up because they're insecure about something or have low self esteem. It doesn't really affect anyone else what they do.

If my DH expected me to be made up for him every day, I'd be showing him the door.

Truthlikeness · 09/09/2023 16:39

I'm allergic to eye make-up. Some I can't wear at all and others irritate me after a few days wearing it, so I don't wear much and what I do wear, I save for work or special occasions to preserve my skin.

I don't really care what random strangers think of me if I pop to the shops at the weekend and many of my friends and colleagues don't wear makeup every day either, so I don't look out of place.

kitsuneghost · 09/09/2023 16:43

I feel a bit sad for OP
To be so uncomfortable with how you look that you feel the need to wear make up in the house.
I may not be the prettiest but I am not getting sucked in by big cosmetic companies to thinking my face isn't good enough in order to boost their profits.

StripeyDeckchair · 09/09/2023 17:01

You're being quite judgemental of anyone who doesn't wear a full face of make up all the time.

I don't wear make up daily- I think it is better for my skin not to, I don't want my daughters growing up thinking they need to put it on to look good when they are stunning without and I'm not dressing for the public I may encounter that day.

FWIW all the men I know barely notice weather a woman has make up on unless it's very heavy and/or you can see the tide line where make up stops & skin starts, then they hate it.

countdowntonap · 09/09/2023 17:02

Surely you don’t wear it on the beach, Op?

VeronicaSawyer89 · 09/09/2023 17:13

ettieb · 04/09/2023 11:43

I think it's interesting that people who have replied to the part of my post about putting on make up for my DP think it's because he makes me or I'm a 50s housewife. He couldn't give a toss what I do.. but I love him and he loves me and I want to look as attractive as I can for him... the attraction is part of a relationship and important. I would be interested to know how many married mumsnetters wore make up on their wedding day... if you did.. surely it was too look your best and wouldn't you want to continue to do this?

I was 21 and a size 10 when I got married, I couldn't look like that if I tried now. 24 years of marriage and 2 kids will do that. I don't need to "look my best for him" or anyone for that matter. If he doesn't love as I am when I wake up he doesn't deserve me. I find it sad that you need to doll yourself up in order to look your best. Why isn't your best just you as you are? Are you very insecure OP?

VeronicaSawyer89 · 09/09/2023 17:16

I'm also wondering if you have kids OP? If you don't and are planning on having them, believe me, makeup will be the last thing on your mind when it takes you 3 hours to leave the house and you can't put your baby down for 2 minutes in order to take a shower!

Gertrudetheadelie · 09/09/2023 18:54

@VeronicaSawyer89 I have a baby. We go out all over the place. I also have a child at school. I also like, and have always made time for, the 5 minutes of me-time that I have when I put make up on. Other women might have baths, drink a glass of wine or sit and do a crossword for themselves. Even with children 🤔

VeronicaSawyer89 · 09/09/2023 18:57

Gertrudetheadelie · 09/09/2023 18:54

@VeronicaSawyer89 I have a baby. We go out all over the place. I also have a child at school. I also like, and have always made time for, the 5 minutes of me-time that I have when I put make up on. Other women might have baths, drink a glass of wine or sit and do a crossword for themselves. Even with children 🤔

That's nice, I was specifically talking about the OP and her "making herself look nice" for her DP including wearing makeup around the house.

Gertrudetheadelie · 09/09/2023 19:03

@VeronicaSawyer89 yes but your clear implication was that no woman could possibly have children and spend time on make up and that the OP would realise this when she became a mother.

VeronicaSawyer89 · 09/09/2023 19:06

Gertrudetheadelie · 09/09/2023 19:03

@VeronicaSawyer89 yes but your clear implication was that no woman could possibly have children and spend time on make up and that the OP would realise this when she became a mother.

No, that wasn't what my post clearly implicated, because I too wear makeup when I feel like it and I'm a mother.

phoenixrosehere · 09/09/2023 19:12

VeronicaSawyer89 · 09/09/2023 17:16

I'm also wondering if you have kids OP? If you don't and are planning on having them, believe me, makeup will be the last thing on your mind when it takes you 3 hours to leave the house and you can't put your baby down for 2 minutes in order to take a shower!

I have two children, one who is autistic with sensory issues (struggles with specific sounds) and I manage to do my skincare and put on a bit of lippy in 5 minutes. No issues there even when they were babies and I was walking 2-4 miles round trip to take the oldest to nursery.

Not all of us who wear some kind of make-up need a lot of time. You do it enough, it becomes second nature and quick to apply regardless of environment.

Gertrudetheadelie · 09/09/2023 19:18

@VeronicaSawyer89 Then perhaps you need to explain your post to me because I don't get what else you would be suggesting to the OP with what you wrote? That said, I'm glad we are in agreement that you can wear make up and be a mother.

I'm just fed up of the idea that people who do wear make up are hiding their true selves, not loved for who they are because their husband can't see their real face and love them for that etc so I must admit I did baulk at the idea that I also now can't be a loving mother and enjoying picking a lipstick colour! Apologies if that was not your intention.

Birchavalon · 09/09/2023 19:39

I’m a makeup artist and I would never wear makeup every day. It wrecks your skin what eve people say.
I think makeup should be applied in a celebratory way- for a wedding, a party or just because you feel like it.
the idea that some women feel they have to ‘put their face on’ makes me sad.

monsteramunch · 09/09/2023 19:53

@ettieb

I would be interested to know how many married mumsnetters wore make up on their wedding day... if you did.. surely it was too look your best and wouldn't you want to continue to do this?

Lots of people will have worn a wedding dress and heels on their wedding day, are you surprised they don't wear heels and a dress on a daily basis? Does your other half wear a nice suit every day even when chilling at home with you?