Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
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:
Lampzade · 04/09/2023 15:49

Comedycook · 04/09/2023 14:17

Most men have no clue about make up. On our first date, dh commented to me that I was hardly wearing any make up...I had a full face on. When they say they prefer the no make up look they usually have no idea what they're talking about. They actually prefer natural make up....not totally bare faced.

This

Malapataraso · 04/09/2023 16:14

“Why wouldn't you want to look the best you can all the time?”

Because having more men stare at me in public with their entitled to women’s bodies male gaze is not really something I want.

Just a not terrible looking, not so young anymore but not old yet woman here. Not bragging I’m a model or anything. It doesn’t take much to get men to gawk, and it’s exhausting and enraging and I’d love to tell them all to fuck right off. So looking my best isn’t exactly a priority.

Malapataraso · 04/09/2023 16:17

It is a waste of time and money to buy and apply that crap. That’s why. I refuse to let our patriarchal bullsh*t society convince me that women’s faces are not acceptable unless they’re covered in paint.

bryceQ · 04/09/2023 16:21

Another reason I stopped wearing make up was how depressed I got with constant male attention and dealing with absolute pervs. It definately happens less now which I'm relieved about. Spent all of my 20s being objectified and laughing off disgusting comments.

Gertrudetheadelie · 04/09/2023 16:21

I'm really pleased for those people that don't need it for their confidence/want to spend money on it etc but I wish that there wasn't such a "not like other girls" energy to some comments.

Just because you like make up doesn't make you fake, fickle, pathetic, less loved for the real you, less intelligent, less capable in the mornings. I think it plays into a broader narrative about girls who like make up being 'lesser than'. I remember once having a go at a male teacher who told some girls some bullshit that "clever girls like them shouldn't care about mascara". Liking make up, or not, isn't a proxy for anything.

LeilaDarling · 04/09/2023 16:23

I wear make up Monday - Friday for work as I have to look immaculate and well presented for a very public facing position, often recorded. I would not look or feel right without make up. Either Saturday or Sunday I give my face a rest unless we are going out. Have never not worn make up ever for work since I started in the late 90’s. Shows effort and a good, polished look.

userxx · 04/09/2023 16:24

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

Fuck that. Just fuck that.

BIossomtoes · 04/09/2023 16:53

Isn’t it interesting how the deeply unpleasant and scathing posts on this thread are virtually all from the no makeup side of the debate?

BlueBlubbaWhale · 04/09/2023 16:58

Beowulfa · 04/09/2023 15:38

If it makes you look "better" and "younger" why aren't ugly middle aged blokes devoting 5 minutes of their day to this miracle cure?

Maybe we should all LTBs for not making an effort for us?

Jellycatspyjamas · 04/09/2023 17:01

I can’t be arsed every day, if I’m not working or doing something public facing I don’t bother with make up. My cat doesn’t care if my eyebrows are defined and my eyelashes are done, it’s nice not to have the pressure to look my best all the time.

Nochoiceleft · 04/09/2023 17:01

BIossomtoes · 04/09/2023 16:53

Isn’t it interesting how the deeply unpleasant and scathing posts on this thread are virtually all from the no makeup side of the debate?

I do think a lot of that is backlash from the tone of the op. She really did get my back up.

Purpleavocado · 04/09/2023 17:05

I always wear makeup, like you say, it takes 5 minutes and it makes a massive difference

Maddy70 · 04/09/2023 17:08

I wear basic makeup everyday ,mascara eyeliner and lipstick

FastFood · 04/09/2023 17:11

I wear very little make up everyday, always the same. The same way I get "nicely" dressed everyday. There are rare days where I'll just put trackies on, but most of the time, even if it's just to go to the park and the local coffee shop and do work calls, I always get dressed and wear a bit of make up. Nothing very fancy though. Mascara, blush, lipstick.

In my area, I see a weird phenomenon: young women wearing A LOT of make-up, fake eyelashes, contouring, etc...but dressed with tracksuits and Crocs with socks. I don't really get it...

andrainwillmaketheflowersgrow · 04/09/2023 17:15

BIossomtoes · 04/09/2023 16:53

Isn’t it interesting how the deeply unpleasant and scathing posts on this thread are virtually all from the no makeup side of the debate?

OP's posts are pretty judgemental so it's hardly surprising that people feel defensive.

plehpleh · 04/09/2023 17:15

I don't need make up to feel stunning, it's taken a lot of years working through some serious internalised misogyny to realise that. Honestly, it's so freeing to be here mentally, I wish it on everyone.

My husband thinks I'm stunning 24/7, with or without make up. I think he'd find it insulting if I suggested I needed to "look my best" for him by hiding myself.

Try it. It's a great way to live.

BIossomtoes · 04/09/2023 17:20

plehpleh · 04/09/2023 17:15

I don't need make up to feel stunning, it's taken a lot of years working through some serious internalised misogyny to realise that. Honestly, it's so freeing to be here mentally, I wish it on everyone.

My husband thinks I'm stunning 24/7, with or without make up. I think he'd find it insulting if I suggested I needed to "look my best" for him by hiding myself.

Try it. It's a great way to live.

I’m not stunning. Nor do I need to wear my feminist credentials on my face. And I can be free and still wear lipstick. Meanwhile I don’t judge other women for what they do to their faces. Try it. It's a great way to live.

herewegoroundthebastardbush · 04/09/2023 17:27

Lampzade · 04/09/2023 15:49

This

Show quote history

Good job I don't GAF what random men "prefer" with regard to my face then.

herewegoroundthebastardbush · 04/09/2023 17:33

Gertrudetheadelie · 04/09/2023 16:21

I'm really pleased for those people that don't need it for their confidence/want to spend money on it etc but I wish that there wasn't such a "not like other girls" energy to some comments.

Just because you like make up doesn't make you fake, fickle, pathetic, less loved for the real you, less intelligent, less capable in the mornings. I think it plays into a broader narrative about girls who like make up being 'lesser than'. I remember once having a go at a male teacher who told some girls some bullshit that "clever girls like them shouldn't care about mascara". Liking make up, or not, isn't a proxy for anything.

Well agreed. It's not like I spend the time I'm not putting makeup on reading russian novels 😆

readingismycardio · 04/09/2023 17:36

Just a bb cream and blusher, and filling eyebrows a bit

allhellcantstopusnow · 04/09/2023 17:49

I do. The only days I don't is if I'm 100% not going to leave the house, in which case I'll do some kind of skincare treatment like a mask etc.

Meadowflower2023 · 04/09/2023 18:44

BIossomtoes · 04/09/2023 16:53

Isn’t it interesting how the deeply unpleasant and scathing posts on this thread are virtually all from the no makeup side of the debate?

Very true, as soon as I read the OP I thought... here we go!

Lilibert456 · 04/09/2023 18:54

I wear makeup every day of the week. Would not dream of even going to the local shop without it. I wear it for me. Husband doesn't care whether I wear it or not.

phoenixrosehere · 04/09/2023 19:10

I wear lip stains that I get from South Korea (Highly recommend Romand brand) and that’s about it. I may, if I feel like it, add a bit of pencil eyeshadow, but lip stain is enough for me. I don’t wear foundation but think I don’t need to and have never found a colour that I felt suited me or didn’t cause break-outs after a few hours. I’m happy with my skincare routine of moisturising micellar water, moisturising toners, essences, and sunscreen which takes me about five minutes to do start to finish with my lip stain at the end. My skin is relatively clear and glowy and I prefer a natural face with a bold lip. I do enjoy watching make-up tutorials on YT, and would probably do a touch more if I felt up to doing so or going somewhere that I felt warranted it. Tbh, the thought of having to remove more than my lip stain and sunscreen is off-putting and too much of a hassle.

TheOGCCL · 04/09/2023 19:22

On the one hand I am fully aware that we have been manipulated to the hilt, driven by the need to keep repopulating and the value our society places on youth and fertility. If women feel content as they are, well done to them, particularly if they are not naturally, conventionally attractive. It takes a lot to tune out our conditioning. It would probably help us all if more of us could do this.

On the other like the OP said, it’s just makes me feel better and I wear some make up every day just to gently enhance what nature gave me to stop me looking like the sick kid out of The Secret Garden.

Swipe left for the next trending thread