To think most make up is a waste of time?

[HuckleberryBlackcurrant]

I've never been a girly girl, never seen the point of tanning, nails, fashionable clothes, makeup etc. I do wear makeup on occasion, but it takes me 5 minutes to apply- some powder, a little mascara and maybe some lip tint.

I used to use more makeup to cover blemishes when a teenager.

But I know so many women who spend hours a week on their face. The time, the effort and the expense seems to be immense. I just don't get it. Why spend so long applying expensive paint to your face? Why not just look how you look? Men don't go through all this nonsense and somehow we are able to stand to look at their bare faces.

I know some people are going to say makeup is their hobby, they enjoy it, fine. I'm more addressing those who feel they have to put it on before leaving the house every day.

Help me to understand!

@HappierTimesAhead

I get that, I'm sure I could look a lot better if I could apply makeup skillfully. But then I wouldn't look like me so what would be the point?

They literally just called it a waste of life sooo... They might want to be more mindful if they aren't wanting to come across that way

@AllProperTeaIsTheft

I understand that. I'm asking about people who feel they must wear makeup every day.

Lots of people have blemishes and other skin imperfections all the time and therefore wear make-up every day.

Right. I feel like hrs a week is a waste of life honestly

I think hours spent on a games console or watching hour after hour of tv, a waste of a life. But you like what you like and who is any one to say what is or isn’t a waste of time/ life? You could say the whole of human life is a waste of time. We all die, we all are forgotten after a few centuries, so what’s the point of anything ?

For a lot of people make up can be a mask for imperfections and can make people feel less on show. If I had perfect skin I'm sure I'd be happy to go without but I look tired and washed out without it and I need it to cover blemishes and bad skin. I'd LOVE to go without but can't.

Curious? Let me educate you - I was glassed in the face in 1992 in a pub through no fault of my own, two drunk guys having an argument at the bar behind me, I turned round to see what the noise was about, then I realised something wet was running down my face on to my top. My friend started screaming and everyone was looking at me. I won’t bore you with the other details as I wouldn’t want to waken your ‘curiosity’ any further.

So, let’s answer your question shall we?

But I know so many women who spend hours a week on their face. The time, the effort and the expense seems to be immense. I just don't get it. Why spend so long applying expensive paint to your face? Why not just look how you look?

I don’t like the scars on my face that’s why I don’t want look how I look.

I spend hours applying what you call “paint” to fill in the scars.

I spend time to cover the scars because quite frankly I hate them. I also didn’t want my children having to answer questions on my scars. And before you ask people do ask. People stare and I wouldn’t like to scare any children either.

People wear make up for many reasons. HTH.

So let's say I spend...maybe 2.5 hours a week doing my make up. Around 20/25 minutes a day I'd guess, max. Usually pre-7am.

That's a waste of life is it??

What other hugely satisfying and important tasks could I be completing at that time and in that short window, that wouldn't baffle your little head so.

@AllProperTeaIsTheft

I think that's sad though. That people feel they 'have' to do that every day.

You're really not an odd ball. It's not unique to not wear make up. Loads of people don't

You're asking repeatedly for people to say why they feel they have to wear it, excluding people who enjoy it, but I doubt that even exists. You get people who enjoy it, people who don't wear it. There is no other group.

@Gibs0nGirl

Yea I mean 20 minutes a day isn't that long. Sounds like a healthy balance to me.

For me it is a transformation from inside my house mode to outside my house mode. I like it. I like the colours.

@chillberri

That's good to know. It seems like everyone in my circle wears it every day.

Unless someone is incredibly good at contouring and wears exceptionally long fake eyelashes then they will still look like themselves! Just with a smoother, brighter complexion and more definition around the eyes. Most of the time makeup is about enhancing what you already have.

@chillberri

Ooh that's a cool way to look at it.

No you get people who wish they didn't have to wear it but feel they have no choice or they get starred at

@HappierTimesAhead

Yea, that sounds like a healthy approach to it for sure.

Oh I haven't learned to be great at it or anything 😁

I just like trying new things. I watch some Instagram reels about eyeshadows or blusher placement, for example.

I also have a brutally honest 13 year old so she lets me know if I've nailed it or not 😆

Since lockdown there was a noticeable shift to less and no make up makeup. Which makes heavier makeup stand out unfortunately for some

@Cleaningupthemess

Fair, I guess with that perspective most things are a waste of time.

Yes, it was during lockdown that I definitely started wearing less make-up and now I really look forward to the times when I do wear it.

I have invisible eyebrows, spider veins and vitiligo. A quick slap of foundation, some eyebrow pencil and some lipstick so you can see where my mouth is is not a waste of time.
I watch a lot of the get ready with me on tiktok and it does seem to be a lot of effort but they always look stunning beforehand and stunning after if slightly different. YABU.

@megacat

I have spoken to friends who feel they have to wear it. Like societal expectations, they don't feel pretty enough, their husband expects it, etc.

You can't actually understand why some people feel they have to wear makeup? Like your brain can't compute that??!

I don't leave the house without it. I look like a blind pale mole without eyebrows with no makeup. When I have it on, I look more attractive.

It's that simple.

I mean not to mention people who are concealing bad skin, or blemishes or birthmarks (which have a small one of)...and you still can't see the desire to wear it?!

You've asked why people feel they HAVE to. That's my answer. But like many other PPs, I enjoy putting it on, love getting new items, love learning new styles, love that enhances my self confidence etc etc

I think if someone enjoys something then it’s not a waste of time. So if someone loves makeup then spending a lot of time on it is time well spent for them. I never really enjoyed putting on makeup. I did it because I was self conscious about how I looked. Since having a baby I don’t usually bother with it. It’s difficult to find the time for anything and I don’t prioritise putting on makeup over other things I need to do. If I’m going out somewhere I usually wear a bit, but only a very minimal amount that takes one minute to do, whereas I used to spend 20-30 minutes putting on a full face of makeup every day. For me it would be a waste of time to continue doing that.