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!

I spend about 10 mins doing my make up.
I'm not one of those people who is excellent at it (envy them) so it's very basic/natural looking.

I'm deadly pale without it and can't be arsed listen to the comments asking if I'm ill

I don't have confidence issues.
I enjoy looking the best version of me.
My hair looks better styled than natural.
My clothes look better ironed.

I like making an effort for me but don't care what anyone else does. Each to their own.

Lovely best friend there 😂

Hours a week?

I’m a usually no make up kind of woman, but I can’t believe anyone spends hours a week?

Oh another one of these threads 🙄 how original

Without makeup I perceive myself to look: tired, pale and older with my dark circles, lines and blemishes are on show. No problem at home but I'd feel exposed out and about.

With makeup on I perceive myself to look: fresh, awake, wide eyed, groomed, more stylish and with my best features emphasised. I feel more confident and attractive. I like looking a bit glam when going out in the evening.

I do see where you're coming from, I'm a 5min make up kind of girl. But I wish I wasn't, I wish I experimented more with make up when I was younger (I'm in my mid 20s), now I feel so out of touch with the beauty trends it's embarrassing 🙈

I'm confident in myself without makeup which is why I've not done anything to learn how to do it properly, at the same time, hair and makeup can add so much to an outfit. I usually feel like if I dress nice, my face just doesn't match the style I chose.

I’m not skilled with makeup. So it’s “less is more” with added eyeliner for the evening. I am quite committed to skincare though.

Doing a variety of makeup looks well is a real skill.

Women do it because they enjoy it, and why shouldn’t we?

@luckylavender

Why not?

@Natsash

That's true, makeup and hair can complete a 'look'

@EmilyTjP

I've never seen a thread on this topic. My apologies.

@WaitingforSpring24

I had someone stay with me once that spent over an hour getting ready every day. It boggled my mind.

I am pretty ugly and feel more confident with make up. I've worn it most days for 25 years now, I like make up and it's just habit.
I do agree a with the concept of what you are saying though as I've know people who get up at 5am to do full contouring before work...no thank you.

I wore make up every day of my life practically until Covid. Now I don't really.

If you don't use it, then great. Not everyone is confident not to, and let's not pretend that the decision to use make up is made in a vacuum. A decision made because you wouldn't feel confident enough without it is not a decision freely made. We are all under the boot of patriarchy, just some of it are more under than others.

I don't like wearing loads but I think I look my best with light, natural make up. It makes me feel more confident and " done". I don't "need" it to look good as I am naturally attractive, but I feel I look better with it. It's about emphasising parts of your face, not masking it. If I stopped bothering with the way I look it would mean there was something wrong because it's just something I've always done.

How many answers do you need?

I think that’s probably true

But just because people wear it doesn't mean anyone else has too, throwing the word patriarchy in doesn't excuse it, it doesn't make a difference it is still choice

I choose not to wear no one expects me too so why would I? Same as other people.

I don't hide behind 'society forces me to wear it' I just dont

I hear you. My dear work friend never wore make up. She was clever and successful but the silly sales ladies used to bemoan her lack of professionalism and the like frequently because of this. (Ironically she was actually much more professional than them.) It used to really upset me that people thought that make up was like some obligatory woman tax, that the men (all of whom were paid more it turned out) didn't have.

I wear a full face most days, definitely for work. Without it, I resemble a king Edward.
I have fair lashes and brows, and a chubby pink face. Make up is transformative. I feel like me wearing it.
You don’t want to wear it, and frankly seem a bit sneery about those who choose to spend their own time on themselves.

I get my nails done so that they always look nice. I sit there for 45 mins but I don't have to do anything else. Ever. Without this, they break and snag. Some are long, some are short. If I paint them myself, they chip and it's a daily top up. God forbid they look dirty or there is some unnoticed dirt behind them. It helps me look polished and well put together.

Oh another one.

‘Why are other women vacuous bints? Why am I Not Like Other Girls?’

Surely this script gets boring eventually .

Exactly.

Most adult women do not spend ‘hours on their face’, but those that do, do it because they enjoy it.

And this too

OP, can you honestly say your weeks are fully productive? If someone gets pleasure/confidence from applying makeup, it's super patronising to say it's a waste of life! Women and men have spent time on their appearances since we've been able to walk upright. It's not odd behaviour.

So what are you doing that's so much more important?