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Original poster

Why do you wear make up?

67 replies

clarequilty · 07/08/2013 13:43

Just that, really.

OP posts:
shootfromthehip · 07/08/2013 13:50

Several reasons, I hope you are sitting comfortably...

  1. I have bad skin and being in my mid thirties, I feel the need to hide the fact that I look like a teenager

  2. I have a very masculine face; long nose, strong jaw, big forehead (ha- not selling myself really here). It feminises me.

  3. I like the dressing up aspect of making myself look completely different according to my mood- strong colours/ classic combinations/ natural etc etc

  4. I have a job in which I think grooming is really important- I think make up makes me look well turned out.

That's mainly it Wink

libertychick · 07/08/2013 13:50

I did not wear make up on a daily basis until about 2/3 years ago (I am 40). But now my skin is not as good - stress, sleep deprivation etc mean I just look a bit tired and old so I find a bit of foundation, concealer, blush and lippy makes me look a bit fresher and therefore I feel better about myself. It's mainly for work - I don't always bother at the weekend.

BinksToEnlightenment · 07/08/2013 14:31

The same reason I don't wear a sleeping bag with holes cut out for my feet and arms.

bunnymother · 07/08/2013 14:32

You wouldn't ask the question if you saw me without makeup. Grin

Thurlow · 07/08/2013 14:34

It makes me feel better. I don't mind not wearing make-up, but I feel that I look a bit better with it on - foundation evens out any blotches, mascara and cheek tint make me look a bit less washed out.

LadyintheRadiator · 07/08/2013 14:35

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Panzee · 07/08/2013 14:36

I scare myself without make up. :o I don't even wear much, just foundation, nothing else.

ImNotBloody14 · 07/08/2013 14:36

  1. i love the way it changes my appearance- i love how different colours, products and brushes can all have a vastly different effect.

  2. i like the look of a made-up face- whether that be very subtle natural make-up or clearly, well done, but artificial looking make-up (not badly applied shit- the pro stuff)

  3. increasingly my mother asks me what's wrong with me if she happens to catch me without make-up- meaning i look like shit without it so must be ill Hmm

MrsPercyPig · 07/08/2013 14:37

I look like death without it!

I don't wear lots of makeup, just tinted moisturiser and blusher to give me a 'glow' and it makes me feel good!

myalias · 07/08/2013 14:40

To disguise the bad and enhance the good - I work in customer service and I'm not going to deny it but far too vain to go make up free and wearing it gives me confidence.

HomeEcoGnomist · 07/08/2013 14:40

Lots of reasons

I am very fair so look like I have no eyelashes if I don't wear mascara

I think I look nice in it

I like buying it/reading magazine articles and learning more about what to use

I don't want to scare small children

At work, it is part of my 'mask'/image, whatever you want to call it.

Nothing to do with what others think, or to please a man, or because I am at the mercy of the patriarchy

Why do you ask OP?

ImNotBloody14 · 07/08/2013 14:40

"The same reason I don't wear a sleeping bag with holes cut out for my feet and arms."

heat preservation? Confused Grin

Hassled · 07/08/2013 14:41

Because I look as rough as a badger's arse without it. Seriously rough. And to add to the original issues (primarily, scary dark rings below my eyes), one of the many, many joys of the perimenopause is that I'm getting brown pigmentation creeping across my face - I can't just leave that uncovered.

lottieandmia · 07/08/2013 14:42

Because it enhances the way I look and I feel smarter with it on.

oreoaddict · 07/08/2013 14:44

hmmmm, it's hard to think why really because I've been wearing it on a daily basis, since I was 12 Confused I know...... quite young. I'm 29 now and the idea of not having it to hand, fills me with horror!

Again, I don't really know why I feel the need, so I'm probably not the best person to post on here Grin I'm blessed with good skin, but wear foundation every day. I also wear, mascara, lipstick and eyeliner every day too.

I'm pale and I have big eyes, so I look a little gothic without make up, but tbh, I think it's just habit and the fact that I'm more comfortable looking at my face with makeup, rather than without. I guess I just feel more me with makeup, which is quite sad really isn't it.

Lottapianos · 07/08/2013 14:46

Very good question!

My face is all different colours - red cheeks, grey eye sockets, slight brown patches on cheekbones - and make-up evens it all out
I don't think I'm attractive or feminine enough without it Sad
It gives me confidence
It's fun - I love wearing bright eyeshadows and mucking around with black eyeliner etc.

cloudskitchen · 07/08/2013 14:46

I prefer the way my face looks with it on. mascara frames my eyes, tinted mousturiser or foundation in winter even out my skin tone and lip colour enhances my slightly colourless lips.

Keztrel · 07/08/2013 14:46

Because it makes me look prettier.

Bexicles · 07/08/2013 15:07

I have very pale skin without make up I have dark circles and look wiped out! I don't use too much just blush, lipstick, mascara, eyebrow pencil and light foundation during the day. Also I love the ritual, it's part of my morning routine.

Skinheadmermaid · 07/08/2013 15:43

When i was younger i used to match my eyeshadow etc to my outfits and do fancy designs. I used to be really fat as well and wanted to draw attention away from my super sized frame. ( not that it worked!)
Now i wear a shed load of foundation and concealer because my skin is just AWFUL. Really appallingly bad and its quite depressing. :( almost every month i have huge lumps of cystic acne cropping up on my chin and loads and loads of scars over that whole area from years of it despite me not touching them. I also have loads of tiny white heads and bumps if i eat anything my body doesn't like: sugar, wheat, grease. I know i shouldn't eat junk food and i rarely do but thats enough for my bloody skin!
Now the spots have stared creeping up my previously clear cheeks and forehead so i have to smother the whole area in cover up.
As i've spent so much time in the mornings doing my base i feel i might as well finish my face and draw attention to areas i do like so then finish off with lipstick, blusher, eyeshadow, liner and mascara.
I would love to just go out with a slick of mascara and a bit of lip balm like other women but i look an absolute fright. Sad

Hopefully · 07/08/2013 15:50

I look much more business like at work

I feel like my look is much more stylish with red lipstick, my whole outfit feels more polished, even if it's quite casual.

I don't wear it every single day, but most of the time I do my three essentials of tinted moisturiser, mascara and lipstick

JemimaMuddledUp · 07/08/2013 15:53

Because it makes me look better. I don't look terrible without it (I'm not wearing any right now as I have just go home from taking the DC swimming so I didn't bother putting any on this morning - I didn't notice anyone running away screaming in terror while I was out and about) but I do look and feel better with a little bit. I go for a natural look, usually very lightweight foundation or tinted moisturiser, one coat of mascara and a slick of neutral lip gloss. It makes me look like me, but better.

Nagoo · 07/08/2013 15:58

To cover up my zits primarily. I am 34 and have as many as I did when I was 14. I am less bothered on a good skin day.

To make me feel a bit 'done' when I go somewhere. I like to feel like I have tried to make an effort so if I whack a bit of mascara/ blusher on, I feel more ready-to-go!

Selks · 07/08/2013 15:58

Because I want to.

NandH · 07/08/2013 15:58
  1. I feel ugly without it.
  2. Im unconfident without it and find myself walking along looking at the floor if I go out without any on (which is extremely rare anyway)

:)