To those who wear zero makeup

[damnthatanxiety]

Did you ever wear makeup? Did you stop at some point or have you never worn it? Did you ever think about wearing it? Why don't you? Do you generally put much thought into your appearance or are you not at all interested?

I used to wear makeup in my teens, twenties and early 30s. Not loads, but I was unconfident leaving the house with mascara, bit of eyeline and some lippy as a minimum.
Since becoming both a parent and a lot more rad fem I just can't be bothered any more. I am much more confident in myself and if someone can't bear to look at me without lippy that is entirely their issue not mine! If I ever put makeup on now I seem to look like a pantomime dame however little I use - probably just not used to seeing myself it in these days.

Why the need to attack other women's appearance in this manner?

I think it's good that people can have different opinions. I can't stand the way men on TV especially are starting to look less and less natural with brows shaped and makeup and Botox/surgery. I find it sad that I regard women's faces looking similarly unnatural as relatively "normal".

Wore make up day to day as a teenager, when my acne continued into adulthood I stopped as make up was making it look far worse even if it wasnt actually making it any worse. I then got my acne sorted (roaccutane) and now that I'm used to not wearing make up I still dont wear it day to day and I feel much more confident. I do wear it if I'm going out though, but nothing particularly heavy.

I'm 35 and don't.

Just got bored of it. I questioned WHY I felt the need, along with shaving my legs, armpits and public hair.

Decided non of the reasons were anything to do with my view of myself.

So stopped all of it.

Pubic. Most definitely not public hair

I only wore it when I used to go on a night out. Even then only foundation mascara and eyeshadow. I very rarely wear it now and if I do it's only mascara and a bit of concealer. I just cannot be bothered with all the faff. I know I look better with it on but I just cannot be bothered. I love in the middle east and make up is a huge deal here. I'm very much in the minority here for not wearing it.

Did you ever wear makeup? No, not really. My mum didn't so it wasn't a normal thing in my house growing up. I makes me sad when I read posts on S&B from women saying they look hideous without makeup because I honestly think most people wouldn't notice if they didn't. I'd love everyone to be confident in how they looked and just wear makeup for fun.

Did you stop at some point or have you never worn it? Never started. Will wear it occasionally for a night out and did my own makeup for my wedding.

Did you ever think about wearing it? Why don't you? Yes, thought about wearing about it at work a long while ago. I managed to maintain it for about a fortnight. I couldn't see it was worth the effort in the mornings and it wasn't fun anymore. I actually really like makeup but only in the sense of play - have watched a million Lisa Eldridge videos and I'm really good at doing light looks. But for everyday - I'd rather have the extra time in bed.

Do you generally put much thought into your appearance or are you not at all interested? Varies. I really care about what my hair looks like. I care I look smart at work. I have clothes I love love love. But compared to some on S&B I probably fall into the not caring much end of the spectrum. However honestly, when you look around at other people in the supermarket on a weekend, most people look much the same, you can't pick out those who think they've made a massive effort!

I wear a tinted moisturiser maybe 3 days in the year (special occasions) and have two lipsticks called nude/bare.

Never worn mascara or eyeshadow. Even on my wedding day I just had the tinted moisturiser and lipgloss.

I am no beauty, normal looks, just never had any interest in the cosmetics industry, I think some of it is a con. My mother and sisters also wear very little or no make up.

I do spend time cleaning and moisturising my skin every day as it feels good. I don’t feel morally superior in any way to my friends who enjoy wearing and buying makeup. My oldest friend always wears makeup and perfume, looks amazing in red lipstick and I get pleasure seeing her made up. Funnily my teenage daughter is following in my footsteps, I have offered to get her a couple of things but she thinks her friends look better without it and said no way.

I never used to wear it. I may have looked better on the odd occasions when I did.

At 40 I started to wear make up most days, mainly to protect my skin from sea air. It was quite aging. I found myself hooked on trying new products, none of which live up to the blurb.

Now, at 47 I'm reminded of what my mother said "you look beautiful, you don't need it and you look better without it" and I agree. As long as I look after my health and my skin and I'm having a good day, I do look better without it. So I'm down to wearing mascara and tinted moisturiser. Even on my wedding day.

I don't understand all this obsession with contouring and brows and false lashes, it looks very drag queen and very harsh.

Started wearing full make-up at around 15. I had bad skin and a podgy face and used to pore over articles in teenage magazines about how to ‘correct’ flaws. As a student, I was in a minority as most women I knew saw wearing make-up as an unsisterly act. I’m now in my early fifties and some days I wear make-up, some days not. I enjoy the fact my skin is clear now and not too wrinkled. My face is also less podgy! When I do wear make-up, it’s fun - part of the daily bit of drama of choosing what to wear. Make-up free days are also usually dress-down days, but not always. I’m happy that I learned good application techniques years ago, but glad I no longer feel I have to do a Sistine Chapel number on my face. I’ve also reached the age of thinking beautiful young girls are somewhat spoiling their looks with false eyelashes and heavy black brows.

I think I do what you want to do. On days off, unless I am going somewhere special, I wear no make-up. It's a good day if I brush my hair or change out of my PJs. I do use face masks and deep conditioners on my days off (days off are rare - usually once a fortnight so I make the most of them). If I needed to call into town on my day off I wouldn't wear make-up, simply because I want to get home and get back to pampering and relaxing asap.

For my weekend job I wear zero make-up, hair scraped up and frizzy but I did get bangs cut in for that job because I hate having all my hair off my face. I don't suit it. I'll blow dry my bangs each morning or they look a frizzy mess and I run some oil through the ends of my hair to try to minimise the frizz. I work in care, showering people. Any make-up would be ruined by 11am plus hardly anyone I work with wears make-up.

On my weekday job I wear a full face of neutrals, blow dried and straightened hair etc. I've just started there and want to work my way up. I feel I'll be more likely to be considered for promotion once the time comes if I am groomed and well put together.

For nights out I go full on glam. I love make-up and hair and the process of getting ready.

I don't mind not wearing make-up. I know I look better with make-up but I also don't care what other people think of the way look. When I do wear make-up it's for me, not for other people, which I think makes it easier to not wear any when I don't feel like it or feel like the occasion doesn't warrant the extra effort.

I used to wear make up when I was young and better looking but around 40 I stopped as you can't polish a turd ! 😄

My mum barely wore any makeup and was very against me wearing it. Lots of comments and arguments. I suspect part of the reason I "mastered" the art of wearing 3 different eye shadows at once.

I very rarely wear any makeup. If I remember correctly, I did put on some eyeliner on my wedding day. It's nothing to do with feminism or not wanting to follow convention, I just can't be bothered with it.

However, I otherwise put quite a lot of thought into my appearance.

I used to wear powder and green cream when I was a teenager and young adult as I was scared of hot flushes. Hormones settled so didn’t need any more.

Might go back to that in menopause, let’s see!

I don’t wear it because I hate the idea that people might think I am not confident enough to show my own face...

I also generally don’t like “artifice”. I think it ramps up the pressure on everyone to feel shit without buying into some kind of ideal of perfection. I genuinely think most of us look best natural. Nature is pretty amazing, and we should celebrate ourselves, not Focus on imperfections etc.

I'm 57 and have always worn makeup, not the 2 inch thick foundation and caterpillar eyelashes that everyone seems to love now but age appropriate nice makeup.
I like to look nice at work and just for myself generally.
I'm asexual so I'm not doing it for anybody else.

Did you ever wear makeup? No

Did you stop at some point or have you never worn it? Never worn it

Did you ever think about wearing it? No

Why don't you? Don’t see how it would benefit me. I’ve never had problems professionally or romantically because of not wearing it. I don’t find the thought of applying it interesting at all. It honestly just seems like an odd thing to do. I think it looks weird in person (as opposed to on the screen).

Do you generally put much thought into your appearance or are you not at all interested? For clothes, I focus on being clean and comfortable. I prefer to spend money on things other than clothes, haircuts, etc. My beauty budget is zero pounds per year, and I look fine!

I used to until I was around 24 and was running late to work and didn't have time to put any on. Then I just stopped wearing it as nobody even noticed. Without sounding vain I have always been considered very attractive with good skin, which I'm sure helps the decision not to wear any.

I never have. I put a bit of foundation on when I’m going out out to tidy up any blemishes and put a bit of lippy on but otherwise I’m not bothered. It’s my face so people can like it or lump it really. Plus I get quite dry skin and it just makes it worse.
Each to their own in my view. The only thing I can’t abide is the current eyebrow trend where they’re shaved off and painted back on like slugs. Absolutely ridiculous. I’ve got no idea why beautiful women feel the need to mess about with their natural features.

@DinDinDanson Are you me? Lol I could have written that

I think I am very similar to everyone here. I wore it for going out, for fun, when I was a teenager and in early 20s (quite a goth-y/ dramatic look) but just got a bit bored of it and now that I'm older I never bother unless i am going to some very special event where I may be filmed or photographed. I am lucky to have good natural features (eyelashes and so on) and colouring, so I never really look 'washed out' the way some women do without make up.
Do you generally put much thought into your appearance or are you not at all interested? I do get my eyebrows shaped, but generally I'm not very interested - I enjoyed clothes/ style when i was younger but nowadays I have other priorities. I have basically three of the same dress that I wear in rotation! It helps that I work from home so there are no expectations.

I wear a tiny bit of concealer and a lick of mascara every day.

Also, thinking about it, when I was young it was all about the Kate Moss look - very bare-faced and make-up was basically eyeliner that you'd slept in and that was it. So we never got into the whole heavy 80s look (blue eyeshadow) or today's Kardashian look.

I just tint my lashes and curl them and regularly moisturise with light tanner for a bit of a glow! I feel much better without it and can just splash my face whenever!