Has anyone just stopped wearing make up?

[LadyContrary]

It’s a complete non issue and I’m well aware of it but....
I’ve been wearing make up all my life (since I was maybe 13-14). My twenties and early 30s - full face on every day. I’m now nearer my 40s and possibly just having a midlife crisis
I stopped colouring my hair and have a lovely salt and pepper mix on my head now. I still cut and style my hair, obviously. I wear a lot less make up (for my standards) too: mascara, eyeliner, matting powder and concealer, possibly a bit of bronzer if I’m feeling wild.
I have a professional job, I try and look presentable for work (most days anyway ). Last couple of weekends I went without make up and actually felt great.
Here comes the big question: has anyone ditched make up completely and avoided all the stupid “oh you look tired” or “are you ill” comments? I don’t think I can cope with them.
Or is make up a part of tidy professional look?
I’m not really sure what I’m asking, excuse my ramblings.

I don't wear make up at all any more but I never did for work. I used to get my eye lashes tinted so it looked a little like mascara I suppose, but haven't had that done for over 6 months. I'm not a lover of non natural eyebrows so don't do those. Boring, I know, but it doesn't make me any better o worse at my job and I'm pretty sure no money else cares. My colleagues all do some make up, each to their own! I guess I'm too lazy

I stoped completely while pregnant/for a few years after birth. I didn’t get any comments. I’ve gone back to wearing it now more often than not because my skin has become just awful and I prefer the way it looks (and I have to put something on my skin due to sun sensitivity so I choose foundation over suncream which I hate).

I’m not convinced I look that different with it on. Just me with some make up.

I do like it for going out though, makes me feel suddenly from the everyday, but not loads of it in any case.

Yeah I used to wear heavy makeup up everyday as I had spots galore and pale skin. Then I just decided to stop wearing it about 3/4 years ago and I never wear it now. Not even mascara.
I've saved so much money not constantly buying makeup.

I have worn more make up as I have got older, not because I need it or feel pressure to, just because I enjoy it. I have more disposal income for a start.

I have never got the hang of eye make up, most I do is mascara. But I like tinted moisturiser, powder, concealer, a bit of bronzer occasionally, blusher and lip. Sometimes I mix a glowy product in with the tinted moisturiser. Takes 5 minutes tops. If I was going out for an evening I would wear a stronger lip colour and a bit of powder highlighter. I use a fixing spray and do not touch up during the day.

However, I only go through this rigmarole 2-3 times a week. I WAH a lot and I never wear anything then, and rarely at weekends. I like my bare face, if I had to go into the office without it (I have) it does not bother me.

A lot of things we do to groom ourselves because society has deemed it to be the feminine thing to do I have pulled back from. I genuinely feel very comfortable in my skin these days. Years ago I was a hair removal dervish, shaving this, plucking that. Now, my pits could do with a shave and my legs are stubbly. (I do like to have smooth legs, but these days if I don't, it doesn't bother me like it used to.) I do pluck the menopausal hairs from my chin, leaving them is not an option.

I found that it's a bit of a catch 22 and about finding the right middle ground. I used to have pretty bad skin, wore make up to cover it, skin got worse, so used more make up. You get the picture.

Eventually I realised I had two options, carry on doing what I was doing and end up looking like Jim Carrey in The Mask, or sort out my skin so that I wouldn't have to use so much make-up!

In the end I just found being consistent with using facial serum (found one on Amazon called Rallen that I really like as a lot of others tended to irritate my skin) and moisturiser meant I could leave the house looking a lot more 'natural'.

Hope this helps!

My sister always wears makeup. Last week one of her grandkids came round when she had gotten out of the shower with no makeup on. Her grandchild said “ nanny why do you have auntie xxx’s face on “ 😂😂

I’m nearly 50 and I wear more makeup than I ever have done before. In my 20s and 30s I’d wear just a bit of lipstick.
Now, it’s a full face and plenty of moisturiser. I’m mousey and freckly and look really dull without make up. With it, I’m transformed and I feel better about myself.

I'm 52, I spend money on a good haircut and also on clothes but don't bother any more with getting my hair coloured or wearing make up. Feels authentic for me which is what matters.

Nobody has ever said anything negative about it to me.

I was told when around 14/15 that I was “technically good with excellent musicality” (was at ballet school, boarding) but “very plain”. As soon as I could get away with it, I started wearing makeup and have done, ever since.

The insecure teen found huge confidence with makeup. I’ve no intention of giving that up, anytime soon.

I think there is a happy medium to make up rather than it looking caked on. I stopped wearing it when I was pregnant but will definitely start again when I'm back at work. I think it gives a more polished look.

I haven't worn make up in years unless I'm going out. Started when I lived abroad so had a nice tan anyway so it mattered less but was used to it by the time I came back here. I do still colour my hair as i hate my natural colour and get my eyebrows shaped and tinted. I work in lower school/nursery though so it's less important to look professional. At 40 I still get a heap of teenage spots any time I do wear any.

Day three (at work) with no makeup!!! I got my eyebrows and eyelashes tinted and that’s it.
Day one: two people commented that I looked different. One person said I looked tired (thanks, colleague!). A couple of people I class as work friends discreetly asked if everything was OK
Day two: I had a meeting and a presentation. Bare face didn’t affect anything (yay).
Day three (today): no one cares.
Hello freedom

I have never really got on with make up. I hate the feel of it on my skin and any lipstick I have ever tried dries out my lips and makes them flaky. I get my eyebrows shaped and eye-lashes tinted about once every 6 weeks, and that's it. I would maybe wear lipstick if I could as I have to admit I do look better with it, but as it is I do without. No-one has ever commented negatively about it.

I had to give up makeup a couple of years ago, when I suddenly became allergic to eye makeup.

I was surprised to find that the sky didn’t fall in, I wasn’t ostracised and milk didn’t curdle. It was actually very liberating!

The only person who judged was my df, because he is stuck in the 1970s. He also thinks women should wear skirts and high heels, and commented on how I’d be ‘wanting to lose the baby weight then’ three days after I had dc(1). So his opinions get eye rolls.

I have now found mascara that my eyes will tolerate if I don’t wear it every day, so I do now get made up when I go out. But on a day to day basis - nope.

When I do wear it, I always get comments about how lovely I look, and I find that a real bonus!

So if one were to go fully make up free, what skin prep to do?
Facials? Where to begin?

I think eyebrows and skin are key Grundys! Possibly eyelashes if you can be bothered with tne upkeep.

Started when I lived abroad so had a nice tan anyway so it mattered less but was used to it by the time I came back here

I think it’s much easier to go make-up free if you’ve warm or tanned skinned.

I don't wear make-up for work .I'm an HCP and no-one has ever run screaming from my surgery at the lack of my cosmetics. And I wear a white tunic . Make-up tide marks are ugly . (like if I have to scratch an itch on my cheek and I'm wearing gloves . The only option is to use my shoulder. I don't want a mark on my whites )

If I have short hair I use pencil on my brows to frame my face .
Otherwise I use the Revolution 3 day dye which gives them a bit of colour .

I've never really used foundation. Tried a couple of the mineral ones but not a fan.

I tried giving up wearing make-up a while back (I think I started a similar thread to this one). I had decided it was ridiculous that I'd felt the need to alter my face every day for 30 years, and why should I, men don't etc etc.
That was at the end of the summer. As soon as my slight tan faded and I looked at my usual pale, sallow face and dark circles in the mirror, I thought 'nope' and went back to make-up with relief. It would be nice if I looked natural, healthy and just as good without it, but sadly I just don't.

I don`t possess any makeup!

feels good. would rather spend ££ on cake

Meant to say, I never wear eye make-up. The make-up I use is all about improving the evenness and tone of my skin.

YUM

full make up makes me look hideous. Foundation does not suit me and bronzer does not suit me either. I have tried because these items look good on others but just not on me. I wonder why

I still wear a bit of eye makeup (concealer, eyeliner, mascara & brow pencil) only because my eyes are very piggy with very dark circles and I'm just not confident with them being seen au naturel. Some days I go without everything but I can't forego the concealer.

Everything else has fallen by the wayside - foundation, lippie, eyeshadow, etc, though if I start going into the office I'll probably start wearing it all again, eventually.