Nobody fainted and ran away in disgust!

[Ihatesandwiches]

I have terrible skin. It's red and blotchy and at the moment I have a few cystic spots.
Normally I apply moisturiser, primer, a colour adjusting primer, foundation, concealer, mineral make up and then a 'fixer' powder or spray.
Today, I just moisturised and put on some powder and lip balm. Even the nasty girls in year 9 (I am a teacher) didn't comment.
I feel rather liberated!
No one noticed - in a good way :-) Just putting it out there that it's OK to go out without 19 layers of 'product' '. Can any one relate?

I know what you mean - I used to cover up with primer, doublewear, concealer and powder but now just wear primer and powder and it is liberating. If a little scar or redness shows through, it's fine and if anything I've had compliments about my skin without all the cake.

🙌 fair play to you!

I can relate, I’ve not been as brave as you but I have put bins out and accepted deliveries and groceries without makeup since the pandemic (never used to answer the door without it and to be honest I’d have been scared to walk past a window for fear of being seen... I know no one cares but I’ve suffered severe anxiety as a result of bad acne as a teen), I feel somewhat liberated 😂

Me, I have HORRENDOUS skin no amount of medication or cream will get rid of it (bad acne). I'm 30 (odd 😉) and always use to cover up with layers and layers of make up which was only making my skin worse. My husband would always say you should go natural don't worry what everyone else thinks as no one's perfect so I did and now I haven't worn makeup apart from mascara in about 10 years. I feel so much better and really couldn't care what other people think as no one is perfect my skin has also improved so much. Be yourself x

I have a question, if you don't mind my asking. I am autistic and have never worn face makeup ie you list here primer, concealer, foundation, powder etc.
I have worn eyeliner in the past.
This thread surprises me.
Do some people actually judge women negatively if they don't wear makeup? I'm not understanding if posters are worrying about judgement because of their skin per se or because of the actual fact of not wearing enough makeup.

I am using dermatolica and it's changed my skin, from like yours to all most glowing, I can't recommend it highly enough

People often perceive us very differently to how we perceive ourselves.

We are definitely our own worse critics. When I stopped wearing make up I expected lots of the 'are you ok? You look tired/ill/pale' comments. In reality people probably didn't even notice!

Bet you look beautiful op with or without the make up

@MoonlightFlitwick

I have a question, if you don't mind my asking. I am autistic and have never worn face makeup ie you list here primer, concealer, foundation, powder etc. I have worn eyeliner in the past. This thread surprises me. Do some people actually judge women negatively if they don't wear makeup? I'm not understanding if posters are worrying about judgement because of their skin per se or because of the actual fact of not wearing enough makeup.

I think the only time most people would actually notice is if you switch from lots of make up to little or no makeup (might get well-meaning comments about looking ill or tired) . But this thread shows that even then people might not notice. I've never known anyone to judge people for wearing little makeup - you likely have better skin and give the impression of more confidence. Despite the pressures to wear make up people are more likely to judge those who very obviously wear a lot of make up. Another catch 22 of being a woman.

I have rosacea and have given up make up almost completely now! I am also blonde with pale skin and no eyebrows or lashes that you can see. Although, I think my lashes may have become a little darker recently.

When I was younger, I wouldn't have let people see me without mascara and usually eyeliner too. Rarely left the house without both. Then I got rosacea and covered it up with bare minerals which did look nice. But, I've recently stopped wearing it at all. I've also given up alcohol almost entirely and think I will give it up entirely now. I had a glass for a family bday recently and it flared up after literally one, small glass. I also.switched to more natural skincare and fewer chemically things. I honestly think I look great, (not to brag ). My skin has cleared up. It is barely noticeable now. I still go a bit red, but I've always had that, even as a teenager.

I don't know what has helped. Whether it's the gentle skincare, the lack of makeup, the lack of alcohol or what. Whatever it is, I'm very happy not wearing makeup and I don't think I'll go back, although I still have a small make up bag which I can't bring myself to throw away.

Would I look marginally better with make up? Yeah! Probably. Do I look sub human without it? No. I look like a woman without make up.

Also have stopped going to hairdressers. Again, I prefer my hair now.

I finally got my eyebrows microbladed, and I've just had a lash lift and tint, so I'm possibly cheating a bit but I am so happy to go out without mascara or eyebrow pencil! Next habit to crack is foundation every day, I'm conscious of my bad skin too... so I'm having my first ever facial today! Has anyone had success at improving oily/spotty skin through facials? Please say yes 😆

@Reclinehard thanks very much for answering/explaining. I do enjoy skin care and hair stuff. But somehow never got into makeup maybe because other women in my family never use it.

"Do some people actually judge women negatively if they don't wear makeup"

No. This judgement is mostly just in our own heads.

We are our own harshest critics.

Just to add, (because my massive post just wasn't long enough ), I am clumsy and touch my face during the day and end up with make up smearing all over the place at some point. It may not be till I'm at home in front of the tv or whatever, but still. I definitely think I look better with no makeup than with smeared make up!

Why isn’t the gp referring you to dermatology if the treatments available to them aren’t working for you?

I had roaccutane but the scarring left on my 40yo (now 43) skin are still there and fading very slowly with retinol treatments and sunblock.

I've given up on foundation cos my mask wipes it off. Gutted there's no point in wearing lipstick anymore too. That was my easy fix.

I do need to start fake tanning my legs soon, if I want to stop wearing tights.

I'm 39 and never wear more than eyeliner (and yesterday was the first time in 2021)
Can't understand how people can be bothered doing so much work on their face every single day tbh

Yes - I have rosacea and generally shit skin and used to do the umpteen steps. Now, what with lockdown, I can't be bothered to do anything more than cleanse, moisturise and stick on some SPF CC cream. Sometimes I'll use a glowy cream thing I got in an M&S bonus basket if I'm in the mood. It takes 5 mins tops.

Even my teen dds have never commented!

@MoonlightFlitwick only on MN and then not everybody. In the real world no one cares if you don't wear face paint. The thickly coated instagrammers are a laughing stock.