I'm sick of wearing make up. How can I look "made up" without it?

[LoudSnoringDog]

I'm 44 this month and just loathe the process of having to put make up on to leave the house.
I'm naturally pale and freckled so do look a bit washed out.
Any tips to look a bit made up ( tinted moisturiser? )
I don't think I can leave the house without mascara though

@ElectraBlue

What is wrong with having pale skin?

I never understand why people think they have to cover pale skin with fake tan or all kind of tinted creams...if you have decent skin then it is perfectly fine to show it off as it is.

I have blond hair and pale skin, I never wear any tinted stuff/fake tan or foundation during the day. Just a little touch of powder maybe if I go out in the evening.

Rather than focusing on make-up I would focus of getting the best skin you possibly can by eating healthy food, drinking enough water and having a good moisturizer.

I am older than you are and I don't feel the need to wear a lot of make up. Just mascara and natural lipstick. I never spend more than 10 minutes on make-up...

Some of us with pale skin have a greyish tint to it. I honestly look grey in winter. I look ill, even though I rarely get ill and I feel fantastic. l hate looking in the mirror and seeing this exhausted looking woman who appears to have just crawled out of bed after two weeks of fighting off flu. So i add tanning oil to my moisturiser, wear mascara and a tiny bit of very natural blusher and lipstick. Then I look like someone who doesn't wear make up but is healthy.

I think the problem is that, once make up / tanning drops become your default then your natural skin tone does look unhealthy, especially if you're pale. That's what I found anyway. I used to go make up free in January to try and get a fresh perspective and it was useful (I ditched my expensive foundation the first time I did it) but it wasn't long enough. As I've said, it took lockdown to break the cycle.

I've still got my old make up and occasionally I do my routine again for curiosity, but I immediately take it off, not out of high mindedness but because, now it's no longer my default, it looks really artificial and I just don't like it.

If I want to play around with my appearance now, I use lipstick, which is weird because I hardly ever wore it before, but it's fun, easy and it changes my face in seconds.

Tinted serum (Avon) - good for skin and provides nice look. You do need a little blush with it.

I had semi permanent liner 3 years ago, it is painfull your eyelids swell and you may need a top up about 2 weeks later, but a week after the top up and you're all set for years.

Def dye eyelashes and brows if they're fair and get your beows shaped by a good beautician.

I had 1 session of semi permanent brows and the top up session was microblading. Microblading really hurt (I've had dentistry without injections and the dentist has been really insistent I have the injection, so I'm no cry baby). I def wouldn't have microblading again, but semi permanent eyebrows were fine - still a tattoo so a little painful, but def would have them again. I now just tweeze the odd eyebrow hair that grows outside of the fake brow - they look fabulous even 3 years later.

I wear Baby Lips unless I'm going out out when I do a full face, but I still use Avon serum as my foundation...

@PGSTesting123

Make up looks awful full stop. Drink water. Don't smoke or drink alcohol. Exercise.

The first sentence is utter bullshit.

@mumda

Don't wear any.

Why isn't a charity doing "No make up Month" as a fundraiser?

Are we so obsessed with image?

I don't wear any. Haven't for months. I find wearing a face mask out and about is enough coverage 😂

I don't wear lipstick but I wear pink tinted vaseline, cheap and cheerful, looks great.
I wear mascara (Primark is brilliant) and a primer and blusher from Collection (Boots) the primer is amazing, sort of softens and blurs, but no colour. Whole lot takes about 3 mins and costs about £15 for the lot
www.vaseline.com/uk/en/products/lip-care/vaseline-lip-therapy-rosy.html
www.boots.com/collection-primed-ready-illuminating-witch-primer-10229225
www.boots.com/collection-gorgeous-glow-stick-3-contour-4-5g-10295630

I use JML mineral makeup. Eye liner. Swoosh mineral make up over face. Lip gloss. Mascara. Done. Unlike foundation it doesn't clog my pores. For going out out I add Eye shadow and lipstick. I need to do something with my brows but they are hidden by a fringe at the moment, lol!

I use Dove self tanning moisturiser a few times a week, not to look tanned as such, more to take the blue off my Celtic complexion, and then just a slick of mascara and lip balm.

@rc22

Agree with PP mixing a little blob of foundation into your moisturiser works really well. I find it more effective than tinted moisturiser.

I like this idea - I will try it tomorrow.

I am in my 50s and been putting on make-up since I was 14. As you get older it get kind of . . . old. The quicker and simpler the routine, the better.

I would LOVE not to wear make-up, but I look like I’ve been exhumed if I don’t ☹️

I have the same colouring as you - I use st tropez spray face tan after every second shower. The watermelon one - really light and doesn't break me out but makes me look healthier and more even/done. I do usually put a wash of eyeshadow on and a tiny bit of cream blush - both applied with fingers in 2 secs. Done!!

I’ve timed myself. Foundation, concealer, blusher, mascara, powder, lipgloss.

I got a very light eyeliner tattoo on my upper lid—very thin, but makes my eyes pop, and a vary light lip blushing. I wear a tinted sunscreen and a little power or blush and that about it.

@blisstwins. What tinted sunscreen do you use? Does it really tint the skin and how long does it last? I find it gets absorbed and disappears. 😒

I ditched mascara once I discovered lash serum.
My lashes are now longer and thicker so I just dye them at home.
Brows shaped and dyed
Clinique super city block
Glossier cloud paint on cheeks
Tightline upper lid
Lip balm

CC cream or concealer, brows done, 2 in 1 lip/ cheek product applied in a light way, lashes tinted, eyebrows done. Or wear brown mascara.

I call this the costume drama look

Another vote for fake tan.
xo

[quote madisonbridges]@blisstwins. What tinted sunscreen do you use? Does it really tint the skin and how long does it last? I find it gets absorbed and disappears. 😒[/quote]
Peter Thomas Roth. It doesn’t give coverage really, but it does give some color snd I put a little bit of powder or blush. Itnis my favorite sunscreen by far.

I just look so bad without makeup. Wearing just a little takes me from ghost to just about presentable. I wish I could get used to my natural face but its just so depressing to look at!

@livefromnewyork – I totally feel your pain. Years ago I tried to wean myself makeup, but found it impossible. However it’s no big deal to spend 5 mins in the morning, making myself look human (or so I decided)!

@blisstwins

I got a very light eyeliner tattoo on my upper lid—very thin, but makes my eyes pop, and a vary light lip blushing. I wear a tinted sunscreen and a little power or blush and that about it.

I'm sure 99% of the time it works out but I've heard of eyeliner tatt going wrong.

I have my brows done but no way would I get SMP anywhere around the eyeliner area.

l only use a tinted moisturiser, natural lip colour as my lips are very pale and mascara. It just makes me feel better, esp at work under the harsh lighting. l do think less is more at my age, 53, l keep my hair and make up as natural looking as l can.

not sure I replied but Clinique City Block tinted moisturiser, Glossier tubing mascara, concealer for under eyes (any now), Rimmel tattoo eyeliner in a metallic rust colour, add a blush (any really, Daniel Sandler watercolour is quite subtle) and then a lipstick/pencil in a subtle shade. I also use a Nivea watermelon lip balm or an Argan oil lip gloss/balm in a clear colour (bought in Waitrose) which makes my lips look very glossy.

@ChiefInspectorParker

I have good skin (genetic). I don’t always wear make up. I’m mid-40s and you can bet your boots I don’t look as good without makeup as I did 25 years ago!

@ChiefInspectorParker - This! I'm similar to you with the good skin due to genes and not always wearing makeup now.

I recall in my mid to late 20's I first started wearing makeup (Touche Eclat) every day because I thought I looked tired (I was clubbing, going out a lot after work so did look tired!). Also wore mascara more but probably not during the day. Up to then I never bothered much during the day unless I wanted to impress someone.

IPL face rejuvenation - gets rid of redness and pigment so then no need for foundation. I just use tinted sunscreen.

Definitely dye eyebrows and eyelashes at home. Eyebrows threaded regularly. That and some bronzer, job done!

not sure I replied but Clinique City Block tinted moisturiser, Glossier tubing mascara, concealer for under eyes (any now), Rimmel tattoo eyeliner in a metallic rust colour, add a blush (any really, Daniel Sandler watercolour is quite subtle) and then a lipstick/pencil in a subtle shade. I also use a Nivea watermelon lip balm or an Argan oil lip gloss/balm in a clear colour (bought in Waitrose) which makes my lips look very glossy.

That's not exactly a 'no makeup' regime, is it ?!?