Giving up make up

[WhyTheWhales]

I haven't been wearing make up for the past few days as I've been off work and haven't really been anywhere much. I was going out today and put my usual make up on and really didn't like the way I looked! Preferred myself without it tbh

I have pale hair so eyelashes are more or less invisible, so I didn't think I'd ever get to a point where I'd think I look better without make up, but here we are!

Has anyone done this and do you have tips on looking put together without it?

I'm not a carefree with my appearance type either, so always do hair and love clothes, so this seems like a departure! Can it work though? I don't work in a particularly corporate environment, so it certainly isn't essential there.

@WhyTheWhales I think there is a real move away from heavy make up
I have pale hair but make sure that my eyebrows are dyed which frames my face, I also dye my eyelashes but do wear mascara when not wfh.
I fake tan my face as otherwise I look ghostly and when going into work do wear cc cream, subtle greige eye crayon and some lip balm.
A no makeup makeup look.

@shewhomustbeEbayed

Can you recommend a good face tan? All the ones I’ve tried have been awful

One day recently I was telling some work friends what I did make up wise to myself before coming to work. They couldn't believe how many products I used (I use a tiny amount of lots of products), they didn't think I was wearing anything particularly. I do it because it makes me look brighter and better but if that's not the case for you then there's just no point doing it.

I might start tinting my eyelashes and may try a cc cream as a halfway house between make up and make up free! Normally have foundation on at work tbh, but it is a massive chore in the mornings.

If I use fake tan on my face I will probably have to also tint my eyebrows if that makes sense. Otherwise I end up looking weirdly monotone in a way that doesn't seem to show when I don't have a fake tan.

Never. I spend a lot trying to look as if I am not wearing any.

I am very pale, short eyelashes, blue under eye circles, and there is no way I could get away without make up. I just look ill.

I need mascara whatever else, couldnt do it!!

How old are you OP? I find that make up needs a lighter touch the older I get, both in terms of the kinds of products and formulations and how much I use. I've watched YouTube videos on updating your make up look too.

I'm 38

I did change what make up I use a couple of years ago, but even that seems...off now? Does it change that quickly 🤔? Maybe I'm rapidly ageing!

Tan Luxe tanning drops in moisturiser give me a glow. I don’t like foundation so that and a bit of MAC strobe cream are what I like.

I gave up most makeup during lockdown. When I wear it my full routine is lipstick / tint on both my lips and cheekbones plus a dash of eyebrow make up. Most of the time I don't wear any at all. I adore clothes and I look after my hair but I've never been really interested in makeup and I really dislike how a full face of it looks on me now, especially mascara. Like you I have fair hair and eyelashes.

Interesting flo. I follow a lot of fashion bloggers but have zero interest in make up tutorials. Maybe it's just personal taste.

I did look at myself today with make up on and I felt borderline ridiculous in it and I took most of it off. The mascara looked particularly silly to me! Maybe it's just a phase or something, but it would certainly save me some money if I went off it more permanently!

BTW, it's only on myself I am finding it looks odd. Saw many people out today in make up who looked great

What colour mascara are you using? Might be worth trying brown or grey if you've been using black, for example.

My current mascara is brown/black, so possibly would look a bit more neutral in brown and maybe something less extending and volumising...

Or maybe I'll tint them and see how I go.

I've never seen anyone who doesn't look better with some make up on.

I'd say tint both brows and lashes then use a clear mascara for curl etc. You could then get a cheek and lip tint and a very natural bb/cc cream. I love eye crayons too. You could try a soft taupe? Or my favourite By Terry Ombre black star in Misty Rock. It's the best I've ever tried.

I like the sound of the crayons buster and your plan in general.

Yes I do. I mostly stopped about a year and a half or 2 years ago. Occasionally I put some on now if I fancy it.

I do a lot of lovely skincare and hydration, I wear Erborian CC cream which isn't really make up but could be seen as a super light foundation.

I wear a lip mask that gives me a glossy look.

I love it and it's made me so happy with my natural face. I never feel it's unfinished anymore or needs makeup.

I’ve been having a similar feeling to you @WhyTheWhales and started to feel a bit strange in make up.

There’s something about looking too ‘done’ that I’ve really gone off - a full face of make up and perfect hair has just started to look really strange to my eyes now.

I think good skin care, and grooming that works for you (I like having my brows threaded and tinted) makes a difference.

I’ve been using a brightening primer, a couple of dabs of concealer where I need it, an eyebrow pencil to fill in a bit of a gap I have and a tiny bit of blush. I’ve curled my lashes too. It’s a no-make up make up look but it does enough to perk my face up that little bit.

Although I saw family today and my mum said I looked ‘tired’ so maybe don’t listen to me

@WhyTheWhales

I like the sound of the crayons buster and your plan in general.

Thank you. 😊

Ah mums @Amelion! Mine was full of feedback on my appearance too 🤣

I think I look similar in colouring to Tilda Swinton. Her make up free photos look fantastic, so I'm kidding myself that I look like that! But am going to get cc cream and eye crayons recommended by buster for special occasions. I've got a tint for cheeks and lips and I'll possibly tint my own eyelashes. Not sure what to do about brows. Dh (not that his opinion counts more than my own or anything) hates my eyebrows tinted or with any make up on them. So does my dd. So I honestly think invisible eyebrows just suit me better.

In the summer I just use fake tan and mascara on my face. I can’t see my face anyway, unless I look in a mirror, so I don’t care !

Good make-up should cover the flaws, enhance the strengths and be almost invisible whilst doing both, superhero, innit 🙃.
Clean look is wonderful and if you don't need to cover any flaws, you should consider yourself very lucky and enjoy your natural beauty!

Oh val, you say all the right things you charmer

I have had a nightmare with my skin until recently, (I've had rosacea since my late teens which was awful in my twenties). It's more or less gone now, due to better skincare and (sadly) a lot less wine. So it is very nice to be able to feel I don't have to cover my face up all the time.

Ha gene! Exactly. I don't have to see my face. It's those poor bastards at work who will suffer mwahaha!

It's funny in a way because I moved last year to a semi rural area and I barely wear any now and when I do it's mascara and maybe a tinted moisturiser and a Clinique cream stick blush that's just to give a slight tint of colour.
I used to wear it all , ex beauty counter beautician so foundation ,concealer , brows , contour , highlighter , eyeliner but now I feel so aged wearing foundation .. maybe I notice my deeper set lines more ( I'm 47 ) but I'm with you , less for me is more