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Feminism: Sex and gender discussions

Feminism: chat

Original poster

Going 'no makeup'

330 replies

LadyBlaBlah · 21/03/2015 13:43

I know it's trivial and as feminists must think only of FGM however I'm getting fed up with the time, cost, effort and most of all the reasons why I wear make up.

I've been wearing it blindly since about aged 14 so it will weirdly be a big change, and my small act of rebellion against the p.

Anyone else a no makeup person?

OP posts:
Solo · 21/03/2015 13:48

I go without more than I wear it, but I always wear it if I'm going out (rare) and if I'm working, I usually wear mascara on top lashes only.

My mum wears nothing at all ever.

PamBagnallsGotACollage · 21/03/2015 13:49

I sometimes do and sometimes don't. Maybe just do the odd day to start with? You might find you still would like to wear it occasionally.

Sometimes it makes me feel better not to go out with a big red nose and a glaringly obvious spot on my chin. I am aware that it's maybe social expectations that I have grown up with and that surround me that influence my decision to whack on a bit of foundation 'for me' but still, it makes me feel better in myself sometimes.

Equally, I really can't be arsed to spend time painting my face some (most!) days and I really don't actually care what others think of how I look without it.

alexpolistigers · 21/03/2015 13:50

I don't wear make-up. I don't own any.

There is an interesting blog post about wearing make-up for a day when you are a no-make-up person on Salt and Caramel

TheWhiteRoad · 21/03/2015 13:51

I go makeup free most of the time. I'm not making any particular statement. I simply prefer my face without makeup. I sometimes wear a bit of concealer or a tinted lip balm but that's about it unless I have a special occasion to go to.

Why do you wear makeup OP? Why do you think it will be an act of rebellion to go without it?

alexpolistigers · 21/03/2015 13:51

If I am going out somewhere nice, I put nice clothes on and brush my hair. Nothing else is needed.

thatstoast · 21/03/2015 13:54

I don't wear it. Never have really so it's not a big deal to me. What are your reasons for wearing makeup at the moment?

mrsschatzepage · 21/03/2015 13:55

I hardly ever wear make up. I was supposed to wear it in my last job but i stopped and no one noticed. It used to slide off after an hour any way. Ive never been a make up person really. I prefer the natural look. Ihavent got time cant be bothered to trowel it on every day.

JeanneDeMontbaston · 21/03/2015 13:58

I sometimes wear a bit of powder/concealer under my eyes and a bit more if I'm going somewhere fancy, but I can take it or leave it.

Interested to know how you get on, though - and how soon it starts feeling normal, because I imagine it'll feel very strange at first.

PilchardPrincess · 21/03/2015 13:59

I used to not wear it for work and now I do. Never on days off, always when "going out".

Just ditch it but if you usually wear quite a bit then people may well comment eg if you usually wear bronzer then people may say you are looking pale etc. So if you want to avoid that maybe tone it down over a few days or have something prepared to say back ie no I've just decided not to wear makeup any more Grin

IMO this stuff should be do it if you want for both men and women, if you feel like it or want to achieve a certain "look", the cultural conditioning that means so many women and girls feel they are not presentable without it is terrible.

stargirl1701 · 21/03/2015 14:00

I rarely wear it. Weddings, balls, etc. but that's it. Certainly not daily or even weekly.

catsrus · 21/03/2015 14:01

I'm 60ish Grin and haven't worn makeup (apart from one day), or owned any, since my mid 20's. I didn't wear make up at my wedding I did wear my favourite jeans though

I have three dds in their 20's, one is no makeup, one minimal and one 'the works' she had a spell put on her by Barbie when she was a toddler, we haven't found a cure.

My exH once paid for me to have a makeover as a 'treat' in my mid 30's. I came home on the bus just feeling I wanted to scrub my face, it felt horrible. I really like my face to feel clean and to be able to splash it to freshen up at work etc.

YonicScrewdriver · 21/03/2015 14:04

Don't wear it, bit of lipstick and eyeshadow for an interview or going out, otherwise no.

And my lipstick is 9 years old and still not quite worn down to the end...

ChunkyPickle · 21/03/2015 14:08

I don't generally wear makeup (or do my hair.. and consider clean clothes to be an outfit) day to day, it's fine, I really don't have time to muck about now that I have a toddler and a small child.

I do have some nice stuff that I wear if I need to look turned out. As a short and dumpy woman, when I want to have authority and be taken seriously I find that having a (fairly light) face of makeup helps, as it makes it look like I've made an effort/have taste and all that. It seems to make me harder to dismiss.

almondcakes · 21/03/2015 14:13

I own makeup. I have a set in my drawer at work, at home and at my Mum's. I still never get around to actually putting it on my face. One day I will become that organised...

Trills · 21/03/2015 14:25

feminists must think only of FGM

Don't be silly. Who said that? Discussing the "smaller" issues doesn't stop people from also caring about bigger issues.

If you think you'd rather not wear makeup, good for you. I agree that you might get a couple of comments the first time someone sees you without it, but they'll get used to it pretty quickly.

YonicScrewdriver · 21/03/2015 14:27

I think someone's DP said it on one of the surnames threads, Trills!

MisterDobalina · 21/03/2015 14:28

alex thanks for posting that, I enjoyed that. I also don't feel like "me" when I wear make up. Unfortunately I live in a country where women are always made up and dressed up, and I stick out like a sore thumb. Ultimately I'm too lazy to wear make up, and I don't want my daughter to grow up thinking it's the default setting, and part of an everyday routine.

Luciferbox · 21/03/2015 14:29

I wear it (very minimal) to work to avoid the constant 'you look like shite/tired' comments. Never otherwise.

PilchardPrincess · 21/03/2015 14:29

It has come up a fair bit. Why are you talking about this, X, Y and Z are the things you should be talking about.

The usual riposte is that woman are generally capable of caring about more than 1 thing at a time.

alexpolistigers · 21/03/2015 14:30

Dobalina As I am in Greece, I also live in a country where women are groomed - always wearing make up.

I just don't care if I stick out!

HungryDam · 21/03/2015 14:32

I'm a no make up person. I wear it occasionally when I go out. Tbh I just don't care what other people think about me.

FatCunt · 21/03/2015 14:37

I don't wear it. Nobody's ever commented. My mum never wore it either so I didn't really get into it. I did experiment as a teenager with mascara and nail polish for the school disco, but didn't get on with it.

I've had the makeover experience too - a group of girls I was in decided to give me a makeover, full face of it. I looked in the mirror and burst into tears as I didn't look like me Grin

I hope you get something interesting out of the experience of changing how you do things for a bit, whatever you decide to do in the future. It's good to try new things Grin

RedButtonhole · 21/03/2015 14:46

I wear it to college, I have bad skin and I like to have a bit of coverage. It's very minimal though, light foundation, powder and a single coat of mascara.

At work and at home I don't bother really. I'm so overweight that a bit of make-up isn't kidding anyone into thinking I look good.

tribpot · 21/03/2015 14:49

I don't. I can't be arsed. It means it would take longer to get ready in the morning.

This reminded me I'd been really annoyed by I saw in the cinema this morning (admittedly I was there to see Spongebob: Sponge Out of Water so I was already out for blood) - "because it's great to enjoy a night with your heels off". Er. I enjoy EVERY night with my heels off, due to not owning any. Simple.

Anyway, you'll actually be doing your skin a great service by not slapping make-up on it. Slightly beside the point from a feminism point of view but an additional benefit!

"think only of FGM" is my new catchphrase.

OublietteBravo · 21/03/2015 14:55

I rarely bother with make up (I wear it perhaps 3 or 4 times a year). Mostly because I'm just too lazy to bother. I spent my teens and twenties doing a lot if sport, so make up was fairly impractical. I gave up most if the sport (job + children = not enough time to do it seriously anymore), but this coincided with babies/toddlers so no real call for make up. Even now I have a professional job and just don't bother (I'm the only female doing my level of role in my office, so there is no norm to confirm to). No one has ever commented.